The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-26
Destitution in Alabama.

We copy, from the Baltimore Sun, the sub
joined account of the great restitution in Ala
bama. The Sun justly says, "the idea of
women and children thus agonized and starv-
ing in land of plenty, with the North and
the West overrunning with abundance, and
their people reveling in extravaganza and
luxury, is horror SO great, that it ought to
inspire action on every hand:
Renewed accounts reach US from Alaba-
ma of the very great restitution, resulting in
much suffering, and, in some instances in alb
solute starvation. The condition of the poor
there appeals loudly to the sympathies of all
benevolent people, and prompt measures
should be taken to extend relief to them. The
people of Baltimore have done much for the
sufferers in the South generally, but of course
our aid has gone mostly to those more Access
sible sections reached by way of the coast,
and our steam lines. Far in the interior, in
the isolated districts in Alabama, corr espon-
dence of date as late as 9th of June, from a
traveller through the Coosa valley, tells of the
emaciated poor women, with their nearly
naked children, picking wild vegetables from
which to make meal for themselves, and in
reply to questions, declaring that there had
not been an ounce of meal or meat in their
houses for many days-women and children,
whose husbands had been slain IN the war,
living entirely for week at a time upon
boiled greens, with neither salt nor pepper.
They declared that they had no way to live,
and could not get seed to plant their gardens.
One old decrepit female was met, clothed
i'll worn wrapper of coarse domestic, carry
ing on her back sack containing half
bushel of meal, which she had brought eight
cen miles from Guntersville Her four sons
had been killed, two of them leaving families,
and the mother of one of these families hav-
ing since died, the old grandmother had four
children which were left to take care Of A
boy, who was found with half peck of meal,
had no meat at his house since August of last
year, and they only had an average of peck
week of the meal now given them and he
declared that the people all around were as
bad off as his own family Some ore hum
dred persons conversed with by the CORES
pendent all gave accounts as doeful as these.
To such variations no human soul can be in
different, and they seem to call for prompt
and special effort, in order that relief may be
afforded and life be saved. The idea of
women and children thus agonized and starv-
ing in a land of plenty, with two great see
tons-the North and West-overrunning
with abundance, and their people reveng in
extravaganza and luxury, is horror so great,
that it ought to inspire action on every hand
Some relief, it seems, is being offered, most
ly from the West, and Governor Patton, of
Alabama, has lately been at Cincinnati, and
is now at ST. Louis, to borrow money on the
bonds of the State with which to avert fur
Their suffering, and continue support to these
poor people until they can accomplish some
thing for themselves. He offers 8 per cent
bonds, and as the debt of Alabama, including
back interest funded, is only $5,3O6,OOO, and
as her credit stood as high as even that of
Massachusetts, or Maryland before the war, he
certainly ought to have no difficulty in nego-
tiating the limited amount that he calls for,
some $50 900, in each of those cities. By the
railroads South from shat section, supplies
are more readily sent to the interior of Ala
bama and the Gulf States than from any
other quarter, perhaps; but an energetic spe-
cial effort, and the employment Of proper
agent, if necessary, would be highly credita-
bic to others operating from the coast side
| The restitution in that unfortunate part of
the Union until adequately relieved must be-
come even greater than at present"