Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-11-18
letter from Alabama.

COrresp Ondenc0 OIL the AIeXhnurld 0aIeLCc ]
MARENGo COUNTY, Ala, Nov. 9, 1865
[ anticipate some trouble in getting things
started for another year, the blacks still look
ing for their 40 acres Of land, and mule, and
to set up "for themselves"
The health Of the country has improved
lately 1t has been terribly sickly. Canals and
bitches are filled up and there is an excessive
growth of weeds The blacks will not ditch.
The rains beat the cotton from the bowls-the
the little the latorers do PICK, is OF the lowest
grades
The cotton crop is largely over estimated,
and merchants are deceived In making esti-
mates by the receipts being 50 largely in excess
OF last year. The truth is the crop was some
ten days earlier than last. Now, when it IS rec
objected that we used to pick until spring with
good crops you can form some idea Of our sit
uation at present. Last year | had packed So
bales on the I'd of October, and you know |
made l6G Now | have 46 packed, and will
be very well satisfied to get as much more, as |
do not believe it is on the land.
If two million OF bales are made it viii as
tonish me.
Referring to what are called Labor move
menls, in some portions OF the country, which
have for their object, the interruption OF regu
lar business, the Washington Star says, that
with the best understanding all round, and
the most prudent management, there can hard
ly fail to be q great deal Of suffering in all parts
Of the country before the winter Is ended. In
deed, we have already from nearly every guar
ter the most gloomy torebodngs as to prOspec-
tive want and suffering, the indications Of
which are neither few nor insignificant We
look therefore, as all good citizens must, with
the gravest apprehension upon any movement
or circumstance which threatens even in the
slightest degree to paralyze industry or lessen
the demand for labor.
"a sensible writer in the Richmond State
journal, on the same subject, says:
"a severe winter is coming on, with poverty
and suffering in its train. Laborers cannot
afford to be idle. Let none refuse to work who
can get it for reasonable remuneration. The
condition of business IN this community does
not warrant any interruption to production,
nor is capital so abundant as to make it safe for
the great lab0rlng interest to exact the extreme
rates which weather. communities can afford
to pay. Thls Is the economical view. lt is
the view which all men of experience and OF
ripe Judgment who are in sympathy with the
laboring class would urge upon them. "
CANTHIs BE so ?-The Richmond cOrrespon-
dent of the Petersburg Index says:
"The Nomini Baptist church in Westmore-
land county, had, at the close of the war,
very large colored membership, and actuated
by the kindest feelings and recognizing the
altered relations Of this people to them, they
lately offered them comfortable house of wor-
ship in location entirely favorable to their &C,
commodation, and proposed to assist them in
organizing and supporting Sunday School Of
their own. This kind offer was received with
warm demonstrations of pleasure and gratitude
by the coored people, and that part of the con-
gregatlon was preparing to enter into the church
furnished them, when the Freedman's Bureau
man took into his head that this was bid for
the negro vote, and he therefore, forbade
them TO accept the offer made. We would like
to know the limit of these mems audaclty."
WISE TESTIMONIAL FUND. There was
meeting of the foreign citizens of Richmond
last evening at City Hall, over which M. James
H. Dooley presided. A series of strong prac-
tica resolutions were adopted 10 favor OF the
immediate raising Of the proposed fund for
Governor Wise, as testimonial of the appre-
citation of foreigners of his eminent services in
their behalf. Eloquent speeches were made by
Messrs. Kelley, Mcmahon, Crump, johnson,
Dooley and others
On motion of Mr.. Stephen Mason, four Ger
man and four Irish citizens from each Ward
were appointed to collect funds.
1t was noticeable that many of our most in
fuential foreign citizens were present and took
part in the proceedings. From the temper OF
those present last evening. it looks as if money
was about to be raised. Rich. Wig