Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-02-25
Southern Correspondence.

safe in the Union, and her inhabitants are
free from military rule, and We agT'in
count one of the States of this great
American Republic. Government OF
which all her inhabitants ought to be
proud, q government and flag which is
mighty to protect all who come under
. her ampleiolds - Government, Gulg-
ing its future by the pasO whose inhabit-
ants will yet excee, q hundred millions
the eyes of the old world are upon IL.
the down trodden millions OF their In
habitauts are docking to our shores, seek
ing homes in our wide domain OF States
and tcrritorics.--Lct them come, Uncle
Sam has room enough for all. Yes, we
have room aud l,nd enough in this State
for filly thousand emigrants or New Eng
land farmers, with farms rs large rs they
are in the northern States; the old Do
minion is still very large. although shorn
Of Western Virginia. She has over one
hundred Counties left. each County can
accommodate and has room for five hun
bred additional families,--an this is
what the State wants first and most,
good agriculturists; so come, one and all,
who desire. and see Tor yourselves; we
have splendid climate for northern men
10 locate in.
Political parties have got somewhat
mixed up here. Gov. Gilbert c. Walker.
who came here from New York rs re-
publican. was elected largely by old demo-
cratic yoiers, who call themselves con.
scrvatiyos; he was first nominated by 4
boiling wing Of The republican convention
that nominated Wells. The democrats
first nominated Col. Withers. one of their
own stripe. but knowing that they could
not succeed They largely dropped Withers
and went for Walker; and with The aid
of republicans he was elected. They
the conservatives. claim him.-whilc he
claims 10 be a republican. Yet, believe
As Gen. Butler lately said in Congrc IS,
if he stands 10y his declaration made ut
Washington 10 get the State admitted,
the conservatives here will desert him ;
but in my opinion. it IS uncertain what
Gov. Walker will do, or where be will
stand politically Had all the republicans
stood square together, IN the election OF
july last. Mr. Wells would have been
elected, with Legislature OF the same
stamp. II is hard now. 10 tell how the
State will 90 hereafter. But one thing
is certain. that the new State constitution
j. a good one it was adopted by a large
majority of the votes in July ltst. Well
might Mr.. bingham. OF Ohio, cnlogizc it
rs one of the best. True and keen was
Gen. Buffers rctort. That it MAS not the
work OF The old Virginia politicians. but
1t was the work OF carpet-baggcrS, scala
wags aud niggCrs." The old Virginia
politicians were great slicklers for Stale
rights and State pride. which mus, give
way to National rights and National
pride; all should say as Henry Clay once
said Il owe allegiance int TO the gov
crnmen, Of the United States, and sec
ond 10 my own State IL the provisions
of our noble State constitution are car
ried out in full. We shall have State
Government Is good as can be- desired.
Although we are destitute just here. OF
wood and timber; yet We have plenty
a few miles below. A very singular set
of inhabitants live down in the Pines, a
some call it, while others call il down in
the Forest. which commnnces one and 4
half mile from. and east OF Manassas vii
lagc, and extends Is or 20 miles towards
Occoquan and Dlmpier ut the head oi
navigation about % miles up Aquia creek
which empties into the Potomac river
All must have read of Mosby and his band
OF Gucriills-he recruited many OF them
in this forest. where be frequently took
shelter among those pines. This was his
retreat when hard pressed. on in active
operation. Most all OF this vast forest {
hundred years ago WAS cleared aud cui-
tivated for II long series of Years by slave
labor, until the land became exhausted. -
it WAS abandoned for crops and allowcd
to grow up 10 woods the poorest taking
TO pines although many of the poor
whites and fres negroes have kept pos
session of some of this land, and prevent
/ ed by cultivation. some small fields ant
Old orchards from growing up Ia woods.
There are some very Old houses, built
presume over hundred years ago, builI
of square hewm timber and laid up like 4
log house, covered with split shingles
| made OF oak or chestnut. The cracks ii
the walls are filed with mortar, and KEEP
white washed by some of the best familie:
who are able. | am told that there ha:
not been but little change In their looks
for the past fifty yeais-no changes or re
pairs appear 10 have been done on then
for an age. Here and there, scattered
around in the forest, are some small new
houses. and negro huts built since the
war, and now and then one comes upon ,
vigorous clearing with considerable i'm
provements on inquiring. you find the
owner who has come here of late, is {
yankee, as they call all who come iron
north of Mason and Dixon's line. The
pine growth has been cut in some places
within the past few years, but it is grow