The weekly standard., 1870-07-20
For the StanGar
Letter from New York.

After long silence ! again make my ap-
pearance before you. L have been wander
ing all over your sunny South, but the hot
weather rendered my pen useless IN MY
hand. tried 10 write to you several times,
ings drove me from my purpose; but now,
with your permission, | propose to let you
hear from me frequently.
First, then, want to make note of few
impressions and incidents connected with
men and things while IN the Southern coun-
try, and to which own a great change in
my previous political opinions and theories.
Trained in the old Democratic school and
ultra in all its dogmas, | have seen much
that has surprised if not revolutionized me.
Twas delighted with your little city, and
think it one of the most beautiful, interest
ing and desirable locations have ever been
in. We generally derive our impressions
of place from our intercourse with its pco-
pie, and Twas particularly fortunate in being
brought in contact with some of your
choicest spirits. 1t was my good fortune to
come more than once in proximity with your
Governor, one of the most elegant, accom-
plishcd and highly educated gentlemen l
have ever met, and the wonder to me is,
that in the press and turmoil of busy life,
without the adventitiois circumstances Of
early education and for June, single handed
and alone, he has not OILY raised himself to
his present distinguished position, but has
found time to store bis mind with the
choicest productions Of all ages and all
climes. A fine Biblici and Shakespearean
scholar, he quotts from either with as much
facility as Blair or ! Garrick. The clas-
sizes are houselbld w irds to him, and he
trcads the maze of hitory like Rollin,
Plutarch or u Prescft; in manners Ches-
terfeld, in dqicacy hnd refinement OF eX-
preston an Addison was gratified to
know such a sentleml IN. l am not writing
from politicil standioin but simply from
social contact; theref&e if mix names to-
gether, of both the churches, l must not be
supposed to DO so Will any sinister motive.
came slightly in ccttact with the Presi
dent of the Raleigh anti CASTOR Railroad,
who is also an elegant hd able gentleman,
and is known as one oi the msst efficient
of the railroad pr-sidenb of the South. De
voted to the interests the Company he
serves, and Of the sectiol which claims him,
avoiding the political afpa, and giving his
time and his rare talents p the aggrandize-
ment of his road and his State, suppose
that North Carolina has 10 more valuable
citizen within her bordeA And in this
eannection l must nee omit to speak of the
superintendent oSfhI road,-- tur+-.in-A A.
B, Andrews, whose refinement courtesy
and fine coIYfrsatipnal power attracted
me warmly toward him, and know
ing somethie of railroading,s l soon
concluded inImy own mind that to this
gentleman's pe-eminent ability, the presi-
dent is to brsidcrable extent indebted
for his ackuoi iedged success in the conduct
of his enterprIe; long may the manly cap
tain live to seEe his employees and friends.
One of the bel men l have ever known has
Just settled id your town, and when you
come to kno1Ihim have no doubt You will
think as do bout him, lie is Major w. j.
Anderson, lat y of Mississippi, and I think
he will do "tcfie up TON fact if your
corrcspundcntEas not bound to his present
abode, or was lot too old TO seek a new one,
he would mos probably come to live in
Raleigh.
From Raleis sh to Columbia is but days
ride, and hereit &as that your correspon-
dents preconcIi lived ideas of the capability
ofthe cOLored dtizens for improvement and
cultivation received its first shock. saw
mauy intelligent and, indeed, well educated
citizens of African descent; and while they
are unpresumins and generally respectful,
with but few exceptions) l found them
accessible to instruction and anxious to ac-
quire education, and contrary to all my for
mer opinions, am now convinced that the
institution of slavery was all wrong, and
that the emancipation of the colored folks
will result largely to the benefit Of all CON
cerned. Of course the manner In which
was brought about is not ac-
ceptable to the old patriarchs of the South
and the present generation of whites gen
orally down there.
Columbia is certainly very beautifully
located little city and has some elegant peo-
pie there, but the war dcsolated it. Sher-
mans army demolished it, but it will come
up again by and BY, the spirit of enterprise
is alive aud moving over the face of the