The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-02-18
SOUTHERN CORRESPOND. NICE.
RIcnMoNp, Va. Feb 5. 1863


10000 MISUNDERSTANDING even I9.-
600! No city in the Svaih can be better
worth visiting Many of its buildings
are still in ruins and those rebuilt after
the great fie, chiefly 10y the aid OF north
ern CAPITALISTS are evidently suffering from
the general staguation in bu mess lndeed,
the whole city wears II dull, rusty, forlorn
aepect, which suggests that the people are
sorely Strengthened for want money. But
to the loyal and christian heart here are
many points of peculiar interest.
!. Capitol Square with its famous
mot TO say inlamuus) seat Of government,
II beautifully located edfcc on CONS
manding commence, but so badly worn and
filthy iha, it is hardly fit even for the
black and white convention, by which it
is now occupied. Go with me into the
State convention, now charged with such
weighty responsibilities. Judge Under>
wood is III the chair. The ''Conscrva-
tivts," as they call Il c1nsclvcs, are gcner-
ally at his righ;-the Radicals at his
left. Among them are about twenty me-
groes; some of whom, however, an in
spcctor Of color would hardly pronounce
TO be OF African blood. Hear that tel
low, black ms ebony, addressed as "thc
Hon gentleman" See how his eyes
sparkle as he calls the white men to ol der
and moves the previous question 10 cut
off all debate. Verify it is novel scene
That mulatio! lie makes a good speech
Why shouldn't he7 He looks as If he
bad brains lie knows his rights and
means to maintain them. Give him time
and he'll be equal to llunni"ut or Gibson.
But no wonder that the fine old Virgin.
iaDs feel cmbittercd by so much pepper
and salt in their Halls of Legislation -
1t is rs much as northern man can do,
TO find here an argument for universal suf
frage. He can only rejoice in it's being
Impartial"
Iunder Is the burnt State House ; only
its walls remain Yonder the church
where Jcif. Davis devotions were SC sud
denly interrupted. Yonder the mtrblc
statue of Henry Clay, of life siz', but
scarcely worth looking at. Yonder the
magnificent equestrian statue of Washing
ton by Crawfo;d-as work of art per>
haps never surpassed by any tf its kind
Surry unded too on its lofty pedestal by
very striking and graceful statues of JEFF
ferson, Mason, Patrick Henry, Lewis
Marshall and Nelson. Wonder the L. :.
District Court House, where such men
as Gerritt Smith and Horace Greeley
gave bail for the arch traitor.
.. The Freedman's Bureau. Gen.
Schofield lives in the house of Mr. Davis,
ard near by are the headquarters of Gen.
Brown and Capt. IIambrick, those true
hear ed and hard working officers of the
muchsabused but indispensable and wells
managed Frcenmcn's Bureau.
Doubtless, to no small extent there is
reason TO complain of its practical work
ings For how can we dispense charity
in large scale, and to suffering, if not
starving multitude, without giving more
or less encouragement to idlencss! Those
who are fed by others are not so likely
to work for themselves The negro race
are peculiarly and proverb,ally indolcnt
and improvident. The strong and heal
thy should be compelled TO cara their own
living, if possible. Instead of remaining
in the city they should be taken INTO the
country wheIe their labor is needed and
may be made renuneraiivc. But 90
with me TO the soup houses Sec the
hungry crowds as they gather at the
col ners with their Tin pans or pals and
present themselves with their tickets for
bread, meat and soup. Who are they :
The aged, iniirm, crippled. diseased, at
least generally-thcn many ragged,
half clothed child or youth, in behalf of
those not able to beg FOR themselves Few,
indeed, look as if able to support them-
selves.
Besides, where can they find the work
to do! The very clerks in the stores, the
apprentices and mechanics in the shops
seem TO have little or nothing to do
Ard how can they secure their wages
when their work is donef The servants
in mary family and in some of the best
hotels, have worked for eight, ten or
twelve dollars month, without being
paid penny
Moreover the very whites as well as
blacks appear in the procession and are
fed by necessity from the public crib
Some pleading for the food which they
are too poor to buy and too proud TO beg
except in prvate-perhaps ashamed to
have their names known.
In such circumstances may not the
Bureau be excused for distributing to
them with somewhat liberal and undis-
eliminating hand, and especially as it
costs the government TO feed them, on
an average, but four cents apiece per day.
g. Castle Thunder-Libby Prison
Belle Isle. All how it chills the blood
and sickens the heart to look at these
places, and then TO he told here that our
soldiers suffered no more dreadful!y in
their than prisoners of war could expect.
Alas for the cruelties, the agonies, the
martyrdoms, whose horrible detail we
would willingly forget. Let those who
must aaswer for them. Let none venture
to offer an apology.
A. The fine old Virginian gentlemen
Pity them They appealed TO arms in
defence of their fancied State Rights, and
a. I,,oo I