The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-08

70 We ASsssstv ~ 49, NyySesps. W0 ~ 49,
+ Al 10 my tour Into viaglniA, sad what
tfsbssrveA while tASYea I'm ffee % say
tho result surprised me not a little. sgs
Accustomed rs hare besn TO reading
otr Northern newspapers, and hearing Of
tho refractory spirit Of the people south,
resolved, for my own comfort, not TO In.
troduce OF invite any conversation or dis
cussion on political subjects, at the same
time expected to ljSten to great deal Of
talk on subjects aliied TO, or growing ont Of,
the rebellion, and / had reason 10 antici-
pate the hearing Of much rough talk.
While In Richmond Iendeavorcd to find
out where to 90 to hear southern talk, and
! expected TO End all could listen to; but
to my surprise, though visited stores,
warehouses, hotels, and rovcd around
among the hborers employed on the new
buildings, did not once hear political
subjects discussed.
The next, day Mr.. John +. Rathbun, of
New York, and Messrs. +, NJ. Maize and
J. O. Roads, Of Pottsville John j. Wertb,
of Richmond Willis Bristol, Of New Ha-
ven, and myself, resolved upon trip into
the country, under the leadership of Mr..
Rathbun.
Passing out Of Richmond northerly, We
found General Schofeld's camp, composed
OF about 1900 men, located on fine open
lot by the roadside, just inside Of the old
rebel earthworks.
Here We tarried awhile to hear the regi-
mental band discourse fine music, and
then proceeded northcrly upon our inland
trip. ...
We followed the general route of tho
James river, though at times somewhat
easterly Of 1t, until at evening We reached
Carbon HILL" new locality of interest,
which will speak of hereafter.
| + At this place We were entertained by
Mr.. and Mrs. Muir, and in a manner which
would do credit TO the best Of housekeep-
erS'
Here again pause to say that the peo-
pie We met were silent upon political SUBJ
jects, except few jovial remarks by the
physician of the place, and machinist
who was impressed into the Confederate
army the former thinking it was a fair
fight, and well ended, while the latter
thought it unfair to impress men into the
service, and lucky the man who came out
of it with his life. He also said that he
thought the rebel managers were thieves
from the beginning, and added that he paid
81 800 of their currency for barrel Of
-four for his family the week before the
evacuation of Richmond.
Returning to Richmond, I was deter
mined to find the hot-bed of secession,
and to this end made tour through the
city again, and more extended, including a
call at the five newspaper Offices, in each
of which sat down and run over the pa
perS, noted the incomcrs and outgocrs, and
the general conversations which occurred.
To my surprise not one word was said con-
corning political matters. No, not in a
single instance, although l must have met
at least fifty persons, apparently represent
ing all grades of society.
From each office I took paper, and on
retiring TO my rooms / looked them over,
and to my surprise found several most
bitter and war-like editorials, which read
like invitations TO another fight, and de-
nouncing Congress and the Radical North.
The next morning / determined to re-
peat my visits and to strike the keynote
myself, whereby l would be sure to hear
personal vindications of the southern cause
and maledictions for the North. To my
surprise, instead Of producing flashes from
their eyes, and heated discussions, was
simply told in one case, with smile,
"Well, it is all We can do; - the North
has it all their own way" eve are as
good as they, henceforth, and our loyalty
to the Constitution and the Union is not
second to theirs
In another case I was answered, refer
ring to their editorial on the North, "Wcll,
we read your Radical papers, and feel an
cry at their conduct toward us. They
seem to strive to produce all the alienation
possible, and use such language and threats
toward us that we feel eXasperated, though
We know we arc helpless" a @tb
In another, "lIave we not been punished
enough-ifany we deserved? We have been
brought down to the last cent of money.
We felt rich one week after the evacua-
ton with six dollars of greenbacks in our
pockets. Why not believe us when we
say we accept of the results of the war and
never want another? Why not treat us as
brethren and Chistians?" &C., &c. Indeed,
though the conversations were spread over
much time and were joined in by those
coming and going, did not hear an angry
or disloyal word, and gave up seeking for
what supposed was as common in Rich
mond as are flies in midsummer.
Mynext ramble was upon Capitol square.
Here Imet few loungcrs ofvarious grades
they were oil white-natiycs, Irish, and
German. v
The white laborers complained of no
arork. What, no work, when the half of
Richmond is being rebuilt? Yes, no work,
for white man has no chance here; they
will hire a dozen old slaves to one white
man. Yes, sir, there is no chance for a
poor white man here.
/ had noticed, while viewing the new
stores and warehouses going up in the midst
Of acres of ruins, that the laborers were
nearly all black, and no part of the building
was erected without their .aid-stone-cut
tiers, layers of stone and brick, carpenters,
workers upon iron fronts, caps, and cor
nices,y timers, layers of slate, &C., SC. |;
indeed, it may be said that acres of build
ines,, Of the latest New York styles, are
now erecting over the burnt district, and a
large majority Of the laborers and artisans
are blacks.
) Richmond has advanced already in ma
terial prosperity as far, say their leading
men, as they expected 1t could in five
years. This was also common expression
among the people. 14x sa1sli ya
In conclusion, almost every article of
merchandise in Richmond has come from
the North, and is to be paid for; and the
same is true Of building materials. They
have bnt little money, and will not have
much more until they get in their crops, of
tobacco and corn, the product Of which
promises very fair indeed. To my senses