Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-06-25
RAMBLINGs IN THE SOUTH.

NEwBERRY, S. c., June Is, 1875.
In my ramblings down through Dixie,
I stopped at the City of Columbia, South
Carolina, the capital Of the state; once
beautiful inland town, regularly laid out,
adorned with long rows of shady oaks,
lovely gardens, and handsome mansions.
1t is not now the City of twenty years ago,
having sustained terrible blow in the
"March Of Sherman to the Sea-" But Ph0-
nix-like it is rising from its ashes, and
from present indications in few years
more will be far more lovely and hand
some than in its anti-bellum pride. This
city lies on an eminence rising above
the Congasee River, of which, from the
Capitol, there is a commanding view. II
has population of about 10000. In days
OF yore it was a great central point for the
disposition of the produce of the up coun-
try as well as from parts of North Caroli-
ma. But since the construction of the rail-
roads in the State leading out North,
South, East and West, this produce, as
cotton, -four, &c. has been diverted into
other channels and thrown into innumera-
BILE little towns which have sprung up
along the different lines Of Railroads; !;
thus reducing the trade and traffic which
was once poured into the bosom of this
City. There are several Hotels, among
which may be mentioned the Columbia and
Wheeler House. Both are we'll kept and
finely managed.
During my stay here had the pleas
ure of taking several drives in the sub
urbs and around the city which l as
sure you was exceedingly delightful.
Time being precious and having many
points to visit took the Greenville & Co.
lumbia Railroad for the Mountains; on
my way concluded to stop at Newberry c.
H. for few days. This is little town SIT
uated on the G.. & G. Road. 1t has a pop
ulation of $500 inhabitants and is the sec.
ond cotton mart in the State. 1t cannot be
considered by any means as lovely, or pref.
ty, being located in broken valley. II
has quite number of stores and private
mansions. Seen from the road it seems
embowered in woods. The people are in
telligent and to some extent energetic
From the number of churches one would
suppose that the citizens must be emf
nently pious and moral. The whites have
six and the colored two. There is one
Hotel in the town, which taken collective
ly, is very we'll conducted. The provender
is good, with the exception of the beef
which is villainously tough" 1t is
strange that the people of South Carolina
have such horrid beef, when the general
appearance of the country and the climate
exhibit an abundance of pasturage, COW
cred with nutritious grasses. Were one to
Judge from the number of Physicians in the
place, which is said to be ten, he would GER
tainly conclude that it was unhealthy.
From what we can learn il is to the con-
trary. The same may be said with regard
to the number Of Lawyers, of whom there
are twenty, with three tried Justices. A
very large merchantile business is done
here. There seems to be quite number
of stores, and many of the private man
sions are quite tasty. Having business
hired n horse and buggy and rode ont
into the country. The crops along the
line of railroad and what have seen in
my travels through the heart of the country
are decidedly good, especially the cotton.
Fine fields Of wheat and oats are visible on
every side, while here and there numerous
shocks of the same were to be seen. The
harvesters were out in their strength. The
corn crop is not SO good, though it looks
quite promising.
In my ramblings and conversations, log
ically deducing my opinions from what |
have seen and heard, | must say that the
political and administrative condition OF
South Carolina, under the management of
Gov. Chamberlain, is decidedly encour-
aging. Every thing seems to be quiet
and still. The whites, especially the DEM
ocrats, are wonderfully pleased. The lead
ing celored and white Republicans, how
ever, seem to have no confidence in him,
as they think he has broken the backbone
of the Republican party, while | am dis
posed 10 believe that the mass OF the me-
groes are favorable to him. l must say,
that the posture of affairs, from what
knew before ] came here, from what have
seen since here, and from what can gath
er, is decidedly in more pleasant, COM
anu BtooBNAOho btANN IMAM lOE uiuIll
| years past. Quite political change y
has come over the minds of men, not only
Of the white but of the black man. The
bitterness, hostility of feeling and preiu-
dice once existing here is fast passing
away. Men who once held the strings
in their own hands have not that hold
and influence now; and new era Is dawn
ing which promises reform. This reform
ma ~ ha anna tod undap Ae (fha.
berlain to such an extent as to Justify US
in saying that the publication will be per-
fected during his administration but its
effects will be exerted, extended and car
ried out under the next, until South Caro-
lima in the course of time will stand forth
with as good government as any of the
thirty seven States.
In national point, l believe that the
great mass of the negroes are decidedly
for Grant for a third term, while a large
number Of whites are disposed to favor
him, believing firmly that he will support
the party in power in all their wild no.
tions. So far as this may be, cannot say.
That South Carolina win stand by Grant,
Is as sure as the needle points to the north
pole.
The weather is hot, very hot. thermome-
ter standing at 00o. While l write tears of
precipitation are dripping from my brow,
though pitcher Of ice lemonade sits by
my side. How delicious, how cooling for
the momentl
To-day leave for Greenville, from
thence by the Airline road, for Atlanta,
Ga. In my next will dwell more partic-
ularly upon certain idiosyncracies belong
ing 10 the people Of South Carolina, which
any one who lives or wanders among them
can easily comprehend.
Upon my return will communicate