Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-06-13


and refinement among the citizens.
The present population may be safely esti-
mated at 50. eco souls. The city is handsome
" laid out, tie streets wide and well paved,
and exhibits in the style Of its buildings, both
public and private, much architectural taste
and beauty. The great Fails of the James, at
the foot OF which the city is situated, supply
water power to an unlimited extent, while the
c-heapness Of living and the proximity OF in
-exhaustible mineral stores, render it a most
eligible site for a large manufacturing city.
Among the branches Of manufacture to which
the attention Of the public has been directed,
are those Of cotton and wooden goods, paper,
iron, tobacco, and -four. II the production Of
the last named article, the mills Of Richmond
enjoy a celebrity that gives them command OF
Bome Of the best markets Of the world. As
vet, however, the surplus capital Of the citi-
zsns has not sought investment to a very great
extent in manufacturing, nor has the introduce
ton Of foreign capital for such purposes met
with much encouragement, the policy being
rather to guard against such influx Of the man
ufacturing classes as might give to that ele-
ment Of society a numerical preponderance in
the community.
To the bsnfeient results Of this wise policy,
is to be attributed, in no inconsiderable degree,
The tone Of elevated, moral and social ssnti-
ment which charaetsrizss the people Of Rich
mond. But another fortunate circumstances
which has contributed to produce this happy
result, is the fact that the community has sue
cessfully resisted the introduction Of the most
mischievous OF all Yankee inventions, to-wit:
slesmOsynary education through the machine
" Of the improved patsnt-right free-sehool
system, which has fastened its blightiBg,
agrarian influences upon 80 many southern
communities, to the destruction of everything
like thorough education. Here, on the contra
~, a very high standard Of educational excel
Ieucs obtains in the schools, and public senti-
ment is directed, and public affairs, for the most
part, are controlled by those whose attainments
qualify them to take the lead in society.
Besides those Ihave enumerated, Richmond
possesses other advantages natural and artif-
cial, which mark her as a place Of Importance
on the map Of the Southern Confederacy. She
is at the head Of tide water and OF navigation
on the James river, distant from the seabOard,
by the course Of the river, one hundred and
ff Y miles. For vessels drawing ten feet there
is abundance Of water to Richmond, and b
Warwick, a point three miles below the city,
those Of a much larger draft can approach
with ease. The war has put Temporary stop
to a considerable and rapidly growing trade,
coastwise and foreign, watch was carried on
bv the merchants Of Richmond. A leading
feafare in this commerce was the expectation
Of -four to tropical markets, and the Importation
OF return cargoes Of coffee, for the sale Of
which the country south and southwest Of
this furnished a ready market.
Richmond is the nucleus Of an extensive sys-
TEN Of railroads, stretching towards the Mis-
sissi7pi and the Gulf OF Mexico, and is con-
nected By canal with Lynehburg, the leading
tobacco market Of the State, and has on foot
a well matured plan to unite the waters Of the
James and those Ct the Ohio, BY means of a
canal, to extend from Richmond to the Ka-
narzha river, the execution Of which is like
wise delayed by the breaking out Of the war.
In the absence Of satisfied tables and accu-
rate information, in regard to the value Of
property, amount Of trade, commerce, capital
employed in manufacturing, ETC., I have en-
deavored to give your readers such a Proxi-
mate idea Of the position, Power and resources
NJ Riebnopd 90 VII Interest those who take
pride Cas who does not?) in the prosperity Of
the national capital. Viewed in this latter
aspect, it is a point Of present intsrestto every
southerner, and we can excuse the Yirginisns
who feel a Just pride in their metropolis, be-
cause Of its historic associations, its steady
increase in material power and grandeur, and
it's elevated social position as the longtime
seat Of a refined and generous hospitality.
Ihave spoken Of Richmond as q prominent
candidate for the permanent location of the
seat Of the Confederate Government. By this
1 would not be understood as implying that the
citizens Of Richmond are clamoring for its To-
cation in their midst. Such is not the case,
and some intelligent citizens, as I hsppen to
know, are opposed to such location. But to
relieve the anxious fears OF those who seem to
think the salvation Of the Confederaey depends
upon the location Of its seat Of Government il
tbe place Of their choice, / will venture to
affirm that the seat OF Government will not be
fixed at Richmond. This city is only III
miles from Washington, the present seat Of the
federal usurpation while to New Orleans the
distance is nearly LOO miles. Richmond is
-. ---Fh.-- h@rT-r 20 Aha
Confederacy. Memphis is Objectionable on
the same ground, being too near Cairo. No;
il the Confederate Capital is located in Ten
nessee, and I think it very likely it may be, it
will be located in The vicinity Of Chattanooga
and the Lookout mountain. That point CON-
binss centrality, accessibility, salubrity Of
climate and abundant and cheap ~liFing-has,
in a word, every thing which the seat Of Gov
eminent ought to have, and nothing the pres
ence Of which could be Objectionable. Sc
much for the seat Of Government.
Ihave still to report ono battle yet" The
busy note Of preparation is heard on all sides,
and yesterday we bad information Of a forward
movement Of our advance guard, who nov &C.
cupv at Fairfax Court Honse in force. Gen.
Besuregardis in command of that division Of
our army, and [ an enabled to state to you,
upon reliable information, that his presence
is deemed essential here, and that for the pres
ent, at least, no thought is entertained by the
War Department Of assigning him to the com
mand in the valley Of the Mississippi In as
suming the command at Manassas Junction,
be Is reported to have said in an address to bis
men. "a From this time forward there is to be
no more rereating on our part, but all our
movements will be En- aBdnt "a declaration
which was received with demonstrations Of
great 10y By cur gallant s%Oldlery, who long for
the word Of commend, forward, march
It is very annoying to be compelled to with
hold from your readers items Of Information
which daily come to ny knowledge, and which
would be Of the greatest interest 70 them, and
in a few dave thereafter see the same thing il
print in the form Of a letter to
some other paper from its army cores
pondsnt. There Is daily published In
this way information which should be with
held but thus far all attempts to suppress it
have proved ineTsetusl and only a day or 30
since, / saw in daily PaPer an enumeration Of
the kind and amount Of force BY which The
Point Of Rocks works are garrisoned, their
arms, condition as to health, etc. Information
as the above is 10 doubt Interesting to The
of.the paper which published it, bat
is also interesting and may be valuable 10
the enemy
TIE city ia swarming With applicants for
Office, most Of whom have some story to
tell Of nartyraon in the cause Of the South
which they have suffered at the hands Of The
Government, or othsrwise. They
are generally robust, hearty fellows,