The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-13
evening Stats gassrnaI.
Latter from washington County.
BRISTOL, April 18th, 1872.
To the Editor Of the state Journal:

good common sense, don't know What the
Republican party is. One told me this
morning " all the people on the Virginia
side are Republicans, but there are some
Radicals on the Tennessee side.p And yet
there are white men here holding Federal
Offices too lazy or too fearful OF public
sentiment to instruct the colored people IN
political matters. | called to see the lead
ing colored man of this place, who, when
told him called to inquire about political
affairs shook his head, and told me twas
no use. the negroes had no use for a Re
publican.o They are tied hand and foot to
Democracy, and will remain so until some
effort is made to reclaim them. The patrl-
otic men around Richmond, who love the
cause SO dearly could find fine field for
Missionary work here, as well as good
opportunity to test their devotion to and
love of Republicanism.
would have written from Marion, yes
terday, but as consolidation" seems quite
popular s'along this line," thought L
would fall in and do likewise.
Marion is the home of His ex-Excellency
Hon, Fayette McMullen, whom had the
pleasure of meeting during my stay. The
Governor is deyoting much time to his pa
per. the Patriot, and says he means to at
tract immigration to that county by show
ing up its natural resources. lie but
speaks truly when he claims for his section
| that nature has been extravagantly lavish
with her gifts. From Roanoke to the
Tennessee line, the country abounds IN
everything necessary to supply the wants
of man. Thousands and millions ofpeople
could find employment if they had capital,
to 90 down into the bowels OF the earth
and bring to the surface its riches. The
| Governor Just now is enthusiastic over the
prospects of defeating the Republican
party. He is a great Cincinnati Conven-
| ton man, but has precious little use for the
| Richmond Dispdtch. If the Dispatch
favors the Cincinnati movement, have an
| idea that Nc will go for Grant.
| The manufacture of barytes is carried on
to considerable extent at Marion by &.
Ct. Goodel, ESD, who is also running an
iron foundry, casting plow-shsres, points,
/ &C., &c. The barytes flour turned out
there is said to be Of the best quality found
on the continent. 1t is used for "commer-
cial purposes This term will not be
readily understood by your readers, so
must explain. 1t is used to adulteratc
white lead, flour, sugar, starch, &C.
There's no doubt there's cheat in it, but
1 then if Virginia don't furnish a good quali-
ty OF barytes, some place else will furnish
lead, and the cheat be greater. But for its
weight, you could not tell it from the finest
quality Of family flour.
/ Around Marion there is a splendid water,
power, capable of turning the wheels OF
more factories than there are in the whole
State. The day will yet come when this
mighty power will be utilized. There are
several good hotels there, all of which are
filed during the summer months with visi-
tors from the South. George w. Hender-
| lite, Woodworking Republican, is proprie-
tor of the largest and most popular OF the
three. whose kindness shall never forget.
The last copy of the Patriot complains
of the large number of worthy people who
are leaving Southwestern Virginia for the
West. Whatever in my opinion may be
the cause, it would be blessing if many
more would follow suit. At every town
have visited along the road one sees from
+ fifty to a hundred Stout, able-bodied, young
men loafng around whiting sticks, and
here in Bristol playing marbles, II thii
class would go West, they would have td
work and produce something to live upon
as it is. these are of no value to themselves
and only help consume what the industrl
Gus produces. !.
Free schools are but poorly managed il
this section; those for the colored peopl
are all closed, the managers claiming tn
money is all expended, while those for tn
whites are in operation. / was told th
whites had subscribed to keep them open
close my eyes to all such tales, and an
! unwilling to believe them. This is ST.
! way they have of cheating the darkies.
T Bristol at present is the end OF Genera
Mahone's railroad line, though have n
doubt he will reach out after a while an
: clutch little of Tennessee. Times ar
!, unusually dull here, and general com
plant is heard of the scarcity of money
n Cattle are locking uery Jine, so fine in fac
Q that you can see through them. Straw ha
0 been bringing readily $1,000 per ton, Will
hay was not to be had at any price. True
the season has been bad one, but in
: providence is the cause of SO much sufiel
! ing among stock. In this section the pei
pie seldom think of "saying fodder,
r claiming that it isn't worth the troubl
d They are too lazy, that's what's the ma
e ter.
x The negroes with whom | have talke
here about political matters, don't kno
: who General Grant IS ana never hoafu
: but one Republican in their lives. Zee
eral Hughes" is the only one Of their a
! quaintance. have endeavored, in Il
several letters / have written from this pa
of the State, to show to the political ma
ayers of Virginia what a large field al
grand work there is before them. "
have only to stop guarreling with each otl
or, which will secure us Eastern Virgin
: and send an army with banners to Il
B point of the State to reyolutionize it. Let
see who will be the first to come up to {
= good work. Did not feel that the defe
Of Of Democracy was necessary to build
is. the waste places of the State, | would n
be determined in my opposition to it and
= anxious to see Republicanism triumph.
have much to tell of this section when
y return, but from now until the fall ca
paign, wherever party work is necessai
AR you may find me on the
Ted CAD. A. BouT,
it -
r. rcp o1a d r,r7Nrrre, tHhn follou,