The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-08-04
The DesOlGttOn Of Var.

Our readers will recollect that one Rev.
j. W. Hunnicutt, formerly editor of re-
liglous paper at Fredericksburg. Va. was
through this state lecturing last spring
We find Il letter from him in some of the
state papers by which We learn of his ar
rival at his old home, and also get an in
side view into the desolation that has
come upon the .'mother OF Presidents " by
reason of the rebellion:
Language fails TO describe the desola-
ton of this town and all the country
roundabout. On Monday Sd inst. Wis
tied Spott>ylvania Court House, it being
court day. There were many citizens
present. As | entered the court house
one OF the most prominent members of the
bar was addressing the meeting in behalf
OF the'starving poor of the county. He
stated that before the war. there were, in
Guiding the black population, 10000 in
habitants at present there are about
5000; of this number 1000 are bound
to Starve unless aid can be obtained from
abroad.
| was invited to address the meeting.
and used the opportunity to make known
the liberality, the wealth and >rperabun-
dance of the North How Boston had
given her thousands to supp ort the starry
ing poor in Savannah. Charleston and
elsewhere My remarks were we'll re-
cclved | told them plainly that the
time had come when we must Law aside all
sectional prejudice>, and our whole coun-
try must be regarded is one great common
brotherhood
10 show you the condition of the
wealthy class the court pledged itself to
repay the several sums that might he civ
en- to raise $50 to defray the expenses of
an agent to Baltimore. and it was with
difficulty the sum was raised.
The gentleman who drove me i'm his
carriage from Fredericksburg to the Court
House, told ME on our return, that they
borrowed ten dollars of him for sixty
days. As l came down from the stand.
an old man met NE, with tears follins
down his turrowed cheeks, and said his
family had not had a particle of bread
since last Friday, and this was Monday.
He was white man. This people have
suffered and are suffering beyond concep-
ton. 1t is ruin and desolation every
where.
Strange as it may appear, with all the
desolation. horrors of war and actual star
walton looking them in the face. the spirit
Of slavery and rebellion still turks in their
bosoms. This l learned after | left the
Court House, in mixing up and, talking
with the people. They are bitter as gall.
and as vindictive, many of them, as if they
were very demons.
This is emphatically missionary ground.
The only place of religious worship is the
Episcopal. There is no male school in
town, and it will be some time. no doubt.
before there will be any. There is no
school for colored people yet started. and
there Is nc one here but myself to publicly
advocate their cause. They will be most
shametully imposed upon, unless they have
some one to stand by them, and advise
them and see that that they have justice.
l trust that we shall have large emil
grafton of Northern people to this place.
want to see Fredericksburg as free as
Boston, and all Virginia as Massachusetts,.
l want to see Virginia and the whole South
New Ehgandised. We need New Eng
land brains, energy and capital.