The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-05
The Old Dosninion-.EEow the Negroes
arc PcSscc;stcti--The CoIorcsE People
Leaving tho Statc--Dccreasc In the
NaisaG Of Real Estate

From tho Regular Correspondent of tho Tribune,
WASHINGTON, January "a habeus corpus
case was argued before Judge Underwood,
in Alexandria, Va, on Friday last, which
prominent Republicans Of that State say illus
trates the D,ai,l,er III which the kuklux spirit
maniicSt> Itself here-though it has no yisis
bic organization. \ colored Republican of
good character and reputation, a member of
Il church, and an industrious laborer, was ap-
pointed member Of ward committee in
Alexandria to look after the registration of
voters. Among others whom he brought to
the Board was young negro, who was after
wards proven to he under twenty-onc years
ofagc. Warrants were issued for the arrest
of both, and the young nnn escaped, hui: the
one who accompanied him 10 The polls was
secured, Indicted, aid convicted Of suborn-
alton cfpcriury. He claims, and his friends
believe, that he inquired Of the young man,
and was told that he was of age. and that he
was guilty of no intentional wrong; but as
the jury was co,lipoSed of white Democrats
lie was shown no mercy. Judge Underwood
bcilevcs the man morally innocent, but will
probably decide that he has no power to re-
| lease him.
| Miss Van Lew, poStanistrsss ct Richmond,
said reccntlv, in conversation, that she be-
! lcrod that there were at least 200 negroes
: now in the penitcntiary for no crime except
being Republicans. OF course charges have
| ECcn made against them, and n form of trial
| has been had, but Justice Inns been rare when
prominent colored Republican has been the
| acciiscd. AS n result of this persecution and
the general poverty Of the people, Judge
| Underwood estimates tirt the vote Of the
State ut the presidential election this year will
| be about 10000 lass than at the election two
years ago. The negroes have cniglated
South IN large numbers, and thouSands Of
! white people have heen obliged to sell their
property and leave tho state. Judge Under
| wood has himself, during the past four years,
| ordered the sale of about 1000 farms, and
thinks the decrease in the value of real estate
| during that time has been at least twenty per
| cent. There have been inorH Cases Of in
voluntary bankruptcy in his district than in
is said to be to-day poorer than at any pre-
yiouS time since the war.
One fact that may in measure account for
this state Of things, particularly In the tide
water portion of the State, Is that agricu-
| tul7iiiy it was almost bankrupt btfore the
war, the only product which enabled the
people to keep MP their plantations being the
slaves which they raised and sent South,
| This source of income having been cut off,
| the State has sincr been retrogr1ding, except
in the JuOtntain regions, where farming IS
| profitable. and in those portions of the State
which are SO convenient to the lines Of travel
as to make the production of garden "trtlck''
paying business.
Virginia is sure to go Democratic III the
presidential election if General Grant is re-
nominated and the Democrats put UP a strong
man. A liberal Republican candidate who
! could secure the support Of the old Wing ele-
mcnt. which is getting tired of its associa-
tons with the Democrats, would he likely to
save the State