The Portland daily press., 1872-01-08

How THE NEGROES ARE PROSECUTED IN
VIRGINIA.-A habeas corpus case was argued
before Judge Underwood, in Alexandria, Va.
on Friday last, which prominent republicans
of that State say illustrates the manner in
which the ku-klux spirit manifests itself
there-though it has no visible organization.
A colored republican of good character and
reputation, a member of church, and an in
dustrious laborer, was appointed a member
of ward committee in Alexandria, to look
after the registration of voters. Among 9TH
young negro, who was afterward proven to be
under 21 years of age. Warrants were is
sued for the arrest of both, and the young
man escaped, but the one who accompanied
him to the polls was secured, indicted, and
convinced of subornation of perjury. He
claims, and his friends believe that he inquir-
ed of the young man, and was told that he
was of age, and that he was guilty of no in
territorial wrong; but, as the jury was COM
posed of white democrats, he was shown no
mercy. Judge Underwood believes the man
morally innocent, but will probably decide
that he has no power to release him. Miss
Van Lew, Postmistress at Richmond, said re-
Gently, in conversation, that she believed that
penitentiary for no crime except being repub-
licans. OF course charges have been made
against them, and a form of trial has been
had, but justice has been rare when promi-
nent eoiofsd republican has been the accused.
As result of this persecution and the gener-
al poverty of the people, Judge Underwood
estimates that the vote of the state at the
Presidential election this year VIII be about
20. 900 less than at the election two years ago.
The negroes have emigrated South in great
numbers, and thousands of white people have
been obliged to sell their property and leave
the State. Judge Underwood 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 20 per cent. There have
been more cases Of involuntary bankruptcy in
his district than in any other in the United
States. and the state is said to be, to-day,
poorer than at any previous time since the
war, One fact that may in measure ac-
count for this state of things, particularly in
the tide-water portion of the State, Is that,
agriculturally, 1t was almost bankrupt before
the war, the only product which enabled the
people to keep up their plantations pelng the
This source of income having been cut off,
the state has since been retrogarding, except
in the mountain regions, where farming Is
profitable, and I'm those portions of the State
which are so convenient to the lines of travel
as to make the production of garden truck"
a paying business.
| WOMEN AND WAR.-The ballot is the sign
of equality and an emblem of fair play in
the state. Is it heavy, like the market?
Does it require big and burly statue behind
it, like the polieeman's baton9 Or dull
mind and heavy heart, so necessary for the
success of the bunker journalist? Not at all.
The ballot is just the opposite of the bayonet,
invented on purpose to get rid of it. And
the more ballots we get, the fewer guns, glD-
bets, prisons, handcnfis, and bunker news
papers we shall need.-Boston Bdzdr GG-
zeSe.