Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-11-21
LOWER VIRGINIA..

correspondence Of the Baltimore SUM-
GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Va, Nov. 16.--I
oil give you the result of my observations as
regards this part of the country, lying south
vest Of the Fredericksburg railroad, and be-
tween the James and Potomac rivers. For
neach growing, land trucking this county, in
fact nearly the whole section referred to, is
a,ooIual to any ever saw--fully equal to any
mart Of Delaware OF Maryland. Were [ in
search of farm to cultivate, I would 60 to
either Matthews, Gloucester, Middlesex or
Essex, giving preference to Gloucester. The
land generally is good and very cheap; the soil
is adapted to the growth Of all kinds Of grain,
vegetables and most kinds of fruit. The eli
mate IS mild and society good. Transportation
Of farm products is convenient and cheap.
L This county, SO much devastated by the war,
does not appear to have recovered much; in
fact, the same may be saidof this whole Sec
ton Of the State. Is. ...a.Ya ...gr..s ig.e
The corn crop in this section, as far as I can
learn, is but little if any more than enough to
supply the needs of the people; the wheat crop
is far short, and they have to buy -four. Very
little wheat has been sown this fall, owing to
the want Of money and inability Of farmers to
get laborers. The prospects ofrecuperation by
means of agriculture are not bright. Tbe
main dependence for. support OF the people OF
tho counties bordering on the Chesapeake bay
and York river is the oyster business, which Is
carried on to considerable eXtent-most Of
the money for which comes from the North.
In the Y ork river alone over 10000 bushels
of oysters were planted this year. At Cappa-
49, >1,, olooo hat
any in this county, saw some very large oys-
ters of that delicious taste peculiar to York
river oysters when good. They were planted
some wears ago by Mr.. Stubs, living near the
place, and engaged in planting.
The operation Of the Freedmen's Bureau In
this county and in every other part of this State
and in North Carolina, as far as have been,is
a drawback and an evil -intermeddling In con-
tracts between the blacks and whites, encour-
aging the blacks to pilfer and steal, by inter
fering with and sometimes preventing the exc
cution of the criminal laws, ,and by supporting a
large number of negroes able to work. l am
told the officers of the bureau at Yorktown
have notified the county courts in their district
that they have discontinued rations to the ne
groes, and that each county must support Its
Door; this is understood to mean that the coun-
ties must support the indolent and infrm ne
groes. The negroes generally are in miserable
condition, many without sufficient food and
clothing, half starved ragged and filthy, too
lazy to work, ysubsisting by poorly cultivatlng
small patches of land, oystering in rivers where
oysters abound, and by stealing; but this is
such poor country, SO little to subslst upon,
that they cannot find much to steal; corn is the
principal thing-th they take by breaking the
ear from the stalk as it stands in the field and
leave the husk as it upon the stalk.
Suffering as the people of this part OF the
State are from, the effects and blight OF the war
and pest Of the negro, they bear it all with
great patience and iortitude, seldom murmur,
andmaniest no hatred of the Washington gov
ernment and none of the negroes; with these
they deal fairly and treat them kindly but
kindness is so much part Of the Virglnlan's s $
nature that he extends it to all without regard
to race or color.s4. .a8 st@t5> 10
When radicalism shall have ceased to exert
its pestilential influence over these once pros
porous and happy people, and when they can
feel sure that no terrible punishment bey yond
that already invented shall be inflicted upon
them, they will becomes changed, prosperous
and happy people again. 't..n g