Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-27
RICHMOND AND WASHINGTON.
A Trip TO RIehmOnd-DesOlatiO of
War Richmond - Yankee Enter
Prise-FreeSu Suffrage in Washington
Judge WeIker.

| Especial Correspondence of the Cleveland LEADER
WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. 81, 1896.
Your correspondent has recently made
trip to the late capitol of the late South
ern Confederacy. The desOlatiOn that wal
has caused is visible all along the route
from this city to Richmond. The country
along the Fredericksburg route is very
desirable for farming purposes. There are
immense tracts of land extending fol
miles on each side of the railroad, which
seems never to have been cultivated,-be-
cause not worth cultivating- soil worn
out and exhausted, inpcapable of prOduc-
ing anything but stinted oaks, pines,
and so fotrh, of very diminutive size,
SO that the depredations of armies
over these barren portions of the sacred
soif' have not been very injurious to the
inhabitants or the State. The burned
portions of the city of Richmond are being
built up again rapidly, with Northern
capital and Northern energy, but on the
part of a majority of the old residents
there exists that same hatred OF tho Yam
KEGS which was so strongly manifested be-
fore and during the war. They fear,
however, to speak out boldly, but the un-
dereurrent of anin1osity runs as deep and
dark as ever; it may be seen in all their
movements. The people bear the impress
of wars ravages in their personal appear
ance. Here and there may be seen few
whose exterior would indicate that their
funds had not all been invested in Confed-
crate bonds-they can enjoy the finer fab
rics in their attire-but the great mass
don't get above the old homespun-gray
and butternut-andare quiteseedy at that
But Richmond, under this new dispen-
sation, will become one of the most i'm
portant and thriving cities in the South,
in spite of the old fogyism and Yankee
hating feeling that exists there now.
But to return to Washington. We have
here an element somewhat similar to that
in Richmond, which at present controls
the municipal affairs of the metropolis.
The negro, and not so much the Yankee,
is the object of hatred, and all the efforts
that depraved humanity can put forth are
now being used TO induce Congress not to
extend TO this class any Of the rights of
The Mayor, with his whole
clan of returned rebels, cowardly secession
sympsthizers and gamblers, have had an
TO show that they are opposed to
letting the negroes vote. All others were
advised 10 stay away from the polls, and
did so with but few exceptions. II is pro-
posed now that the colored people hold an
election TO see whether they will permit
such men as Mayor Wallack & Co. TO en-
joy with them the elective franchise.
But the fiat has gone forth. Congress
win pass an act permitting all who can
read the constitution or write their own
names, or who have borne arms in defence
of the nation, to vote in this district, and
no others. This will cut off large class
of white voters, while it will admit much
larger class of colored people to the cleo
tive franchise. am informed that the
Union members from our State will act
together on this measure. Judge WeIker
is on the Committee of the District of Co
lumbia, and has done much to remove OBJ
jections, harmonic all differences, and ae-
cure for it sure triumph.
One of our Ohio members, on entering
the street car the other day, was asked by
the conductor if 'they" were ''going to
pass an act to let the nigger vote ?' "Yes,"
he said. SWELL" says the conductor, eve
shall have blood shed at the polls, then"
20 If" responded the member, "they
to make any disturbance of the
kind, few companies of dsrkey troops
would soon quiet them" And so they
would. The abolition of slavery here was
to have caused much bloodshed, but when
abolition came, the blood did not flow.
The members, after serving their country
and constituents two weeks, have left for
their homes generally, to rest from their
arduous labOrs and enjoy the holidays
with their families and friends, undisturbed
by the cares of State. FRANKLIN.