The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-14
LETTER FROM THE SOUTH.
RALEIGH, N. c., Aug, 31st, 1872.

RALEIGH, N. c., Aug, 31st, 1872.
DEAR WHICH, always had sympa-
thetc feeling for Mark Twain, when he said
he had seen person who had less energy
and less ambition, and who was lazier tina IL
himself, but that person was a corpse, and
next to Mark Twain, dear Wing l always
envied your boss, for there is none of my
numerous acquaintance who have in their
possession more ease than he. E. E. E.
Editor, Elkton, just look at them. and say
nothing of the innumerable little Els; then
you will be in proper condition to sympa-
thize with poor fellow, swe'tering down
here under broiling sun with the ther-
mometer so high that it is necessary to get
ladder to see what the mercury indicates.
Raleigh, the Capitol of the "Old North
State" presents the dilapidated appear
ance of most Southern cities; with but few
improvements, and with the energy pos
sessed by most of its inhabitants, it like
ly to remain in statue quo for some time to
come. The Capitol, situated in the centre
of the city, surrounded by grounds prettily
laid out, is handsome building, and is in
marked contrast with the surrounding
edifices. Here you find, as is the case in
most Capitols, majority of the citizens
are lawyers; although there is considera-
BILE business in tobacco and cotton. To-
day being market day, the streets are
crowded to such an extent that it is with
difficulty we thread our way through the
innumerable number of vehicles of all
kinds and scriptions-principally OK carts
owned by negroes who have every variety
of vegetable for sale, yelling at the top of
their lungs fresh corn "Yhears your
fine tomatoes ~ "Step dis way for peach
es and apples, &c. Here also is seen Cheap
Johnny selling from cart his stock of
Yankee Notions to the highest bidder, his
principal customers being the blacks who
invariably purchase the gaudiest trinkets.
1t is rather difficult task to write in
the office of hotel where every one is talk
ing politics, and where each seem to think
tue lOICc VI uiS SohoioeS Az oiio
loud tone in which it is delivered. The
political parties here are party of race,
as the whites are all for Greeley; whilst
the blacks are all for Grant, Of course, there
may be a few exceptions to this rule, but
they are very few indeed. The colored
man is inoffensive, well behaved and very
respec full; possessing great Jealousy of his
political rights, and is as stubborn as a
mule in regard to his opinions, and does
not hesitate to make them known. He is
governed by the most influential, or most
prosperous colored man in his neighbour
hood and puts no faith in what cold Mas
sa'' may say, and as few unprincipled
Northern men were among them, he is
looking upon them with evident mistrust,
relying for guidance solely upon those of
his own color. They possess but little
knowledge of Grant and none whatever of
Greeley; but this much they know and will
tell you plainly, that the Republican party
gave them their liberty-insured to them
Civil Rights, allowed them the use of the
ballot, and they are not going back on it
now. The whites on the other hand 60 on
the principal of anything to beat Grant,"
and are working very hard to secure this
State for Greeley in November.
Sauntering down the street this afternoon
came across one of the darkey fruit VEN
ders, and picking up cantaloupe, inquir-
ed the price, and found it to be cts, and
how much for apples" 2 for cts, Boss
"Well take your cantaloupe and give me a
couple of apples" "seeing some peaches
l inquired the price, and was informed he
sold them for cts; offering to exchange
the apples for peaches, he sadly consented,
and l was slowly walking off, when he
called: "stop dare, Boss, you forgot to
pay for dem peaches" "But you exchang
ed apples for them" "True sab, but you
didn't pay for dem apples, did you" 'No,
but gave you cantaloupe for them. "
"Why den don't you pay for de muss-
melon" "Because I didn't buy it, did
-" "Now, look yeah, Boss, dares
mistake somewhere; clare, don't know
zactly where it is, but 60 long, don't call
dis way gin soon." However, 1 presently
handed him fifteen cent treasury note
and waited for the change. "Tank you
tank you, boss, tiz all right, 5cts for de ap-
pies and 5cts for de muss- melon; what you
CUB to me makes 10 cts, and cts for de
peaches wot you kept makes Is cts; all
right, boss, come soon again."