The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-15
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
PETERSBURG, january IA, 1866


Among the venerable institutions OF TINS
city serving to connect the present with ior'''e'
generations, there are two winch us. W.
spicuous above all others. THESE are TIC o''
Market and the City Jail They inquire III 'A
scene like the relics Of an antediiu'ian "e,
The public records will doubtless sho"
thew were erected: the memory OF NV"
meth not back TO the date ther'oi.
sonablc TO conclude, therefore, rs Is 'ne i'. y
tina, the one is the pride ana the Je"eio VI 'h,
citizens while the oiher Is the oehsh' vi "i'
oo.rnaars against the law 1t has become 20
dilapidated, or Is so constructed, tnat hait u
dozen prisoners may be lodged in it tonight,
and nv tomorrow morning they will all hay"
walked out-for 10 say escaped would imply
some stratagem-and returned to their several
occupations that is, TO commit other acts
which shall subject them 10 another arrest
when the same solemn farce is acted over
again This has been the condition OF the
public Jail for many months. during ina
time il has received numerous Offenders "i'hi'
its walls and if 4 single one now remains, ~ i
from choice, and not compulslon lhere are
persons in this law-atidng community who
think this game of hide and seek has been
played long enough, and that the time has
replace it bv a new one. The City Fathers
have not yet, however, acquiesced III TINS
opinion. They have discussed the subject
with great eloquence and ability, employed
builders TO make an estimate of the expense,
and, marvellous TO relate, have made the DIS
coyery that il will cost money. So uncX-
pected n result has caused them TO draw the
purse-strings of the public fsc little tighter ;
and, lest the tension might be relaxed, the
matter has been indefinitely postponed. IL is
proposed hereafter TO send the culprits TO the
Chesterfield Jail, or that of your goodly city.
In case Richmond shall be honored with the
company of any of these distinguished gentry,
il is hoped You will appreciate the compli-
ment, and open wide your doors-that is, the
doors of your jail-to receive them with be-
fitting honors.
The Old Market deserves 4 more extended
panegyric it must therefore, be reserved for
n subsequent occasion.
The Freedmen Court yesterday presented a
scene Of unusual excitement, and a large
crowd chiefly of soldiers, was gathered out
side of the door. A negro had fallen into a
difficulty with q couple of soldiers, and was
severely beaten. The parties We're all arrested
by the police and brought into court, when,
after examination, one of the soldiers was dis
charged. The other was handed over TO the
police. The circumstance on its own merits
scarcely deserves notice-such affairs being
not unfrequent-but it is gratifying to record
the fact thar some Difference is paid to civil
rule Another noticeable feature in this as in
nearly all cases of violent collision, is that
they occur between the soldiers and negroes.
Ii is very certain that Northern people are
but little acquainted with the peculiar char
acteristics of the negro. If the poor creatures
We're RENTED altogether TO the care and pro-
lection of their former masters, their welfare
would be promoted; though ii will be better
perhaps in the end that they should have
passed through the experiences of the tranSi-
ton state. They may thus learn in the course
of time who are their true friends.
Since the return of mild weather, the mar
kets have been abundantly supplied with all
manner Of provisions. The various stalls and
,4nds We're yesterday filled with flesh and
fowl, butter and eggs, vegetables, dried fruits,
and other articles too tedious to enumerate.
There has not been display so abundant
since the holidays. SNowDES.