Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-08

are inclined to do this for several reasons, the
main and chief of which is, that Alexandra
is, in our Judgment entitled fairly and justly
to a word of favorable recognition Aiezan-
dria is now our next door neighbor, and we are
therefore competent to speak of her people
from personal knowledge and observation. 1t
is asserted that Alexandria has declined III her
business. in her influence, and In her material
fortunes. This is true. Indeed, TINS Is SO
true, that we may assert without hluch iGal VI
successful contradiction, that the granu ou
city has reached the lowest point OF lnanciai
depresSion-th point, precisely, at WhIch IL Is
of necessity obliged to look up II 1t looks at
all, as there is no lower depth OF material de-
pression to sound. There are adequate causes
for the depression OF business and trade IN
Alexandria: but they are not to be found IN
want of fidelity to the principles for which the
South has so terribly suffered. In fact, 1t was
because our neighbors were so faithful and true
to us and the whole South, that they suffered
so much. Like ourselves, some OF them were
even tried in the fire, as Tor instance, That
honest and faithful and venerable and excel
lent newspaper, the Alexandra Gazette, which,
we arc pleased to see, has entered upon the
10th year Of It's existence. The Gazette, by
the way, may be taken as an illustration OF the
proposition that Alexandria, even now, IN
what may be regarded as her extremity, is
Choking up" The fruits of whole life time
of toll and anxiety were consumed when the
Gazette went down. Yet the spirit the I'M
copouerable spirit of its editor and proprietor,
lived and moved even amid the ruins and the
ashes of his office, and the Gazette is as iul OF
vigor and as hopeful and elastic to-day as 1t
was at any period of its history. SO With the
hopeful honest, industrious business men who
yet cling fondy and pertlnaciously to the for
tunes of the old city. They sing to themsel-
YES as we believe they have right to do,
| there's better day coming And why
not? Hasn't Alexandria natural advantages
enough to secure her people very large intd-
rior trade? Is not her harbor large and capa-
cious? Are there not commodlous business
houses ready built to receive the produce that
must soon be poured into the city from once
desoated but now reSurrected country In
fact, it struck US, as few days ago, when we
wandered around, looking at the signs and
symbols Of her desolation, that there were
very clear and manifest indications OF life IN
the old city yet There is an air OF cheer
fulness in the faces of the merchants that be
tokens the early coming ola brighter future.
There is, too, manifesty brushing up and
remodeliug of many buildings, and prepare
we are so closely connected with our neighbors,
may we not hope to see them as prosperous as
they were years ago, when they enjoyed
the advantages Of the trade of this portion OF
the Valley -H0chm0haDl Register.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF TILE SOUTH. The
following communication from highly respec-
ted citizen of Alexandria presents financial
view of the condition of the South which de-
serves the careful attention Of Congress -
Washington Chronicle.
ALEXANDRIA, January 7, 1869.
To the Editor the Chronicle:
As the subject OF the paper circulation OF the
country will be, and is now, before Congress,
in any estimates of paper money supposed to
be needed for the country a large addition will
have to be made for the fact that from three
to four millions of colored people are now Tree
and will have to be added to those uslog money.
In the days of slavery, a planter IN Georgia,
Alabama, and Louisiana, owning one hundred
or one thousand slaves, handled the proceeds
of his crops, Or few members OF his family,
and this was done by checks or drafts or bills
OF exchange on his banker. Now all the money
to pay his hands must be carried to the point
and paid out to each, taking some time to re-
turn from whence issued. And the coIored
people like prompt settlement; they DO not
understand credit, nor do they wish to DO so.
Whatever the value OF. the cotton crop may
be, fifty per ct. oft ought to be allowed addi-
tional as necessary to what was required prevl-
Gus to the rebellion for circulating South, to
pay for raising the cotton; and the same Is
true of the rice, the tar, turpentine, lumber,
and other products of the Southern States. In
Virginia, in 1861, we had ten millions Of capl
tai and over ten millions OF clrcu atlon. This
was based upon the white population alone;
Now we have about one million Of capital and
about the same circulation. There is an i'm
perativc necessity for an increase South. How
this is to be done, unless Congress will author
ize an increase Of over three hundred millions
| do not know. | throw out these hints Tor
consideration. POTOMAC.
CUBA.-By order Of the Government, all the
statues of Queen Isabella and other symbols |