The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-06

months, and eight, ten, or seven-very
rarely less, for the whole year-that Is
to say, only one, two, three or four per
cent more than lawful interest in New
England. We wondert that this case of
still greater distress and destitution has
been neglected by Mr.. Sprague.
The Commercial Bulletin, Boston
print, in which we find these heart
rending accounts, comments upon them
In vein of inimitsble irony, thus:
"The past six months have proved a
season Of prosperity and large profits to
our New England manufacturers"
"The makers of cotton fabrics have
been especially fortunate in their opera
tions, and such has been the demand for
their products, that, WITHDRAWING their
machinery to the full extent of its ca
pacity-or, rather, the supply of opera
tive labor-they have been sold close up
at net profit varying from twenty-five
to one hundred per cent. The same good
luck and activity have been participated
in by manufacturers of woollen goods,
clothing, boots and shoes, hardware,
etc., who have all been doing thriving
and satisfactory business, both as regards
the volume and the profits"
And SO this journalist goes on making
sport of the miseries of his fellow-crea
lures, who get only "a net profit vary
ing from twenty-five to q hundred per
cent" Yet, to do him justice, we ought
to mention that he proceeds to remark
that this state of things cannot be per-
manent, and that Congress must yet In
terfere for the relief of the manufacturer
by legislation. After all, therefore, we
must allow that the writer Of the para
graph which we have quoted is not 30
hard-hearted as he might at first thought
appear.
FIRE UNDER THE ASHES.
We give the above title to the follow
ing article, which we copy from the
Richmond Examiner Of Thursday
Virginia was the last to yield to the
secession movement and to raise an OPP
posing front to the Union, but her
course, though reluctant, was marked
by all her former dignity. We know
how she bore herself throughout the
four long years of bloody strife. All
that the mighty resources of the Gov
eminent could do was done-every shaft
entered her barred bosom-and to-day
she bears the frightful scars of that
fearful conflict. Under the Southern
Cross, her valour was foremost, the lau-
rels she won unfading, and future ages
will acknowledge the glory of her deeds.
No people displayed more heroism in a
struggle for separate existence than the
South. Whether right in the principles
she defended, 1t is useless now to inquire.
Like the heroine, she bows in acqui-
escence to the will Of the Supreme.
Virginia waged war, not selflshly, not
for ACKNOWLEDGMENT, nor from ambition;
she saw her soil must be the battle
field--that her valleys must re-echo the
din and clash Of arms, and her streams,
now historick, run cfims0ned with the
blood of her sons; she accepted the
gage from principle and honour, and
defeated and Inundated as she is, her
moral character in the great family of
the worldtowers majestick, magnificent,
even amid the ruins of her former
greatness. What moral sublimity, in-
deed, does her attitude, all SCARED and
bleeding, picture to our saddened hearts,
appealing for firm vindication of her
former dignity.
State rights are not all annihilated,
and much grave responsibility devolves
upon the whole people In making dig
nifled and manly stand upon the issues
before US. Our losses in mere material
wealth, though enormous IN the aggre-
gate, may, by economical legislation, be
redeemed, and we recover the full stat
ure and strength of our former physical
organization. Yet, il we lose our an
Giant nrestiga. sacrifice to power the
high moral tone OF our ancient dignity,
we will be but mere slaves to the Gov
eminent that rules over US. We know
of nothing so potent in its Influences as
the unshrinking, fearless and dignified
demand of our just rights that spirit
which the Establishments of power can
cover. Let there be no coward hearts,
no shaking knees, no suppliant petit
tons. Danish from society the fawn-
ing, cringing sycophant who would
sell his birthright for mess of pottage,
az unworthy Of our contempt, and let
us exercise our ancient Roman dignity
as Virginians.
AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS. i.l 3
From the Petersburg Express OF friday ,
In the section of country around this
city we have made such enquiries as we
could, in order to ascertain the DISPOSE
ton of the freedmen relative to labor en-
gagements and the prospects of the year
for our farmers. The Information we
have derived is not full and positive
enough to justify the expression of de-
cided opinion in the premises, and we
therefore can only judge partially and
imperfectly as to probable results. In
some neighb0rhOOds. we are told, the
freedmen manifest a willingness to enter
into contracts for the year upon fair
terms, and such contracts have been
made and are still making. In other
neighborhoods, we learn from intelligent
and reliable sources, that the negroes are
averse to contracts, and that consequent
~, there being but few ifany white labor
ers, the farmers are very much embar-
raised and discouraged IN their efforts
to make suitable arrangements for the
year. We are inclined to think that
this is generally the case in the region
Of country south and west of US. It is
certain that large majority Of the me-
groes are yet undecided what to do, and
that any reliance upon their services
upon plantations is at present altogether
precarious. The time is rapidly approach
Ing for active agricultural operations.
Indeed, any further delay In preparing
for the tobacco and corn crops will be
exceedingly injurious to the public as
well as to individual interests. 1t is
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