Daily national Republican., 1863-01-01
ConditIoa or AnaIr. q Nn,hr,II..

A correspondent writing from Nashville on
the 22d, gives the following picture of that
city:
Writing cWrdlts cdldmO carries me into the
general subject Of the condition Of Nashville.
War has desolated H.. RotributIon for rebellion
has visited almost every consplclous household.
There Is distress and mourning in almost every
mothers chamber. Pitiful, but Just. Priva-
tlon has dethrOnOd luxury. Mourning and Bit
terness have displaced cheerfulness. Nash
vile, once so renowned for social society," Is
sombro and dreary as a convent. There Is no
social life here. People merely exist. Most Of
the able-bodled men have gone to war. The
young men remaining at home either never had
caste, or have lost II by declining arms. few
men, receding In years, remain TO protect their
property and families, and to promote the In
terests Of the rebellion by covert moans. Saun
tering through the streets, the eye wearies with
the gloom OF closed shutters and checrless
dwellings. The female population is much
depleted, but majority of the leading matrons
and maidens Of society remain. They are
stately and reserved, but will do them the jns-
tice to say that the major portion Of them have
not violated propriety since the army arrived
here in November.
Perhaps two thousand have applied 20 the
Provost Marshal General for passes since that
time, and much less than fifty have been un-
lady-llke In their department. Is IL surprising
that they should be reservedl Who could ex-
pect general sociabllity between them and us
under the circumstances Nevertheless, they
sesm to begin to realize that we do not hate
their people, although they hate us. But their
MODIFICATION Of their original animosity is pc
cullSrly explained "The war;" say they, q IL
not personal" Not at all, unless they choose
10 make 1t "personal." II would probably be
unfair TO say that the slow progress of their
arms In the direction Of Southern independence
has tanned their proud spirits. 1t is more Just
TO attribute their resumption of appropriate
manners TO returning reason. They have dis
covered that war Is rigorous enough without
artificial stlmulants.
My sympathles are most excited by the poor.
God knows, q poor man or woman anywhere Ia
miserable enough, but the poverty of poor peo-
pie In the South al this terrible period Ia some
thing which beggars description. There Is but
little work for those disposed to be industrious;
compensation for the little labor that is done ls
inadequate; prices of all necessaTies are eYtray-
aganti fuel Is very scarce and very costly;
rents high. A little tenement of two or three
rooms on an obscure street costs Sl2 per month;
water for two rOoms, SIC per annum; green
wood, 80 and tS per cord. Sugar and coffee
the poor cannot buy.
The beautiful suburbs of Nashville, the pride
Of the people and glory Of the City Of Rocks,
are desolated. The eXigencles of war have COM
PEELED the sacrifice of many noble groves. The
charms of stately mansions hAvethus been sac
rfced. Elegant edlfces of brick and stone
surrounded with all the graces of rural archltec.
ture and beaCtihed by all the rich appliances Of
culture and art, now stand out In bleak lonelI-
ness, dGhowered Of the graces of refined taste
sad and dlcary monuments of the curse of re-.
belliOn. beautiful woman, proud and state
ly as Roman matron, untouched by the sever
tiles of war until the rude blade of pioneers be-
gan to wound the superb grove which decorated
her brow, visited headquarters not long ago,
pleading with eloquent tears for the prescrva-
ton Of her trees. "Do not despoll my grove,
Gcneral-next to my children, I love 1t. When
your axe-men began TO foil those splendid trees,
almost felt as II God had deserted me. Spare
them for my woman's heart"
Why notl They iHsr6 spared. Wherefore
lOdHtoElv destroy that which lie not essential to
public good. The engineers did not despoll
property for revenge, or deliberately. War cx-
lists. FoTtihcations were TO be constructed.
Timber was necessary. This grove was handI-
est, and so the rude choppers began, although
there were fine forests not distant. Had It been
the property ofa loyal man or woman, It would
have been the same, so reckless arc men when
there Is not personal responsibility. Thus docs
the despoller rage wherever there Ia war. Rebs
els suffer no more than patriots. Indeed, the
loyal and disloyal are apt, In fact, do suffer
alike wherever an army CnCampB.