The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-06-23
LETTER FROM THr SOUTH.
'RoMAYoccAsroNAL CORRESPONDENCE
STEAMER SELMA.

STEAMER SELMA, !
ALABAMA RIVER, June 3th. 1861. !
Compelled to take Me river route / may have
leisure to give YOU some report of matters and
things seen and heard In this section. Having con.
ciuded the statement OF what / witnessed of the
evacuation ot Corinth." my ccrreapoade must
contain merely matters of ess Importance aud in
terest II is said "au active mind, like the 1Eoiian
harp, seizes even the vagrant winds and makes
them nNsic." The beat aud faiigues OF Corinth
have lest neither mind body active and for
the vagraif winds" there Is not much air stirring
to-day. Here goes cayreatc cala,uo-'curremt ca.
iap,,y although we are moving up stream. Plat
reminds Ine that last night, about nine O'Clock,
negro passenger attempted 10 draw bucket OF
water, while the boat Was in motion, but was h:r,-
self drawn overheard and drowned Tie current
swept him down =" FAST the small boat irnatched
to his assistance could not rescue hini. Al thought
OF the accident seemed vanish qaicsiy the
waters closed over their suddenly summoned vie
tim. One thing was pleased tn se and the fact
may teach lesson Although the steamer was
ftI Ct citizens and soldiers, just from camps
and cities where all sale of liquor pro-
hibi1ed, aud the bar on tho boat was kept npen
day and night, yet there was very little drinking.
much less than was formerly ndu!ged in. This
shows that the rigid military closing of all drink
ing saloons has already worked partial rtfonna-
ton. The appetite, no longer constantly fed uui
growing by what ii feeds upon has been weak
cn.d, and may he destroyed am satisfied that il
the whole system OF retailing liquors" pro
hibited ptrpetually for alt time colEe it would
be blessing to the country; and this and should
be done. The traffic benefits nobody. Neither
buyer nor seller are prot;ed. Destroy the facility
of obtaining liquor By tae drink, and the crop of
drunk ards would soon be diminished aud die out.
la tourney of several thousand miles / have
hu; two barrocms open, and am witness to the
good effect of this utmost universal stopping the
supplies.
Mobile is great city. When was there month.
age the apprehension Of attack WIS imminent. Yet
the citizens, some from old Sposyivania county, in
Virginia, were full Of pluck, and declared the city
might he sheled and every house destroyed, but
they would not surrender. Captain John Scott, u
member of General Giadden's staff, wounded at
Shiloh in the eye was determined the Yankees
should not get Mobile. lie is Il noble fellow, very
popular, and from my county, Spctsylv ania. Va
Eursthl, too, ard others prominent merchants all
talked and acted in the spirit. The city was
game, though a little ''Skccred' On my return /
found the excitement had subsidized and the pr. pa
rations Were complcte-the ram, tinished-and no
danger apprchended or regarded The beauties of
the city sickness prevented uic from inspecting.
] almost got into difficulty about the manage
ment Of the Mobile aud Ohio Railroad. At Co:iuti
| was introduced by the Governor to Major as
Colonel He promised my lost 'or misIaid car
Of stores should be found. | suggested the hanging
of superintendent agent wvchly. IL responded
that he was superintendent. said was talking
Of the superintendent the other end OF the road
1t is a good railroad, but ovcrworkoi, and Some Of
the officials have got reckless. AS FAR my busi-
ness was concerned, however "hea.ied" them.
When was first i'll Montgomery. month ago. the
Gl.um considerable. The apprehension & ''gc!n-
boats up the Alabama river was great. HoW, the
bottc.n Of the river having appeared at the top,
Commodore iollins Co. will have but little diff
cnl'y in obstructrg the river navigation. JET. Da
Wis ought to have appointed. Matthew +. Maurv
Secretary OF the Navy. 1t would have given us
''respeCtabity abroad and security aud conf ence
at home Henry Clay said of The treaty of peace
with gland after tie of Sl2
Al Columbus, Miss, was glad to gee that Col.
Hunt WAS working man, establishing mlnories,
factories, sc, To be ihdependent we mus, make
all we want. We must supply material. and create
sources and means NJ supply.
don't uleau 10 quarrel with oar President lie
is much criticised out here. | try 10 smooth over
nattcrs By reminding others that he il mortal like
ali, and srTing Ike the best. and viii without
iiiu cannot fad in the ciid sydney jotasul:'s
unde5erved censur" should he warning enough.
Jci Davis has patriotism, cOurae. petv ai!
and everything. al stake-litc liberty. houor, home
ard country. l cannot believe him weak. and will
not believe him cowardly OF fsithiess and am
sure q. triumph Is that the shines. j..