Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1863-02-20

III
suudered if the President ac he res to his deter.
mination to make this an Abolition war after
the f1rst OF Jaluarv, is az certain as that the
sun shines in the Heavens
"THE STAFF OF L1FE."-We adopt what the
Richmond Wing says under this head, and
urge the advice given to the people of Virginia
by that paper, TO our own.
We cannot too often or too earnestly URGE
upon the people OF Virginia the importance OF
producing the greatest possible quantity of
food. 1t may be essential to our safety as a
means of Individual profit, it is very doubtful
if aEy other product will yield SO much We
are opposed to any restriction on the cultva-
tion OF tobacco-not that we did not think 5000
hills to the hand enough--if that quantity were
not exceeded at any time; it would probably
produce more and better tobacco-but, we
were opposed to the principle of interfering
with individual rights in any case, not demand
ed by the public safety. Small crops of tobao-
co may be cultivated without seriously di~
minlshng the product of grain. and furnish
wholesome occupation for negroes during the
winter months.
But the first and foremost consideration for
every Virginia farmer IS to make as much
meat and bread SIS he possibly can. Veget-
ables too-thoss especially that will keep such
as potatoes, and peas, should be more extern
sively cultivated than ever before. The mis-
chieycus attempts of some members of the
Legislature to discourage production by reduc-
ing prices, cannot succeed, and even if there
should be folly enough to give them the form
of enactments, the people have oaly to disre.
gard them. We should make two blades of
grass where only one grew before should pay
more attention to the raising OF hogs and cat
tie and put forth every energy for the produc.
ton of a vast quantity of corn.
We cannot tell when the war will end. 1t
may last for years. Our only safety lies ia be
ing able to wage itindefinitely. 1t peace should
come there will still be great demand for
every article offood, and small crop of to-
bacco will yield as much money as large
Ione.
COMMON ScHooLs.-M,. Wiley reports that
returns were made him in 1862 from IS coan-
ties in whole or in part. From these returns
he makes the following summary OF the more
I'M portant statistics.
FinaEcia.-Ihe receipts reported in sixty
counties land these include balances from
former years s)-amounted to $220.312 80. The
disbu,sm in these counties were $1l7,924
go; and the amount on hand. SIo4 ,336 46.
General Statistics-The whole number of
childrenreported in 46 counties was, males
81, l01. females 04, ,ooU males ana Iemales
together 6, 6,755-in all, 11S,S02. The whole
number of districts reported in So counties
was 2,621. The number Of children who were
reported as attending school in 81 counties.
was d., 2,0ls, of whom 90, 122 were males and
1888 were females, ard SO sexes not distin
guished. The Numbers of licenses granted to
teachers and reported to me was 1888; of
which 962 were to males and 27l, to females
the number of schools reported was 1856,
and the average length of the school was Q and
4-5 months. School were held in anumber OF
counties for which l. have not received reports.
feel warranted in asserting that the whole
number of children who attended the Commc On
Schools of the State could not nave been less
than sixty five to seventy tho usand. ~
3SroNEwALL J AcKsoN's Popularity "A few
days ssiacela lady who came through the lines
at. fredericksburg under flag Of truce, brought
message from Hon. D. w. Voorhees, of Ia :.
diana, to Gen. jackson, to the effect that he.
Istonewalll was the only mar living who could
beat him (Voorhees) IN his Congressional dis.
trict, SO great is the admiration OF the distia-
guisked chieftain in the NorthWest 8 fss4
Ass A correspondent of the Daily State Journal
writing from Kinston under date Of Feb. IL says
tlaths learns lthskenemy have d. regiments at
Nswbern, fys Brigadiers ans two Aalor Rsnerals
g &9 A