The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-11-26
Letter from the South.
MACON, Ga, Nov. 10th, 1870.


MR.. EDITOR Previous to my departure
from Elkton l promised to let you hear
from me now and then, and to-day l will
redeem my pledge,--not without a slight
misgiving, however, that you will find my
letter not interesting enough. But you
must take me as | am-and you know
waste-paper- basket charity covers multi
tude of literary sins. AS my remarks and
observations of the South are based only
upon a limited knowledge Of her character
and her pcculiarities do not claim infalli-
bility, and present them to your readers on
their own merits.
| left Baltimore, per steamer "America,"
bound for Savannah, Ga, and do not now
intend to annoy you with details of that
trip. Would it be pleasant or interesting
to YOU, to hear me speaking of a monoto-
nous eternity of sky and water of a con-
stantly smiling, never frowning sea, with
out even the ghost of chance of little
storm? Or of long and weary hours of sea
sickness, in which condition you are apt to
curse the day that brought you to light p
Or of an English professor, constantly sat
uratcd with vile whisky, that made it a
puzzle to guess whether he was seasick or
drunk? Or of ever-crying baby fellow
travellers, who disturb the sleep of the
night and the rest of the day?
My heart leaped in me for JOY when the
green shores of South Carolina and Georgia
greeted my eye. We steamed out of the
wild waves of the ocean, and, gliding up
the Savannah River, landed after l hours
ride, at the place of our destination
Savannah.
The moons silvery rays fell upon the
quiet city, which presented to our water
tired eye a charming classic picture and a
more POLITICALLY disposed soul than myself
would at that moment have dreamed of
Italian nights and Grccian skys, and gone
into rapturcs generally. But Ia matter
of fact man as l am-went into hotel, got
a very poor supper, which our friend Billy
"can beat all to pieces - paid so cents
more than it would have cost up North,
and formed my first opinion of the South
ern country, which in many instances |
found confirmed afterwards; and here it
is: The Yankee strips you of everything
you have about your body but Southern
and all. Therefore, if you ever should
happen to come to Dixie-hands on youl
pocketbooks
In broad day light the city took quite a
different appearance. 1t is quiet, dull
a
long stretched, narrow streets are unpaved,
and in dry weather constantly wrapped in
impenetrable clouds of dust. The war has
injured Savannah considerably !; and al
though she took q new start since that
time, she will have to strive hard to regain
her former importance. The fact is telling,
that while previous to the war she com
manded 4 capital of ten millions, she now
engages only one million dollars in trade.
From Savannah, journeyed via Central
Railroad to Macon, distance of about 200
miles. The country all along that route i:
uncultivated. The gloomy monotony i:
hardly ever agreeably interrupted by snowy
white looking fields and very seldom by ;
so called village,-consisting of few frame
shanties and log cabins, inhabited by back
woods negroes. Everything looks print
tive, and the whole country seems to have
slept Rip Van Wrinkle sleep.
Cotton is the God of the South, and hel
worst enemy at the same time. 1t is he
spoiled child, whose every within is INDUCED
in to the expense of the other Children
Plainly spoken The cultivation of corn
wheat and other produce is sadly neglected
because cotton does not claim such careful
attention and such hard labor, and ye
yields more literally. But let us examine
whether this is really sound agriculture
policy. If cotton commands good price
money is abundant and everything lovely
But if, on the other hand, its value
depressed, crop is insufficient to pa
the farmers debts contracted during a dul
season,-new liabilities are incurred-fo
there is no other source to fall back on
no grain, no potatoes, and the n-growe
is financially ruined.
| 10 wild y,1a wi n
$4,000 inhabitants. Its surroundings ar
magnificent and picturesque, and to stro
along the banks of the Ocmulgee River
which encircles the city, and to gaze at tn
wonders of Natures beauties, is rar
treat. Macon is the terminus of six differ
ent railroads, and bids fair to become TIL
most important place in the State of Ga.
Astonishing as it may appear to you,
is nevertheless true, that l hear dow
South far less of political squabbles tina
up North. Whites and blacks live peace
ably and contcntedly together; and althoug
lawlessness infccts the State to an alarmin
extent, it cannot be said that this deplora
BILE state of affairs is in every instant
caused by political motives. Those negrot
living in cities will vote for nobody's whisk
as | have heard them express themselvt
but poll a Radical ticket The "countl
niccers - are hardly civilized. Corn whisk
of the worst kind forms the elimination
their happiness, and | warrant you the
will not vote the Radical ticket-united {
they are with their white backwoods coul
trymen, in the bonds of ignorance.
And now, Mr.. Editor, let me bid ye
farewell. If you see anything interestin
in this letter, let your readers have the be
eft of it if not-why, accord me, at leas
a decent burial beneath the vaults of yo1
waste aper-basket, among the other lite
airy good-for- nothings.