Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-16

Correspondence Of the Union and Americana
UNIVERSITY, VIRGINIA, Sept. 10th, 1866.
1t will be many years before Virginia
can be restored to her original stains in
point of agriculture, commerce and eduea-
ton. While in Southwestern Virginia, as
well as in the Northwestern portions of the
State, there is an evident progress in recu-
peration, agriculturally, in this and other
portions Of the State everything is stagnant,
lethargetic. In brief, nothing is being done
From New river, some eighty miles east of
Bristol, TO Lynchburg, and from the latter
place to this locality, Charlottesville, the
country wears desOlate and destitute as
peel. But few indications of old Virginia's
energy and industry. The war with its re-
suits seems to have crushed and Frustrated
their energies. They may recover from
their embarrassments and yet restore the
country to its original status; but much time
will elapse ere such period and such desired
results can be realized.
The commercial traffic of the country is
mere cipher compared with go and '6l.
While there is AN increase in the number of
mercantile firms throughout the State-ap-
parently more capital invested-there is
really less business done than ever before
In this section there is no money of any
consequence. The truth is there is nothing
to bring money into the country. The crops
are failures-nine-tenths of the corn seldom
promising yield exceeding two bushels per
acre; wheat, none scarcely. The mining in
terest of the country promises nothing; and
as the lands are naturally poor, and as sla-
very is extinct, but small breadths of land
are in cultivation. Those who own large
tracts of land cling 10 them with misery
tenacity, and refuse any encouragement 70
the introduction of foreign laborers. If
such an enterprise as the Tennessee Colonial
and Immigration Company was only pat
ronized, the whole country would blossom
as the rose" for the soil of the State is well
adapted to improvement and recuperation,
according to the theories of modern agri-
culturists.
The educational interests of the State are
more fattering than anything else that has
come under observation.
Aside from this institution and Washing
ton College, over which General LEE pre-
sides, there are scores of colleges and acade-
mics, as well as preparatory schools, all of
which are prosperous.
This institution stands pre-eminently
above all. While we admire many other
institutions throughout the State, and we
might say the South, still, for literary lore
and scientific research, we are forced to con-
eede the mede of praise to this time honored
school. The faculty are known to the learn
ed as scholars of the ripest erudition, being
graduates, not alone of American, but of
the most famous schools Of Continental Eu-
rope.
To-day, Colonel PETERS, formerly of En-
orys and Henry College, was elected to a
professorship in the University. He is one
Of the ripest scholars Of the age. He is a
graduate of Hieldeburg, Germany. The
buildings of the University Became some
what dilapidated during the war. But in a
short time this will all be remedied. Up
wards of 500 students have made applica-
ton for rooms. There will be at least 600
in attendance. They come from every di-
rection. Many have already come in from
Texas. Large numbers are leaving the
colleges North, who live in the Southern
States, and are coming to this place and Lex
ington. They say that they cannot stand
the insults of the Radical schOols-the feel
ing of tyranny becoming more significant
daily.
A large per cent. Of the students this term
will be from Tennessee, Alabama and Texas
1t seems strange that these States will pat
ronize the schools of this State in preference
to their own. If their schools are indifIer-
ent, and this is the cause Of their young
men seeking education in this State, some
method should be adopted by which to REM
edy the deficiency. 1t can and should be
done.
l find that there are hundreds of young
men from Tennessee all through this State
attending eUeR the preparatory and academic
schools There is evidently no necessity for
this
The importance of an educational spirit
being enlisted and cultivated is obvious. 1t
should be done at once, to the obliteration
of this apparent dependence upon Virginia
schools for education. NJ.