The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-07
RrcHMoNp. Nav 80. 1866.

vegetables, fruits, &3. Inc prices OF pro-
visions do not vary much IRON the cost Of
the same articles In Cleveland, some being
higher and others lower. The principal
market men and women are negroes, who
appear to be the hsppiest and most thrifty
class of people about Richmond. The only
currency used is the U. S. postal ard
greenbacks, and it is the common remark
of our soldiers that somehow the negroes
everywhere in the South soon manage to
get and keep plenty Of it. since they
have come to own themselves they find
many wsys to earn an honest penny, and
do well if given chance and "let alone"
Confederate currency is "plsyed out"
Negro lads, and white boys in secesh grey,
have confederate notes aud bonds for sale
at the hotels, aud hawk both round to
Northern relic hunters ss 6c.y cents in
greenbscks for one hundred dollars of
grey Ofsring just-purehssed one
hundred dollar bill to cOlored newsmsn
for the Richmond Times, his reply was
"Nc, sir, masss; dat clsr played out ~ but
he pOcketed f We cent postal for the same
journal with grin of satisfaction and q
polite aThankee, massa" The boyssell con-
federste currency in any quantity and de-
nominations desired from a postage stamp
to thousand dollar n notes and warrant they
are not counterfeit They gay they are en-
ployed by big holders to sell, and get COM
missions on sales. They represent Confsd-
crate bonds somewhat hard to obtain, and
usually demsnd a slightly higher rate per
hundred dollars than for notes. The issues
of the local banks of the South are gener-
ally worthless. Richmond brokers buy the
old State Bank of Virginia notes at sixteen
cents on the dollar, ard only few South
sfn banks are quoted as high as twenty.
Gold and silver do not circulate shout
Richmond, and while our armies have been
dealing shot and skell tothe rebs they have !
furnished the survivors with all the money |
they can now pass 8. home or abroad. 1t |
will readily be seen that pockets are less
plethoric than before the grand collapse of |
confedsrscy and currency. But one can
hardly understand how facilities for doing |
business or even buying the common neces-
ssries of life are to be had out OF the range |
of country marched over bV cur victorious
hosts. The South affords wide field for
Nationsl BAnk circulation, and Northern
bankers are taking steps to partially sup
pIv the demand. Two National Banks
have already been established in Rich.
mond, and the third is bsing organized.
We are informed thst none of the stock
has been taken by Southern men, not to
say cspitsli IS, for the iatter are now scarce
as the precious metals.
The advent of Governor Pierpont for the
purpose of establishing a free State gov
ernment over Old Virginia under the aus
pices of National support is hailed with
sppsrent satisfaction in Richmond. The
Governor and other State officials from AL
exsndris were welcomed with appropriate
ceremony, and the first levee given by
Governor PierpoDt Was ATTENDED by 3
large number of distinguished citizens and
military nolables. The daily papefs of
Richmond-the Whig, Times and republic
have so far treated Governor 7.
with due respect and kindness, and urge
upon the people the Importance OF giving
the new State government earnest support
and fair trial, though this is generally
coupled with suggestions to the Administra-
ton ss to the policy scessary to success
Like Kentucky neutrality there are many
ifs in Virginis reconstruction; and the /
result of the recent election about Alex4n-
dris for members of the Legislature |
proved anything but atrue Union triumph.
1Tbe }oval candidates we're defeated In
Alexandria and Norfolk by the |
votes of paroled rebel prisoners and
omen secessionis's who took the |
prescribed osth TO become voters,
and among The FIRST Official acts OF Gov. |
PIerpopt will be setting aside elections |
and ordering others. The work OF recon-
struction IN Virginia on loyal bssis will |
be herculean, and the more so since nine |
tenths of the real and tried Union men OF /
the State are denied any voice in the cleo
tions simply on account Of color. Without /
negro votes the y nion party is powerless, |
and ir deploring the result in Alexandra, |
the journal of that city asserts that "there |
sis not q county in the State where the |
WUnion people can muster q msjorItY OF |
uthe voters.h And it further adds: "On |
Hthe contrary there are some counties In |
sthe State where, if the laws required that !
'lnone other than loyal man could serve
las an officer, we doubt if such 8 person
sScould be found In the whole county, un-
aless he was found among the colOred peo-
aple. This may sppear strsD &c to many,
| 'tyet We nevertheless believe il TO be true"
Such is the testimony Of 5 Virginia paper
that hss always been loyal Is stronger
reason for negro suffrage required
The old flag has brought schools SIS we'll
as Freedom TO the colored people of Rich
mond. Teachers from New England are
At work here W.th excellent success, aud
but few days since an Interesting school
celebration was held in the African
| Church. About one thousand negro pu-
nils from the different schools were pres
ant. ranging in age from six TO thirty
wears. They were seated in the pews of
me church, listened TO addresses, and sang
pstrIotic songs A picture Of President
Lincoln was prominent among the deeora-
tions, and the scene was one or marked et-
1ect The Superintendent ssked: "Are
Won glad YOU are ffee2' tcholsrs in q
BODY Eyes, indeed" sWho gave you
freedom?" SchO.Ars-HGod" "EATough
whom n Scholars-aAbraham Lincoln"
aIs Mr.. Lincoln desd ?" Scholars-"Yes."
GWho is your President p Scholars
HJohnson." "Are you glad you have
schools and teachers q SchJlsrs-"Yes."
$40 YOU want the friends who are here to-
dsy to 90 n orth and send you more teach
ers 2" Scholsrs-"Yes, indeed Colored
schools we're established within fourteen
dsys after the evacuation of Richmond,
and the average daily attendance since
that time has been fourteen hundred. Who
saws educated mind is net q more import
ant qualification for the voters OF our Re
public than color of skin
The old fAg has also brought the holy
,, rite Of marriage and its attendant blsss-
ings to the colored people of Richmond.
General Hslleck has Issued an order direct
ing negroes living together IS man and
vile TO be married, and calling the atten-
ton Of clergymsn and magistrates in Viz