The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-08-04
CONDITION OF THE SOUTH WHAT THE
PEOPLE SAY-LABOR-TAXES
CONFISCATION.

WASHINGTON, July ga sufficient time
has elapsed since the termination of the Re-
bellion to enable us to form reliable opin-
len as to the actual condition of the South.
From CONVEX sation with a large number of
Intelligent Southern gentlemen, who have
recently visited Washington, as well as from
cor esponaehce 1sith othlrs ia their respective
SfSees, snsl from idforanatioh ceffttnnnicated
by intelligent Federal officers, VINO have serv-
I'd in the States of Georgia, Alabama and
mississippi, the following conclusions are
reached:
/. The organizeds labor of the planting
States is completely disorganized. As it was
this organized labor which mainly gave to
Southern products their preponderance in the
European markets, may be assumed that here
after those products, whether of large or
small amount, will in the market have no
preference over those of India Africa, or
South America. As commercial country
the South for many years to come, therefore,
will be Of less importance to the European
world than Egypt or Bombay, and as It was
chiefly through the products of the South
that the commercial marine of the North was
created and sustained, it follows that the
merchants of Bostoa and New York must look
elsewhere than to the South for the means to
rebuild the greatsfabric which the war has SO
| terrible shattered.
2. Gotten and other exclusively Southern
products, not being proftably raised without
u system OF organized labor, the Southern
farmers, that is, instead of raising cotton,
| rice, sugar and tobacco, they devote whats
ever labor they may be eble to command to
| the production of corn, wheat, wool, bacon,
| beef &c. la other words, instead of relying
| to q great extent on the West for these sta
| pies, they will become competitors with the
North in the general market. So that, in a
year or two we may expect the prices Of
breadstuffs and provisions gene rally to reach
q lower point than has been witnessed fol
years. .
| 3. The want of capital, always q serious
evil to the South, will hereafter be still more
apparent from the fact that great majority
of her merchants who have saved anything
out of the wreck have emigrated, CT are about
10 emigrate to New York, Philadelphia, Balii-
more, and otter Northern cities. The bank
ing capitaltof the South seems to bs almost
anbihiiated, and it Is difficult to see how it
| is to be replaced during the present genera
ton. ais. n.o s..
| A. And lastly. The effect of the Confsca
tion law ofsCongress is SO sweeping that al
most every man of property at the South il
liable to its penalties, unless specially par
| doned. This fact, perhaps, operates more
| injuriously than any other single cause to re.
tard the resnperation of Southern industry.
This much for the physical condition of the
south.
| AS TO the temper of the Southern people
it may safely be asserted that the war has
not increased their love for the "Yankees
The Virginians. always remarkable race
I l. - 49, tbo ,aak ito
worthy people of modern times. Their ex.
traord;nay CALAMITY and skill as soldiers
| their wonderful powers Of endurance and theil
tmsrkable stoicism underheir unparalleled
losses and privations, all ante to stamp them
| as race OF men such as the world has sci.
dom seen. Many Of them undoubtedly re-
gret that their State should have been forced
| into the rebellion. Many of them; no doubt
silently bewail the destruction of their ance5-
trail homes and the loss of children and broth,
els, doubly endeared to them by their suffer-
| ings in the same cause-but from their all
and manner, no one would suspect them Of
| being conquered, a subjngated, or q ruined
| people. .
| Such people it is useless for learned idiots
of Harvard University to trife WITH or fol
wretohed demagoguss in Union Leagues or
elsewhere to alternately thereafter or cajole
Taking the President at his word, ''that theif
State has never been out of the Union,'' they
intend to claim all the rights and privilege:
Iaccorded.tp New York or Pennsylvania.
not granted, the fault of destroying the Union
thoroughly and permanently will not lie "a
their door.
What is here said of Virginia, may be ap
Piled with equal force to the other States o
the South They are all willing to return t.
their allegiance to the Federal Government 81
long us it is administered according to law
but they are pot and never will be disposed tt
chauge.the natures which God implanted
within them, and fall down and worship ever,
go den calf which New England may set vi
for their adoration I'm. z. Exprsss.]