The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-01

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paragraph from the New Orleans Tines OF
the 2esh ultimo. This true and painful
picture is but sample Of hundreds tf
scenes In the southern lsnd-scenes once
blooming, plentiful, and happy, now 10 i' drear,
sanalid, and wretched. They are too
{ numerous TO be portrayed, and when the
artist takes up his pencil and looks about
him, he drops tin despair. What demons
I hare worked this revolution this change
from peace, loveliness, content, and virtue,
sodiscontent, idleness, general decay, vice,
wretchedness, and famine!
The Tines says:
7" Very distressing accounts reach us Of
the restitution in the parish Of West Fell
ciana. In this parish, which before the
war was one Of the richest and best cult
waited in the State, there is a very large
excess Of negro population. The ratio Of
blacks to whites is about five to one. The
product of this year has been exceedingly
small. Hardly planter in the parish has
made cotton enough to pay his hands and
4 leave anything to buy provisions with. q
very respectable planter told us there were
{, not ten barrels of pork in the parish.
Nearly all the stock have been killed, in
Guiding the mich COWS. go.
The planters, unable TO meet the ad-
eyances Of last year, cannot buy provisions
\ The corn crop was very short, and but 8
small amount is left--not enough in the
whole parish to feed the people for two
months. The poor negroes are half naked
and starved, and, though willing to Work,
can get no employment even on the terms
of simple rations, without money o.
clothing. SIS .-4ss.
sess2" Before the war this parish was the seat
Of great wealth, comfort, abundance, and
unbounded hospitality. The twelve thou.
sand negroes who cultivated the fields were
the happiest and best cared-for laborers il
any country. The planters all lived In
princely style, in elegant country seats
surrounded with every comfort and luxury
which the most cultivated taste could
desire. They took the best care OF their
laborers, and the colored population In
creased withswonderful rapidity.
"What change has swept over this
beautiful country The poor negroes,
wandering through the magnolia forest,
half naked and starving, without cent,
an ear of corn, or an once Of meat, still
bear their certificates of registration as
voters, and Of membership Of some Loyal
Leaguel They ask for bread and receive
stone; for fish, and obtain serpent"
We add to the above the following letter
received by one Of our citizens from Wiz.
ginian now in Mississippi gentleman Of
reputation and of great worth, who, kaying
sought occupation and support in that I'm.
fortunate State, now announces that he is
forced to return to Virginia. All such
sons Virginia will heartily welcome home,
while she mourns the sad necessity which
turns their steps towards her territory.
She is grieved that she can now do so little
for them but is cheered by the devotion
of her people, and knows with their con-
stancy, energy, and fortitude, prosperity
will soon cheer their homes and make all
within her borders again to blossom as the
rose: ia
"JANUARY 4, 1868.
"1Iy Dear Friend: Yours ofthe 18th ult.
reached me only few days ago. In reply
! have to say that whilst it would be "a
great pleasure for me to aid you in any
possible way, deem 1t the part of friend
ship to advise you against coming South at
this time. / have this day sent up my
resignation of the position hold here, and
will return to Virginia as soon as possible.
This country is utterly ruined for some
years to como. The people are bankrupt
and cannot pay teachers, or anybody else.
Schools are closing everywhere simply be-
cause the teachers cannot live from the
small pittances which they realize for their
work The negroes are starving in some
places, and really don't see how the
whites are to be saved from the same fate.
"Yon can form no adequate idea of the
real condition of things here. The half is
not told of the suferings of these people.
Hence my advice to you is, Don't come
Southnow.'" ~ ' u: ~ ~. :. !.