The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-27
PROM RICHMoND.

An Interview with Gov. PeIrP0int---
The Railroad Interests OF Virginia.
Condition OF the State---Riehmond
as u now Appears. -
Correspondent Of dhe Cincinnati Commercial.
BY invitation of Governor
Peirpoint called upon him, and had a
free conversation in regard to the pres
ent state of affairs, / alluded TO the
remarks of Speaker Baldwin in regard
to the Orr-Johnson compromise, He
said that he should be opposed to any
measures looking toward the disfran-
chisement OF the poor whites, though
most likely for very different reasons
from those that influenced many others.
BE said that the ballot was safer in the
hands of the so-called poor whites than
in that OF the aristocratic classes, and
Iustihed his statement by the fact that
the latter have been, and are, the ene-
mics of the country. He, however, de-
clared himself in favor of a general
free school system, to be supported by
taxation, the benefits of which should
be enjoyed by the children of the State
without respect to condition or color.
he regards rudimental education
comprehending reading, writing, gram
mar, and arithmetic, an inherent right
OF every child-particularly because
those who are without a knowledge of
these branches are excluded from many
of the avenues OF successful labor, all
OF which should be open, by right. to
every member of the Community. The
Governor can but regard the political
condition OF his State as gloomy and
betstt of all promise for the present,
THE RAILROAD INTEREST.
The Legislature is engaged in
schemes TO consolidate the railway in
terests of the State, and TO encourage
the Sonstruction ofa line of road which
shall connect Richmond with the Ohio
river. Gen. Malone, whose name Is
connected with the defense of Peters
ourg, Is leading spirit in these enter
prises. he Is thoroughly ''reconstruct-
edD-thinks 1t best TO concede to every
demand OF Congress-settle the politi-
Sat % conultiohs OF the country and de-
vote every energy to the recuperation
ofthe impoverished land. 1 met him
at the Governors mansion, and hence
heard something in regard to his rail-
road plans. The Governor plavfully
said that the Government of Virginia
was comprised of 1our departments:
the Executive, the Judicial, the Legis-
lative and the Lobby. 1 presume the
General did not care to be regarded as
member of the last named depart
ment, but he was in Richmond TO en-
glneeT his railroad projects through the
Legislature. His aim is to connect
Hampton Roads, one of the finest har-
oors on the coast, with the West by a
railway which shall pass through a
section of Virginia rich in minerals
and other natural resources, His plans
are comprehensive and feasible, and
their success would add greatly to the
prosperity of his State and be of great
Importance to Cincinnati, as it would
give TO her another continuous railway
route to the Atlantic seaboard.
CAUSES OF POVERTY AND BITTERNESS
The people of Virginia are poor-peo-
pie that were in affluence six years ago
are now reduced to comparative poy-
erty: The emancipation of the slaves
entailed loss estimated at $500 600 600
Under the old regime the sale of slaves
brought large sums of money to the
State. During the last twenty years of
traffic, the average annual receipts of
the Richmond market was Sl2, ,O0O, 600.
Compare this with the cash value of
the pork trade of Cincinnati, and YOU
can judge how its sudden and total
destruction has affected every moneta-
~ institution of this great slave mart. !
Then, during the years of the war,
every form ofproduction was decreased,
while the accumulated means of all the
thrifty classes was consumed by con-
stantly increasing demands. It is
strange that "a people, indoctrinated
with pro-slavery notions from their
childhood, should have embittered
themselves, as they stand amid the
faded glories of their former affiuence
and ease, and find themselves poor,
without that skillful industry by which
they might again attain to indepen-
dence?
RICHMOND REBUILT.
Less than two years ago one-third of
the area of the city was destroyed by
hre-a very large proportion OF the bu- |
slness houses were laid in ashes. The
"burnt district" was so fully described |
by the papers, and illustrated in the 1
pictorials otthe day, that all remember |
the vivid impression of the wide spread |
ruins. A very large proportion of the |
entire district has been rebuilt, and |
many large and handsome business |
blocks are among the number of new
buildings. The change that has been /
wrought is marvelous-not to be COM |
pretended and scarcely to be credited 4
unless II be seen. This material "re-
construction" is so far advanced that 1
until carefully passed through the 4
streets, wSs misled as to the extent |
of the destruction. And ali acknowI- |
edge that most of this has been done |
by capital from the Sorth-the North |
that so many of them regard il virtue
to contemn. 1t is thought by some /
here that Pollard is in debt to the |
Northern firm from which he purchas-
ed the press and type upon which he /
proposes to print the most yeaomous
and unscrupulous denunciations OF the |
North IL is expected that the rail /
roads of Virginia will be constructed |
by Northern capital. met a Virginia |
gentleman at the Governors, yester- /
day, who had just returned from New |
York, where he had been to negotiate
the sale of bonds. And this depend |
ance upon the North for capital, and |
the readiness of the North to furnish
1t, is to have an important influence in
restoring harmonious relations be-