The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-09
FROM NORTHERN vIRCIyM-HOW RECON.
STRUCTIOy WORKS.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE uE TINE HERALD.

Former Prosperous Condition Of tho Cosn.
try-Prcscnt Wrctched Aspect Of the Same
Fniiurc OF the Rcconsfructien AIeasures-
Conflict of Rnccs-A Rising Of the Negroes
Considered Immiuent.
wAsHnsros. Dec q, 1857.
The following statement OF the reconstructed tho
northern counties Of vrgnaa subject At present pos
sessing interests condensed from the
tons entered in your correspondents notebook dsrng
recent journey through these countisa
had been in this region 1901. Al that time
the aspect Of the country calculated cheer the
and exhlarate the heart or the observer Nothing
seemed to have been wanting 20 make this OF the
most promising countries the civilized world; he
found everywhere fruitful nelds, romantic and most
agreeable scenery, busy towns, thriving villages,
mills well stocked farms, noble manslons delightful
cottages. churches OF venerable antiquity. The nbabit-
ants industrious, and seemed happy ir the pros
pea OF Ineasurcess improvement; their hospitality,
courteousnoss and anabiitv favorable impression
every stranger. Trade and agriculture were in
nourishing state.
This wassix years ago: and now in November. 1867,
revisited this region had, OF course expected
some changes-sne effects Of the .catastrophes which
oversadowed the ennre ccon,ry for ,four yearsbus
had exper led nothing like what nov saw before
The contrast was startling. While proceeding my
way IN open-eyed wonder, vas continually asking
myself whether. in reality, this could be the happy
land had known before tho war; Tho vivid rcc0lec.
lions OF the highly prosperous Virginia OF former days
faded like an unsubslsntia vision before the terrible
present reality To anyone who really secs this State a.
II actually IL NJ the present the spectacle
sad one Trade y crippled agriculture sadly neglected
and the country people look deary stess and withoat
any CLEAN of hope expressed IN their faces We cannot
nut feel regret on seeing former owno OF largo farms
reduced 10 the ranss Of a5crnz rather not aborng
Poverty on ali sides, often In It's form
the spirits OF everybody considerably below houses
without any other furniture except boys and ers fam
es often IN OF bread and always In Of every
thing that meht elevate and rsnne human life.
Toe Frcedmen's Bureau systeIn-pausblc Ia theory.
false and highly injurious in It's practical working-has
produced disastrous results; indeed the Of the
wboie reconstruction scheme appears 70 have exercised
fatal influence the farming and mercantile inter-
csis OF tho state 90 rapidly tho work of demorays
ton spreading that the people here fast approaching
tho stAe oil things in Georgia, where, according 20
southern paper men are standing before the doors Of
groceries, smoking their corn-cob pipes and say
ing. " How the deuce 10 raise without
lahort - Tor coOred mon, II you ask them "a york
tnsy simply rhake their wooy heads, much ~ %
say, "kahor not obliged 10 all the same" Various
means have been r led for rclc country DIS
ricts but without avail because they not the right
means Oughs not our lealsators 10 10 asked A. tho
owner OF The srcchedly Loan marc xas asked. Have
you ever tricd her with oNisY
The only people who appear 70 derive great pcnent from
the rcconstrucsn system the negroes, for the MAORI
~ OF our present national legislators are no more able 10
SEQ the ismenznc condition 81 the southern vh.c people
than Nelson a. Copenhagen able TO see the signal
OF the admiral When the signaltc cease nrpS appeared
his blind eye saying. Really, don't see The signal
Our national Solsns dons sec because they dont want
20 see.
The humiliations 70 which The white people 10 this
The rnen stand perpcxcd aud distressed a. beholdng
state Of th ngs to which history. 80 fruitful In example.
does scarcely furnish parallel ON AL occasions prayers
are enefsd ~ for he viomph o. ne caucasian over