The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-23
CHARLESTON BLOCKADED.
Communication with West Virginia's
Capital Cut OF by Ice.
A week in the Old Cty-Pub!ic and State Build
ings-Personnsl Of ths Senate and House Of
Delegates The Constitutional Convention;
Its Officers and Proceedings
cences of the Good Old Days.
Papers suspending Publica-
tion-scarcity OF Provisions.


Papers suspending Publica-
tion-scarcity OF Provisions
CHARLESTON W. Va, Feb. II. 1872.
Sixty miles OF ice stretches out IRON thus place.
barring q comfortable and respectable transit 10
civllization. The capital Of West Virginia " queer
little old place, OF primitive ancestry, perfectly en-
blemaric of an old Virginia town, that portion
which has been built since the close OF the war,
which Is OF the most advanced style Of architectural
beauty. 1t contains about five thousand inhabit-
ants aud sits directly upon the banks Of the Kama
VIVA Ia the midst Of region rich IN mineral pro-
ducts and teeming with all the fruits OF intelligent
huspandry. II lorty.three miles from mere to the
OHIO River, and tue regular means OF transit is by
steamer. A railroad known as the Chesapeake and
Ohio which, when completed, Is TO DO one OF the
most important lines OF railway in the Southern
country now ranges from the opposite side OF the
river from the town to place known as Hunliug-
ton its present terminus, as FAR from civilization as
this place ana equally oDsIructed, aud Is the means
by which passengers and mails are transported
from here during the Ice blockade. Charleston Is,
taxing 1t all In all, queer, romantic spot. Right
on the bank OF the river IT SITS, forming picture
OF civilization and calm, clear fronIlsplece 10
heavy, rugged mountain background. All around 1t
are the evidences OF ITS mineral wealth. In me
shape Of salt wells, which turn out millions OF bush
els OF the finest salt yearly, and coal mines OF the
richest DatuminOus and anthracite COAL which ~
found IN such ABUNDANT quantities within easy range
that the great veins crop out upon the banks o. the
r1ver aud washed Oh by the action OF the water
and picked up BY the poor inhabitants without even
the trouble Of mining. In the summer 1t Ii q most
delightful spot Few places on THIS Continent tur.
nisl attractions than tins; out none are more
des0late and dreary wnen the cnilliug blasts OF
winter hold sway. For weeks tue place has been
SHUT OUT FROM CIVILIZATION
BY great barriers OF Ice mails arrive scarcely once
week, and the means OF transit are greatly I'M
peded, and &C times, almost wholly obstructed.
Nevertheless. little place alive, and, at times,
cheerful with excitement. Members OF the Const-
tutional Convention and the Legislature. with the
other officers Of the government and the thousand
and one hangers-on Of legislative bodies, reiieve In
Winter tune, makes almost forget that while
he ~ Ia the middle Of the country --seoxrapni-
iion-he Is without It's benefits. This Is
the permanent capital OF West virginia when was
but already nne State House. small QUO neat ami
substantial III lib build, furnishes accommodations
Tor the Legislative duleS OF Its Representatives,.
The senate composed OF thirteen members, and
is with0ut man VINO has been known " The Slate
or country as q man OF marked ability. In TACT Q
visit to the BODY does not Impress with q very
great appreciation OIL The abilities OF the lutte circle
o. thirteen tnat Is known Us the Senate Of West vr-
The House OF Delegates consists OF forty eight
members. and may be considered the counterpart or
the Senate, 30 lar as learning and ability are con-
TUE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,
which u In session, the principal feature Of
attraction. A Methodist cnurcn has been trans
formed into place for its slttlngs, and while
sa Ia szs aaa ~ tne IN s
Sa.nuei Price, VINO was known 10 tue c0uatry
See st one time Lieutenant Governor o. the STATE
aud a. Others held several prominent postions-as
the presiding officer OF the Convention ne = tall
man, with little, snOrt gray wnskers and q restless
eve, win no marked characteristics save perhaps
n,s PROPORTIONS 70 speak O.: me convention CON-
Charles ]. Faulkner, wei known Doth IN virginia
State and national politics, and one Of the most
with Clean, we'll shaven lace. and although over
SIXTY as aclive as a Young man OF twenty; he %
the aoest man ~ Iar In the state. There also Is
y ws%An out %e the az; SINCE
Henry O. Davis Colonel Jonn Blair aoge ls also in
the body, ana had gained good reputation as
Of particular mark or notorety are there, although
the oOdy, taking IL all IN all IS Try creditaDe 70
reason 10 SPEAK, out so@e Of the In me Con.
sti,utional Convention have been exceedingly lud-
THE OLD FIRE OF SECESSION
seems to have been kinuied IN the breasts OF many
VINO came here 70 re%ods, organic law OF m, me
lions have been intr 1duced and discussed
over the church, and Ia relation 10 perpeuatng the
names OF the reOei leaders, Lee and DAVIS, by
the goOd sense Of the Convention mas each time
voted them down, and tney have resulted In no
harm and great deal Of good TO tner Wnay ad-
formed, OF that class OF men VINO were l1vlslDe IN
war and inyincioe 40 peace, Il - exceedingly IN.
to some Old defender OF the antiquities OF Vr-
Rina dllatlng upon some pet measure which he Is
pleased 10 characterize as u return to
THE GOOD OLD DAYS GONE BY.
One wants to revive old system of utrd uoce
Young; an0tner wan 8 me same old system OF Ju-
jlclary wnen MS iather lived, wnile another de-
stres to incorporate some passage into the con-
s.l.uuon tnaS Will commit the state 10 the ma
tional compactil she snould, at some future day,
desire Withdraw from it. But fortunately ior The
ana sucu e s In ana Onsf
live, progressive, energetic men. up to the
Of s %ss vote Gown 'hSss
curiosities That are presented. l have spent a
week IN !nis little seat CT government. barred from
the privileges aud ue5lreS OIL CIVILIZATION. with
faction almost, well us no little pront For ten
days no mail mas arrived; last week the
PAPERS WERE FORCED 70 SUSPEND PUBLICATION
on account OF the mpossibity Of 0btaininx supplies,
and the Legislative and CONSTR utional convention
OF the blockade. Even provisions are get
ting low, ana the bill Of fare at the
Ting exceedingly measre. Governor Jacobs, VINO
presides over he affairs OF state. Is rgnt pleas
ant indvlaa. aud the other state Officers have
l0urn mere. As the man leaves TINS morning, or
rather an attempt IL gong to oe made to force o
boy over the overland route, some seventy miles
distance. entrusL THIS letter to HIM. IL he reaches
his destination IN time these notes upon the capital
OF Western VIrgiuia, snow and Ice bound, may
serve 70 interest those who are not cognizant OF
the act that we nave state right what Is known
o. q happy medium, between twoextremes-tnat Is,
while wIhn the heart OF civilization, without its
privileges aud pleasures.
SHALL OUR POCKETS BE PICKED7u
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Substantially evening last, while waiting al the
coeoor of Th,rd ovan, and Eighth atraet for a.,