Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-09-07
Trade of Baltimore.

1t is gratifying to know, that after the trials and
ribulations of the past four years, the trade and
commerce of our city are prosperous to an UMPIRE
cedented degree. Go where one will, the old IA
mliar sgrs fbustle and actii ypresent Themselves
Loaded carts, drays and wagons throng the streets
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is heavily bur-
thened with Western and Southwestern freight, and
the coastwse steamers are also constantly arriving
at or leaving our wharves with cargoes of Southern
products and return freights of merchandise. In
stead of 'he clink of armorers closing rivets up"
we have now the sound of the artisans hammer and
the noise and turmoil of active business operations
Never before, say our merchants, have such heavy
sales been made in so short period. Old Virginia
turns out grandly. Her merchants are thronging
our hotels and looking up the firms with whomthey
formerly dealt aye and what is better still-hqu-
dating their ancient Indebtedness to an extent con-
sderably beyond the most sunguine expectations Of
their creditors. North Carolina follows close IN
the wake of Virginia, and the merchants OF other
States are also well represented. 1t is something
inexpressbly pleasant to note the temperance Of
the old familiar faces in our stores and warehouses
and the hearty greetings thstare exchanged. -Four
year of separation have strengthened, rather than
weakened. that sentiment of attachment which for
merly subsisted between our merchants and their
customers 1t is we'll that it should be so, for the
destiny of Baltimore has ever been, and must con-
tinue to be linked 20 the destiny of the South. The
lavish beralty Of our citizens towards the sick and
impovished Confederate prisoners, and which is
even now furnishing relief to the destitute agricu
tural population of the Valley of Virginia and the
tdewater counties, was prompted not less by sympa-
thy for that suffering which touches the hearts of the
benevolent every where, than by the profunder feel
ing ofvirtual knship Blood is thicker than water,
said old Commodore Tatnell, when the Brisish war
vessels were being shatte to pieces by the forts
on the Peiho, and animated by that remembrance
of common lineage he pushed forward through a
hurricane of fire to their relief The Southern
States by old associations and by habits of thought
are much more nearly allied to the people of Mary
land than 10 the citizens of those States who dwell
north of Masons and Dixon's line, and the similar
iy of customs and social anities that has prevail
ed among them for two centuries have naturally
drawn them closer together during the commissions
of civil war. That war whether it be productive
of good or ofevil in the future, has closed and
trade and business is rapidly returning to its former
channels Here in Baltimore the evidences OF its
happy revival meet us on every side. They remind
us that the storm has passed over though the air is
yet sultry, and the clouds lurid. They remind us
also that the sacrifices which our citizens have made,
and the troubles through which they have passed,
have not been wholly in vain. They do more than
this. They impress us with the conviction that the
present prosperous condition of our trade with the
South is but the harbinger of more extended COM
mercial relations in the better days yet to come.
Baltimore Gazette.