Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-06-21
THE JOURNAL.
Notes Of Travel.
Correspondence of the GariipOais JournaLlH--
R,PLEY, W. Va. June 5, '66

I y "
paper. Incidents of travel, sketche
of character OF the people, Of soil
climate and products, shall form tn,
subject Of the series, designed NOR,
to instruct than amuse, and confiuet
wholly 70 facts on which the resdel
can implicitly rely. Your CORES
pondent, lAnding at Ravenswoed OF
the Ohio river, about halfway be
J tween Gallipolis and Parkersburg
and by the way very pleasant vii
lage, took passage in s wagon fol
Ripley, the county seat of Jackson
Twelve miles travel over a lrar road
and for its greater length through ar
unbroken wilderness, brings US tc
Ripley, q town of about 300 inhabi-
tants, and in appearance somewhat
I resembling Rodney in you county.
The court was in session, and town
crowded with people. Lawyers from
Parkersburg, Charleston and other
places were in attendance, and appar-
emily having enough to do. One
Joe Smith. formerly a celebrated
lawyer os the place, and a man OF
talent, was also there, having travel
led eleven days from WythTille in
Virginia, only to find himself debar-
red from practising as an attorney,
in the very court In which for years
he was considered the most able and
elegant advocate. Mr.. Smith had
been an original secessionist, and
found it convenient TO go beyond the
confederate lines in company with a
celebrated lawyer from Point Pleas
ant, whose name was also 50 tower Of
strength" in Jackson county. Both
these gentlemen have found their
rights. A young attorney from
Charleston was on hand, but found
his services in the rebel army had
cut him off from practice. He has
concluded under the operations OF
the constitutional amendment, sto file
his declaration ofintenhon TO become
q citizen" renouueing allegiance to
tie State Of Viryinia. The idea is 3
novel one, and worthy of trial.
Several returned confederate sol
diers were in attendance at the court,
in consequence Of sundry bills of in
dietment found against them for
stalking and carrying away felonious-
ly ~" certain horses belonging to
their Union neighbors, and convert
ing the said horses TO the use of the
Southern Confederacy Several of
the accused parties compromised, by
paying for the horses, and the others
would probably follow their ex1ns
pie. Verify, these returned rebels, are
finding. West Virginia Union men,
terribly in earnest in demanding not
only their rights, but enforcing them
in such a manner as to leave no mode
of escape through any teehnicalities
of special pleading, or finely drawn
theories of justice, as set forth by the
conservatives themselves. They
have determined, ''treason shall be
made odious" and traitors punished
the Federal Government will
do so or not. They have concluded |
that those, who, under the plea of
''State Rights" took up arms to de- /
stroy the Government, shall be judg- |
ed by their own rule, and punished /
according to State laws. Let those
who feel disposed to censure them,
FOR apparent severity toward returned
rebels, think of what they were
obliged to suffer for years at the
hands Of these men, I-g.l
The wheat crop is almost 4 total
allure throughout this section Of
and farmers say they will
De obliged to purchase seed for the
lext crop. Corn, is in many places
barely above ground, but should the
season prove favorable, a tolerable
,rop may be expected. Grass is
'ery short, and can hardly recover
rom the effects of the late dry wealth
,r, in time to afford even half crop.
The large amount of old hay. yet in
he country, will supply the deficien-
~ Oats very short, and not &C
counted of any importance. OF
'rult, apples alone are seen, though
he yield will be limited. Peaches
ire wholly destroyed. This county
some fine lands for agricul-
ural purposes. 1t is mostly heavily
imbered and well watered. For
iheep raising, it IS most admirably
Idapted, and the farmers are already
urning their attention to that bust
less. An extensive woollen factory
S just commencing business at Rip
ey, and will undoubtedly be success
al. .s- Il,
Emigration to this county has al
eady commenced, and an infusion
# northern energy and spirit among
he present inhabitants, cannot fail
o produce satisfactory results. Land
5 held at very low rates, apd an en-
rgetic farmer of moderate means,
must do well, particularly. if wool
be his chief pursuit. I,
Considerable excitement exists in
ONE parts of the county. relative to
liver ores, several beds of which are
aid to have been discovered recent
y. II true, secresy is so well OBJ
erved by the lucky finders thereof,
hat no reliable information can bel !
btained in regard to them. So ,
much for the county of Jackson at
arge, but as for the town of Ripley, |
S torn, it is unquestionably one of !
he very best in the State -t to |
cave. "EX."
Writ c. H., w. Va. |,
June 10 1864 ,