Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-29
LETTER FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

RALEIGH, N. C., April, lG, 1874.
r. the Editor If the Journal:
Leaving the city of Danvile on Sabbath at-
ternoon, delightful ride of two hours and
half over the Piedmont r. r. brought II. to
the town of Greensboro, forty. eight miles
distant. This railroad was built during the
war, by the confederate government, as a
military necessity connecting the Richmond
and Danville with the North Carolina r. r.,
thus opening a new thoroughfare to Richmond
from the great south for the transportation of
men and army supplies. Greensboro. is bet
ter knowr in history for the Battle of Gull
ford Court House," between General Green
and CORVALLIS, in May, 1881, in which the
former was defeated; and it is an interesting
fact that large part of Johnston's army DUR
ing the late war was encamped at this place
at the time of his surrender to Sherman, and
we're so rejoiced when the news of it came, at
the thought of returning to their homes, that
during the evening following they fired sky
rockets in exultation, which in their rising
and falling in the darkness of the night looked
like SO many great gothic arches. Green's
boro' is still the county seat of Gulford, but
a new court house has taken the place of the
old one, destroyed by fire year ago. 1t is
pleasant and thrifty little town, with some
trade in tobacco, of which it has one or two
manufactures. Spokes and axe-handles of
an excellent quality are also made here and
shipped north in considerable quantities The
L. S. District Court, Judge Dick presiding,
is now in session. There are over fifty Grim
inal cases on the docket for counterfeting,
violating the internal revenue laws, SC. The
judge in his opening charge to the Grand Jury
dwelt with earBestness on the necessity of
vigorously prosecuting all violations of these
laws, and indicated the course Of the govern
ment in collecting its revenue from taxes on
whiskey and tobacco, useless articles, which
he denominated as mischievous, entailipg in
jury and misery upon mankind We are glad
some men in thigh places" are bold enough
to deRounce these evils, which are painfully
prevalent in this land where the people be-
here in u little ''old Bourbon" or "old Bum.
gardiner as an ''eye opener" or "appetiz-
er." Pending trial is an action against GER
tain agents for detrauding the government of
funds placed in their hands for distribution
among the Cherokee Indians OF n. c., of
which | understand there are about fifteen
hundred left in the State. One of them
preached on Sabbath evening in the Court
House to a large congregation. He was tall
and digniied, spoke With ease and fervor, in
the Cherokee tongue, and had, | understand,
the reputation of being in his tribe Chris
tian man and one OF education.
Raleigh. the capital OF n. c., has a popu.
lation Of nearly eight thousand inhabitants,
by the last census, is nicely laid out, well
kept, and is one of the prettiest towns in the
State, with good Capitol buildings, Insane,
Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylums, and nstitu-
lions of learning. The Pententiary is in an
incomplete condition, though containing a
| large number of conyicts. At the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum we met two unfortunate chill
dren Of one OF the Siamese twins.
More than one-half of the population are
colored, and perhaps in no town in the south
are their educational wants, present and pros
pective. better provided Tor by its various
set ools and institutes based on liberal benev-
lence Four Of the teachers at least are Maine
somen. Maine is also represented at this
place by two revenue officers.
Early vegetables are now making their APP
pearance in the markets, such AS radisbes and