Middletown transcript., 1869-10-02
LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.
Correspondence qf the Middletopn 7sanscrit

TAppAHANNocK, Va. Sept 1869.
Dear fraascript:-I write you from
this place, the county seat of Essex coun-
ty, situated upon the noble Rappahan-
mock river. 1t is about the size of Odessa,
though covering rather more space than
that town. There are some fine man
sions still left standing in the town, though
many of the better class of houses were
battered down or burnt by the gunboats
during the late unhappy civil war. Their
blackencd and battered chimneys are still
standing, melancholy memorials of the
unnatural strife between the sections,
North and South. The inhabitants seem
cheerful and happy, and have addressed
themselves to their several avocations,
since the war, with laudable determine
tion to repair their ruined fortunes. And
they are meeting with success truly en-
couraging. Politics appear to be ignored;
you can scarcely get one of the inhabi-
tants to exchange word with you on the
subject. They will talk of the crops, of
the price and improvement of land, of all
other subjects but you can hardly get
word out of them on public affairs. Per-
haps it arises from their distrust of stran-
gers, towards whom they practice more
reserve than towards each other. 1t may
also arise from the fact that they are still
under military government, and within
the satrapy Of the notorious Gen. Candy,
who doubtless has his spies and informers
abroad, with open. itching ears.
Since have been here upon the sacred
soil of the Old Dominion, have had the
opportunity of seeing Sambo as part of
the "' State" | have seen him in office,
g clothed with little brief authority"
and tell you that no turkey cock in a
Delaware barn-yard can out swell him.
He seems to =" feel his oats" The Sheriff
OF the county, a negro named George E.
Stephens, is one of Gen. Canby's appoin-
tees. A mulatto scalawag named A. D.
johnson, is his deputy. A negro Justice
OF the Peace, named William Breadlow,
with several white Justices, we're holding
Court, the negro the chief Justice. The
sight looked very odd, to your correspon-
dent, but the white associates seemed not
to mind the presence of their sable broth
er. Indeed, the white men seemed to paw
very little regard to the blacks, whether
IN or out of office, and have but little to
say to or do with them. Each went their
separate ways, without much regard to
the other A little incident which oc-
& Cured in Tappahannock, few days since,
may serve to show the workings of the
new regime, and the Importance of Sambo
in Gen. Canby's kingdom: An old Eng
lishman, who was constable, approached
man on horseback, who was swearing
about something at pretty round rate,
and taking hold of the horses bride,
commanded the man to stop swearing,
whereupon the rider dismounted and
knocked the English constable down. The
latter jumped up, rushed in to the negro
magistrate, got writ and took the often.
der against the peace, dignity and hon,
orr OF the old commonwealth, before tht
sable magistrate, who fined him $1.O(
and 80 cents cost. Shades of Marshal
and Story! What is jurisprudence com
ing to in this :" Land we Love?'
80 few persons can take the iron-clad
oath, that it is hard to fill the offices, ex.
cept with negroes, scallawags or carpet
baggers. One gentleman, native Of
Delaware. residing here, fills no less thar
four distinct offices, being Justice of the
Peace, Levy Court Commissioner, Recor.
der, and Solicitor in Chancery! He hold
all these offices, but does not fill them OF
perform their duties, several lawyers dis
charging their duties, while he holds tn,
commissions. These are some of the
beauties of good government, in Virginia
might have been quietly in he
place in the Union, fulfilling her duties
State, since the surrender of Gen. Lee
at Appomattox, but for the happy though
of I" reconstruction, conceived by Lin
coin, adopted by johnson, and change,
and modified by Congress to keep aliy
confusion and dissension, make fat place
for political favorites, and keep open tn
sores OF the war to crafty the malignit,
of radicalism.
Good river farms can be bought alon,
the banks of the Rappahannock, for S2,
per acre; interior upland farms can b
bought for So per acre. OF course, tn,
latter are not much improved, but as sus
ceptible of Improvement as any other land
Emigration will not set in very strongly
while society is vexed here with the ours
of an unsettled government. But mus
close, having made my letter much longe
than | intended
Yours, Truly, APpooUINIMINK.
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