The New York herald., 1867-04-08
the SOUTH.
Political, Social, Agricultural and Com
mercial Prospects.
7 n E + L O O D s !.
Immense Damage to tho Low Lands
and River Bottoms.
PROGRESS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
&c. &c. 90.
T II E E l Q o D s
vIR 0iNIA.


YIN ABNtNs
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS or TINE Maiio.
Dangerous Trip Over tho Virginia s..shsiae
Railroad Horrors Of the High Brldxc-Ap.
I pearance ef Lynclburg-FsienAly ReIstivus
Between Whites md NeGr~es-A seorGia
Planter ON Senator Wlison-Celored Nemi.
nee for MnyOr-Thc Tobacco Capabilities Of
Lynohburg-NorshersC Captsali.ts. sc.
LrScuBuao, Va, March 20, 1857.
arrived here safe last night say sAfe because the
pcrils of the Virginia Southsde railroad braved
and these are by no means few This from
this city TO Petersburg length Of one hundred and
sxtyth miles, and Is famous for its war record II
being then used for transporting troops supplies &c
which reduced It TO the possible condition for
working purposes and that the whole country
been turned into marsh by the deluge OF rans
there is absolute danger in travelling It, So much
so Is this at present that the company trust
heavy engine upon It. In good weather the road
SAFE and now whom train Is passing It, the
tics twist and rock in most alarming manner Added
10 all this tho horrors of that historic bridge
the Appomatox river, known the "High
Bridge" have also TO be undergone During
tho war it was point OF great military i'm
portance. OF which both armies knew the
value; 1t was fortified and always strongly guarded
against the ncursions of several OF great federal
raiders. who made frequent attempts to destroy it, but
were always unsuccessful and 1t remained intact until
the close Of the war; when tho rebel forces fired both
ends of It, but without doing much damage. This
bridge rotten rckety and shaky, and whom IL Is
considered that It s three quarters Of mile length
at average height Of hundred and thirty feet
from the earth, supported by maze of old eaten
slender uprghts and props which shake like reeds in
breeze when the train passing it, the danger will
be easily appreciated The travel this very
slight but the few passengers that necessity forces
10 II In fearful suspense whilc tho bridge;
che train worry slowly and inmates feel they
are truly suspended BY slender thread between heaven
and earth, until they once more reach terra a Tho
greatest height Of this bridge one hundred and sixty
This city is replee with mud Il abounds in idle freed
mon, large foreign population OF whom arc here; 4
prsssats dapidaed and dirty appearance, and has
shanty for market house that weuid disgrace county
court seat in the interior Of Georgia Tho population
here b about fourteen thousand nearly onehalf Of
xhcs consists Of % and !, Is supposed their vote
Op to the prsssnt the newly enfranchissd class have
ooniuctsd themselves uniformly WE'LL being entirely 1
nicut order. They have attended to their legitimate
pursuits, observed respectful demeanor towards tho
sasation Of political characterize much unlike their
brethrsn at Richmond As consequence OF this the
:oss hs
vA slAnassly result eenescaily TO both, should
sss Sos1ssd .asso the s. Ss1. on.
s:ss :SSrssss y 1sS o pon's.ns o. any
eponsibilties; but n heard disranchised Georgia
planter cay 70 lady from Massachusetts, the cars
why, my dear madam, whore before only pollsd ono
vote can poll sevsny-n the people here feel
tAsy win have no dculsy IN securing the vote Of their
As fsrther proof Of this quoting from the planter
alluded "a. ne oontinusd:'I employ one hundred and
sixty colored peope-men women and children; pay
sSsy IKE z. and ike shsm. and TAKE ssss warm inssrss;
In thsm built them . school and pay . teacher 70
instruct their children and we're you, counryman lr
-and harsngue them for age he could not influence
70 vote CONTRARY to my wishes" So is over the
South; some may be induced to vote radically, but
the pumber will not be drop In the bucket" learn
however that document has been signed In this city
by . number OF colored citizens nominating Mr. Mar
tn Warwick coorsd, for the oco Of Mayor at The next
election.
fao the whole South, affords striking evidence OF the
bad policy Of the ruling party at the North In excluding
che South from political snts The failure Of sns crops
degree Of poverty scarcely ever before Witnessed Last
year. while there was prospect Of crops. merchants
the Aure Of these crops their inability 70 moot obiga
tons coupled with their present anomalous condition.
further credit resulted partially in the great des
tuition the South.
Thn State Is fortunate in the Of last years
tobacco CROP which good, and will be brought 70
market the weather permits u TO be dried.
This YIN give 70 nearly ."n, n nun
the bad weather alone being obstacle to activity
There nftytwo tobacco factories in the city, employ
ing an average number OF nfty hands, when working
Lynchburg is commercial centre OF great importance,
and ls even now doing brisk and thriving busi
three railroads besides which the James River canal
passes through IT, Two OF the railroads convey products
future % day LyncSburs viii become the peer oi both
Cincinnati and Chicago nnd also that Northern cap
,hs IN this section are purchesn largely and
making heavy Investments, with view to their deve
opmenl; Others have purchased plantations; while
tories horo These happy indications Of early
turn 70 restoration, and consequent prosperity.
Political Sentiment ecenstruction Social
Ostracism OF Northern Mcn-Raiiroad Trou-
bIss-The Tobacco Crop. &c.
DASvIILx, Va, April 4, 1867
Public sentiment in this part Of Virginia be said
90 be very nearly that OF North Carolina 70 being SO
near the border and what that sentiment Is not the
cssies, matter In tho world to ascertain. But by con
versaiion with the people aud the agents Of the
Frccdmcns Bureau have think learned very nearly
what the political situation Of Virginia s at this time
While on my way here met on the cars Ar. James r.
Holcomb OF Bedford county, IN original and active
secsssionise He informed me that In 1851 he
believed earnestly that the principle OF secession
was provided for by the federal constitution, but
that q higher power than tho consultation had do
cided otherwise, and he had ever since the war
felt that decision 10 BE- binding upon him. and had mado
his bost effort to Observe II He further Informed me
that he had opened schools for his colored people In
1855, and making an effort TO make them the bcs
citizens possible He entirely reconstructed, and 10
quite liberal in his v,es Of the Affairs OF the country
but am Informed by reliable that his IDEAS nnd
but few ndorsers
today met NJ Sutherland. OF this (Piitsyivsnial
county, one Of the wsa,hles men in southern Virginia
ana oy TAR the largest tobacco planter In the course Of
our conversation asked bin u he did not think IL
would have been better Virginia 10 have accepted the
constitutional amendment instead Of waiting for more
severe measures - :.