The New York herald., 1867-04-15
Records OF Our Travelling
Correspondents.
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Present Appearance Of the Late
Rebellious States.
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CROPS AND CROP PROSPECTS.
PROGRESS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
&c. 10. 10.
vIR q INIA.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE Of THE HERALD.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE Of THE HERALD.
Travel In virglnla--Ths James River Canal
Bad ManaGement-The eMountains-Scens-
ry-Thc Natural Bridge-Remorse Of DIR.
Watson-Extcnuatisg Circumstances In His
Cass-Pslitical sentimcnts Of the People,
Reconstruction- Conversations With ths
Blacks-How Their Votes VIII Go-Condi-
sion Of tho Country-The Crops, Roads, &c.
NATURAL BaIDoR, Rockbndge County, Va
March 20. 1857. J
II there anything in Virginia that needs reconstruc
ton more than another, Is the present system Of
travel throughout the whole State Tho men under
whose management the railroads, canals and othcr
routes now to be devoid Of every qualification
heir business would require They Slow inactive and
without particle OF either energy or enterprise Tho
roads in the State are In . condition that renders II
almost unsafe TO travel upon them. They all require
new rolling stock and new, practical men to
superintend them. The canals and stage lines
are still moro miserable, though not much
risk 10 occasioned by travelling upon them.
All require thorough renovating, and until q rcvou-
ton In the present management has taken place. their
will be little pleasure satisfaction in travelling in
Virginia, while all parties willing to take the conse
quences would do well TO be insured Neither are the
officers OF Of the companies particular to how
they provide for the welfare Of their passengers how
they fuln their contracts with them-an instance Of
which will relate.
Taking passage at Lynchburs for Lexington, which is
at present the terminus the canal the packet boat
at eight A. NJ We arrived at place called Big Island
the border Of Bedford and Amherst counties the James
river being the dividing line at about IL. NJ. when
dinner wa announced We had scarce commenced our
meal when the captain informed that consequence
of accident the down boat could not come, and
ho would have to roturn to Richmond, our journey
should be completed in fiat or ferry boat. This news
could not at the time appreciate; dinner for
Op valh
Of dimnutive wood nat The weather was extremely
cold the wind blew perfect gale that required us
party were nearly famished BY this time had trav
elled eight miles, which brought US to Rope Ferry
by OF rope attached TO at both sides Of the
river Al this place the current was violently srong
the wind might almost be termed hurricane, and the
miserable boat In which We had TO cross was heavily
laden with human freight.
After tho most terrible exertion the part Of the
opposite sde when again embarked asor Of cigar
boat which, howey er had the advantage Of hurricane
cold In this We travelled through most delightful
country. On one sidc OF the canal the mountains
xssera edse IN s coustuoon and higher and higher
lowered hill upon hill seeming to reach almost TO the
clouds in the dusk q tho evening Is We g..ed upon
boat The whole country here presents wild
and magnificent appearance, not even surpassed
n had arrived at Gilmors mills. where the Lexing
ton passengers had to land having travelled eleven
Wild mountainous country lady with her little son
and three gentlemen, abandoned by the olcers OF tho
and ssvsr rom any hotel shero prossoton could Be-
sought In this emergency freedman came 70 our AID
who pcsd your correspondent and another across shs
here We procured convsyance which was immedistsly
sent for The LADY, her son and remaining Ssns':%ss sl'
only q sampls Of Virginia enterprise.
. THE NATURAL BRp0R
One Of the greatest natural curostios Of the age ID
situated In Rockbrdgs county, about fourteen miles from
Lexington, and thirty miles vest OF Lynchburg by
where an artificial one would have been required and
has the peculiarly that one may be upon IT. and might
walk over u frequently without percetvins As great
bridge. spans Q wide shasm between two mountains
at the bottom Of which runs small stream. To ap..
prsciaae Il the visitor must descend to the bed
look up he becomes fairly appalled, at the great
of this wonder OF nature. From the arch 10 the
the spsn Of each is about one hundred feot while the
width Ii about tho same. Here saw scratched the
name Of George Washington on smooth portion Of the
rock, said to DO done by his own hand and around II
are innumeabe Others ell evidently ambitious 70 regis
the indoble page with the Father Of their
visiting place. and on the registry Of last year found
the Of Swiss, French and other European fami
q we'll As visitors from North and South
About four miles from here lives the man whose name
has become notorons as that Of an unpunished nur-
defor. Curiosity led mo to visit the scene OF tho col
lision between the carriages, and afer careful exam
ination OF tho whole case am inclined TO think there
none however justify the deliberate murder OF which
no was guilty. The road ut tho place is very narrow.
70 bo prccipi,aied into which would Be certain
destruction. Both the families OF Echos and
Watson were returning from church in their
respective carriages driven by negroes amongst whom
rivalry for driving qualities always existed one wish
ing to pass the other 10 stated b, citizens Who con-
dsmn Watson for his rash act that the deceased negro
promised brbc by Mrs Echols provided he should
pass the carriage OF Watson Thus stimulated he en-
wac have resulted IN aanhn
his family suddenly into eternity Everybody is familiar
with che remainder Watson u the son Of 2 very re-
spectacle and wealthy parent who resides a Charotts-
married Miss Grecnce, Of this county, whosc family
casscd among that choice selection known as the first
families Since the murder Watson has been the victim
OF singing remorse, and has daily become more and
into dsrious state, which, with the image Of his vic
tim constantly before him, makes his punishment greater
by fsr than had the Law been strictly executed Lately
ssnos in spirsaous liquors. bu, for which there IS no
wise and patriotic they feel more q ease since the
under the provisions o2 which they win bs allowed q
become reconstructed and restored 70 tbs Union They
command Of the dstrc and state that nothing win give
them greater pleasure than In rendering tho exercse Of
his powers light and 10 ssssins him In every case and
in every manner In which their services would be bcno-
ncIa They have terrible dread Of oonAscasion which
while Thad Stevens Ben Butler are in the House,
neiu Ov0r tncm - unWnin8 tOuCn 70 tnor ruin ana
degradation Were the people Of Virginia 70 know to-
morrow that such proposition found any favor what
ever In Congress- enterprise would stand still; crops
would neither be sown reaped harvested the people
would become demorazcd and chaos and anarchy would
result upon ts becoming alaw Leaving all this out Of
the question u would be mposslbility To place the
whole Southern country In the market The negroes II
Was parccllcd out al ong them could not work H. or
even make living. and unless the former owners
extsrminated Northern foreigner would feel
safe 10 the possession Of such property, and conse
or the South In such case The present peaceful
inhabitants would be driven 70 sock homes foreign
ands the country would become DESERT lawiessncss
and disordor would epsue and Ill hopes of prosperity
would be forever gone - Mt -
Ine nessos s noc' ~ "ovouns nv VI .ne'r noIauon non
great privileges recently bestowed upon their race
There arc very few In this section, having mostly - II
their custom, hocked 70 the towns and citieG Those
however, that do remain arc little changed in their
dsmeanor; they work quietly and faithfully and seem
70 b. contsnted- Walking lcsursly met two sable
citizsns who vending their way towards The iron
works on the James canal IN search OF employ.
.fta ha