The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-04-27
IFoR THE DAY Book
For THE DAY Book.
Matthews Colts Appearance-The
Want of LabOr-Feelings of the Peo-
pie as to the Riot, &c.

country homestead, surrounded by all that
is beautiful in nature, with noble river
within glance Of my eye, and before me
an orchard of fruit trees, clothed in blooming
livery l take my pen to hold little COM
munion with your valuable journal.
arrived here on Tuesday week last, and
must say, in commencing this letter, that /
am highly pleased with the appearance of
this county, and its inhabitants. had often
heard, ere "cruel war" swept Ger this land,
the people of Matthews and Gloucester laud-
ed in the highest terms for their sociability
and hospitality, and the old failing seems yet
to have existence, war and poverty to the
contrary notwithstanding.
This is decidedly one Of the most singular
eccentric looking counties it has ever been
my pleasure to visit. 1t would l feel con-
WINGED, be difficult matter to find resi-
dence within its domain not situated immedi-
ately on the water. Rivers of pure water
seem to run through it, and thereby give
every one, who so desires, the pleasure of
building on its banks, and liUing on its fish,
crabs and oysters.
The stranger visiting this county will be
struck with the large quantity of land lying
waste, and will naturally inquire: "Why is
it so much good soil is left uncultivated p
Are there not enough freedmen to cultivate
your lands ?"
This question was put to me by some Ma
rylanders, few days since, who were on
visit to this county, and by my contact with
farmers here, since my arrival, was enabled
to give them an answer-the genuine answer
of the farmer.
"Sir," said I, "the freedmen don't work for
US except by the day." You may be able,
occasionally, to hire them by the week If
so, when you pay them for the week, they
leave you, not to return until they have ex-
pended the amount in their pocket don't
wish to plant crop of corn and then have
it perish for the want of working. can get
it put in the ground, but is there any GER
tainty that can hire it worked after putting
it in the ground? Certainly not, in these
times.
"But" says he, 1--WE have no trouble about
our crops in the State of Maryland. We
employ freedmen and they are doing we'll"
'That may be" said l. "but you must re-
member that you have no "Freedmen's Bu-
reau" to contend with; that you have civil
authority to enforce your contracts, and that
your county of Somerset is not filled with
New England school teachers and would-be-
lawyers, putting in their heads idle notions
and homestead schemes. You must come to
Virginia, and then you will be able to appre-
ciate the difficulties under which the Virginia
| farmer labors."
"That is all true" sir, said he. "The black
| man, believe, is naturally idle, and, there
| fore, will be violator of contracts. In Or
der to cultivate your lands you must have la
bor-labor which you can depend upon, and
which will not desert you at the time you
| need it,"
| This brief conversation sufficiently explains
why so much good soil is wasted in this
| county. The quantity of Freedmen. l am
| induced to believe, is not great in this county.
| In my travels have seen but few, but, per-
haps, they may seem scarce to me after leav-
ing the mnltitudes at Norfolk and Hampton.
MArArtha1nss. The robbing OF hen-ronst or
smoke-house, IS very frequent occurrence, /
am informed.
| Upon mixing with the people here, have
found that they were much excited over the
recent negro riot in Norfolk. They regard it
as the beginning of the end" of the deluded
black man, and, at the same time, they ex-
press their sympathy for the poor, deluded
race of humanity. They believe that by the
restoration of civil authority, freed from the
guardianship of the military, this race, by the
| passage of good and wholesome laws, may be
made useful members of society, and a sea of
blood be averted God knows, they have
good reason for wishing for no more war and
bloodshed They have been made poor
they are most cruelty poverty stricken, many
of them have not the means to purchase
horse and pillow to break up the little land
they have left, and their hairs have been
made white by the "trials and tribuations"
of the late war. Why should they wish for
another scene of blood 2
| | have been SO fortunate as to obtain copies
| of your paper whilst have been here, and
have distributed it among the farmers, They
admire much the bold stand you have taken
as to the recent riot in Norfolk An intelli-
gent physician said to me a few days SINCE
land say it in no idle spirit of fattery,)
that is the best paper in Norfolk! !" In fact
| think ] shall have to advise them, amid all
their poverty, to subscribe to the Weekly
Day Book, and thereby get all the news for
small sum- a.
About one mile from where am now seat
ed, may be found The village of Westville, bet
ter known as Mathews c. Ii. Here may be
seen the old Court House, Hotel de ulle, and
Disciples Church here the beauty of the
county congregate to make their purchases,
supply their, perhaps. now tattered wardrobes
from the large and well selected wardrobe of
Messrs, Dunlavy & Co., and here may be
found any quantity of Doctors and Lawyers
Among the former, notice, DR.. VIM.
Vaughn, formerly of Hampton, Va, and
among the latter, Major Baker P. Lee, for
merly an Editor of your city, and afterwards
one of the Editors of the Richmond Enquirer.
also notice large storehouse, now closed,
and although I cannot see its interior, am
informed by by-stander, that cit would
grace a city"
must now bring to close, this imperfect
sketch of things and matters here And in
so doing, / must be pardoned few words as
to the ladies. In fact, it would be both I'M