The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-07-06
LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.
HIGHLAND County, Va, June 20

While attending Court at Point Plea
ant, | promised sou that | would wri
you from Virginia. And after having al
rived at my destination and finding myse
once more on the soil Of the "Old Donir
ion," aud feeling somewhat rested after
long journey over rough roads. | will d.
vote a few minutes to the task Of writin
few things in regard to the state Of al
! fairs 10 this State, and thus redeem IN
promise.
At early dawn on Wednesday the l4tl
| arrived at llarper's Ferry and Their
spent some time in looking around and owe
the ruins Of tia. ancient place, which ow
ing to the John Brown raid, aud its wa
history, has almost a worldwide rcnown
After leaving Harper's Ferry in my as
cent up tho Valley Of Virginia | scarcel
saw trace Of the effects Of the war. Thi
extensive Valley will doubtless in man,
respects compare favorably with any couu
try in the world, especially in fertility aut
productivcness Of soil, and also in bcauti'
full scenery and pure air. Neither are thu
people Of the Valley wanting in industry
and enterprise, for during the short space
that has interviewed bntwccn tho close Of
war and the present time, they have al.
most entirely repaired tho damages they
sustained from the dcsolatiug effects Of the
war. Many fine dwelling houses aud large
barns have recently been erected, some Of
which are built upon tho ruins Of others
that we're burned down and Otherwise de-
stroyed while the two contending armies
we're alternately holding tho Valley.
The Shenandoah Valley has long been
celebrated as one Of tho finest wheat grow.
Ing countries in The world, and doubtless it
has well mcrited this distinction. No
one in travelling through this beautiful
country just now, and looking over the
vast fields Of wheat, would hesitate in pro.
nounciug it all that it is represented to bc
Farmers say that wheat is better than it
bus been for some years.
Politically, so far as my observation has
extended, at least, and | have travelled
over the counties Of Frederick, Shcnaudo.
ah, Rockingham, Augusta and Highland,
must say | have found the country in
much better condition than | had antici.
pated. / have metand couversed freely,
since my arrival here with many persons,
some Of whom are gentlemen Of intclli-
gence and honesty, and | think US free from
bias and prcdjudice, as men generally
are, aud they all agree that it is the desire
Of the people generally to cultivate frater-
nal relations with each other, uotwi,hssand-
ing any differences Of opinion. or alicna.
lion Of feeling that may have existed here.
tolorc, growing out ofthe war. And from
of the most reliable character,
an warranted in saying that there are no
outrages committed upon tho persons or
Of Union men in this partHof the
State, so far as ! have been able to ascer-
tain. Ii true that those who sympatbi.
,od With and fought for the government
Turing our late fearful struggle are greatly
10 the minority here; but their rights seem
% be as much respected as the rights Of
citizens Of any State.
A spirit Of improvement and enterprise
s evidently manifested, and the public
mind is already commencing TO throw of
md discard the spirit Of sel6shness and
pride; aud this State will doubt.
css, soon fall in line with other great
States Of this Union 10 their onward march
10 wealth and fame.
The free school system 10 now in pracli.
,al operation in Virginia, and in some re.
spects it is similar to our school system Of
West Virginia. I met the county Super.
intendcnt Of Highland and Bath counties,
and was informed by him that while be did
not meet with as much encouragement as
be could desire, and the new ordcrof things
is opposed by some, yet there is much to
encourage the hope that the system will
work we'll, aud that tho poorer class Of
children may from this time forth DO Of
Eorded better facilities for obtaining COM
mon school education in the ancient Com.
OF Virginia.