Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-04-05

We are indebted - the pOliteneSS OF
Gov Worth for the following letter from
Col. Covington, showing the destitution in
Union County. We hope ii may have its
proper weight upon the public mind.
MONROE, UNION COUNTY, \. c.,
March 9th, 1867.
10 His ErceHeacu, Jonathan UoTtd, G0rer-
nor. eff n c.:
Nj DEAR Sir Il write to inform you Of
she great scarcity of breadstufts, the gener-
al restitution, and the prospects OF imme-
diate starvation, with many citizens, both
white and colored, OF this county. Almost
daily, since my return home from Raleigh,
have l heard their piteous complaints and
doleful stories in relation to their prospects
for bread. Many of them industrious and
good citizens and who have heretofore lived
well, but who, on account of the unpreCe-
dented drought of last year.. the scarcity of
money, and the rigid cash system that Is
now applied to all, are unable to help them
selves
Onyestcrday met with poor widow who
said she had seven children, and had not
bread enough for herself and family a week,
and was unable to purchase. and knew not
how she would obtain assistance ; and to-
day q young woman, whose mother is a
widow with six or seven children, came to
I4lN uOtSG dIiIt 1IlOILuCC INC IlluI uGI HOlu-
cr had notified the children that they must
leave home and get in where they could :
that they had not bread enough to last
them the balance of this week. To stay at
home, starvation was, with them, inevita-
BILE. l know this family well they are III
dustrlOuS and frugal, and heretofore have
been well to do. The young woman APP
piled for Il home at my house, but having
taken IN others, III a similar condition,
had no room for her. [ instance these two
cases to give you some idea of the cOndi-
ton of hundreds of people, if not thou
sands, in this county. Continually [ see
Hooking to the town people from various
parts, apply for their moiety of the corn
generously apportioned to this county by
yourself and Col. Bomford, from the dOna-
ton OF those ministering angels, the benev-
client ladies of the city of New York, and |
hereby take the liberty, in behalf of the
suffering fellow-citizens Of my county, tc
tender to them, through you and the com
mander Of the military Post of Raleigh, oul
grateful Acknowledgements for the same
Will state in this conneXion, however
that the corn has not reached our county
it may be III Charlotte, but of that [ an
not certain.
l learn from the newspapers that the
Congress of the United States has appro,
prlated a million of dollars for the re-
lief of the South, and [ also learn from
the public prints that various other large
amounts, at different places North, have
been made up and donated to the
relief OF INDECENT persons in the
Southern States. [ deem it unneces.
sary to make any further appeal to you in
behalf of the people of my county, in the
distribution of the appropriation from
Congress- and the donations alluded To for
I know, if you have any voice in the mat.
ter, the people of this co Inty will be he.
membered and in conclusion, allow me tc
beg that you will use your influence to ex-
pedlte the relief as much as possible.
l might have added, the restitution and
suffering. in this count is not confined t.
any particular neighborlood, but exists il
every neighborhOod. Those who were once
wealthy, and are now the best off, are un
able to give relief. Even the paupers il
the Poor House can scarcely be provided
for.
I am, dear sir, truly yours.
D. A, CoYNeToN,