The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-26
Interesting News-Notes from Virginia.
THE FEDERAL COURT IN LYNCHBURG.
pecial correspondence OF the Boston Globe.

THE FEDERAL COURT IN LYNCHBURG.
Special correspondence of the Boston Globe.
- LYNCIIBURG, VA, July 1875.
Perhaps nowhere in the State is the return to
the good feeling of ante -bellum days mo: { APP
parent than in the atmosphere of the Federal
Court, now holding its meeting in this place.
When the Western Judicial District of Virgin
ia was firrt organized, many persons seemed to
think it one of the odious results Of the war;
There was, at that time, little knowledge OF
the machinery of the government among the
people Of this isolated community. There had
been no member of Congucss or important Gov
eminent official in forty years from Lyncllburg;
and as this Court held its sittings in former
days in Staunton, Richmond and Whcelng,and
the present system Of taxation was then I'M
known, it is not surprising that the intense bit
terness engendercd by the war and fostered by
the political disturbances thereafter should have
produced the impression that the United States
Court was a species of InQuisition. For sever
al years before the war, frauds against the rev
enue laws were constantly committed, and
men who would now disdain such practices
were not ashamed to take part, OF ateleast con-
nive in them. The tone of public sentiment
has greatly improved in this respect among our
citizens; and the business of the Conrt is noW
confined almost entirely to the bankrupt cases,
mail robber. Even whiskey frauds are grow
ing rare, and was lately amused at hearing a
Virginia Deputy Marshal comparing notes with
an officer from North Carolina. The Virsinian
listened obviously to his friend, who reported
their arrest, and compacently stated that he
expected to have at least il dozen prisoners to
carry to Albany, and could draw mileage, etc.,
for EACH. The Virginia Deputy playfuly Of
tered to change places with his colleague, say
I'm 1u1 in
it was doubtful whether he should hrve more
than one companion in his trip North, and if
things did not improve he should have to resign
and 60 to work.
WOMEN INDICTED FOR ILLICIT DISTILLING.
Illicit dstlling has lately developed a new
feature, eleven women having been indicted
and summoned at this term, the men who own
the distilleres relying upon the galantry OF
the officers to prevent the arrest of their wives
and daughters. Most of the culprits have been
bailed in small sums, but one valiant officer,
who detected one of these female enemies ct
the constitution, finding her unable to give bail,
forgot the chvalry supposed to dwell IN the
heart OF every Virginian, and manfully arrest
ed the woman, who rallied yiciously at ''Uncle
SAM and all his relatives and representatives
The relentless Marshal placed the prisoner in
his buggy and drove five miles, lis companion
utterny fearful yells at every revolution OF the
wheels which bore her away from the s'still. J"
The deputy gives piteous accounts of his jour-
ney and states that when he bad gone thus far
he met country DOCTOR and offered him a So
bill to give certificate that the woman was
not in a condition to travel. Esculapias Obll-
gingly agreed, and the Marshal promptly set
his prisoner, who had not ceased her bowling.
in the road. He looks crestfallen, whenever
alusion is made to the subject, and says his
nerves have not yet recovered from the shock
received from that ride.
A LOOK INTO THE COURT ROOM.
Perhaps your readers would like to take q
peep into the interior of the court room, which
is the second story Of the temple OF justice
belonging to the city. Opposite the door hangs
portrait of Judge VIM. Leigh, the friend and
executor Of John Randolph of Roanoke. The
presiding officer of the Court is the Hon. Alex
ander Rives, brother of the distinguished VIM.
C. Rives, one of our ablcst statesmen and wri-
ters. The Judge was one OF the faithful I'm
ion men of the State. and now wears the er-
mine gracefully. winning golden opinions from
all parties for his wise and Just decisions. All
the officers of the Court are Virginians-the
able Judge, the worthy Marshal, the talented
young District Attorney and MS promising as
sistant being natives and TO the manor born. =
The nearest approach to the ''carpet-bagge
element is in the person Of the genial clerk, a
New Englander by birth, but for thirty years
a useful citizen Of the State. From the pleas
ant relations existing between himself and the
other members Of the Court, one would not
suspect his Northern origin, but for the nasal
drawl which makes the blood Of the true Vir-
ginian to curdle in his veins and calls up Wis
ions of ssAboitionsts and incendaries."
sCur friend the Clerk is Il very good fellow,
and does everything on the squar," whispers
one OF the lawyers to the Marshal, shut wish
you could suggest little change some Wlar
about his nose, to cure that Internal Yankee
-twang." The fine old Virginia gentleman is
evidently quite unconscious that his broad
achars and hars may CRATE as harshly on uil-
accustomed ears as does the vernacular OF the
worthy Clerk upon his. Last but least among
the officials we must mention Uncle Jack, or.
as we should learn to say under the new aegt-
me, ''Mr. Averitt," whose portly form, excel
lent manners and shining black face, are among
the striking features of the courtroom. Like
most Of the old slaves, he has his pathetic story,
but forgets the trials Of the past in the present
Joys Of freedom. With the amiable compla-
cency of his race, quite willing to be President
| of the United States, in default Of such al
opening .'Uncle Jack ofiiciates as Tipstaff, and
| not more inflexibe in discharge Of duty, not
| more di9nified in bearing, is the Judge upon
| the bench, than the ebony hailff of the Federal
Court.
BANKRUPT VIRGINIA..
AS before stated, the chief business Of this
| body is that involved in the bankrupt cases
The story Of the SORROWS of Virginia in the last
| ten wears is written in the records OF the IS nix
rupt Court, where nearly nine thousand petit
tons filed tell of the utter ruin of many families
| once the luxurious owners OF lands ana slaves
| of the seattle upon a thousand hill" Unlike
| the commercial bankruptcy of large cities
Which involves not only o temporary suspcn
| sion of business, bankruptcy in the rural dis
| tricts OF Virginia signifies the npheayal OF the
| foundations OF our social system. the desecra
| ton of our most cherished associations, desoa
| ted homes and broken hearts. But we trust
| that out OF the ruins a new and nobler edltict
shall rise, built not upon the credit of human be
| ings held in bondage, but the honest, earnest
efforts of all our people.
| In reply to communication from l. f. JOY
president of the Michigan Central railroad
asking that fast mail train be placed upon
that road, the postmaster general says that IN
making arrangements for fast mail the Mich
jean Central was taken into consideration
but owing to transfers and other objections
against it, it had been decided to order the
| train on the New York Central.
Ex-Governor William A. Graham, OF NORTH
Carolina. died at Congress Hall, Saratoga, on
| the 18th inst, of organic disease OF the heart.
He was one of the commissioners to settle the
Question of boundary between Virginia and
MARYLAND. had been at Saratoga some three