The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-13
FROM the spr1nsf Held tohioI Rerufiics1
MOTE he editor was one OF the escuf-
,ionists who recently visited Yirginla.J
Thp Old Dominion.

4 Vhp HIfl 9JD1117uaVsss
Early In the seventh century two colo
ries. representing two principles, sailed
iron, the mother country. One landed or
plymouth Rock, The other at a smau PENN
suIa in the james river. The latter was thu
| first efiectuaI settlement OF an Engiisn COZ
| ony fn Amerfca, and here were built tnt
| first capital and the palace Of the roya
governors and council who, with mimic
pride, emuiated the grandeur and pageant
ry OF Whitehall. The town, or cite, as
| it was called, was laid off In streets anc
contained many houses OF architectura
| prefension.
The first Colonial Assembly ever con.
yened in America was held at jamestown
June 90, 1916, and it is a matter OF surprise
| to visitors that the site OF this city now
contains but one house OF slight preten.
sions and the entrance towerto the old CO.
| lonial church. The sole owner and oecu-
pant of the island, which the peninsula has
now become, tills the soil and fastens the
bow-line Of the steamer Ariel, which daily
stops at its pier. ~
| In 1920 Dutch ship from Africa landed
and sold to the jamestown colonists twenty
African slaves, and here; but two and hall
centuries since, was laid the foundation Of
American slavery, and the soil Of Virginia,
where it had its birthplace, has drunk more
deeply or the bloody sacrifices offered in
wiping out the stain than that OF any other
| State Of the Union, and is still paying the
bitter penalty of her wrongs. A land lying
| iallow and OF rest; plantations OF thousands
Of acres untouched by implements OF agri-
culture, and thousands more by rude cul-
tivation, thirty to fifty years behind the
age, yielding mcagre crops OF tobacco, pea
nuts, corn, and wheat! The wealthy, hos
pitable planter, with his thousands OF acres
and hundreds OF slaves, and unlimited ere.
dit, has now his acres, but his slaves are
Uncle Sans ireemen, and their annual in
crease cannot be sold to make the balance on
the credit side of his ledger, or pay the ex-
penses of his family at the White Sulphur
Springs or the White Mountains. The Vir-
cinia planters acres give him no credit at
bank, ms did Virginia "niggers." He has
no money to pay for filling the soil, and
had he the money the uncertainty OF the
crop would not justify the investment.
Virginia negroes do not care to work with
out pay, and the mass OF them have not
much desire to work for pay. Along
the seashore and inland waters il they
can raise the means to purchase peck OF
corn-meal and pound OF bacon with q
daily catch OF oysters, they are pr0vi5oned
for week, and are more independent than
the former master. Whites and blacks
may be seen driving a jag OF wood or corn
fodder loaded upon cart with shafts, in
which is harnessed a dminutive steer with
bits in his mouth, to which are attached
lines OF BEDFORD, by which he is driven.
Drivers OF lank, lean horses, with harness
tied together by strings, and vehicles Of
ancient make and in dilapidated condition,
solicit custom at prices to correspond.
Outside the prominent cities thrift is not to
be found The mother of Presidents and
the mother OF States is barren and unfrut-
ful; and thus far the delightful climate
and cheap lands have not been sufficient in
ducement to numerous northern or west
crn immigrants TO take the chances Of iso-
Iation from society for opinions sake. or to
undertake the extraordinary cost OF re-
claiming the tobacco and slavery-impoyer-
ished acres. The principles that were
landed from the Mayflower on Plymouth
Rock and stony soil OF Massachusetts were
victorious at Vicksburg and Gettysburg
and Petersburg, and while Massachusetts
IS first in religion, in literature, in edu-
cation, in the arts and sciences, in
public credit, in everything that gives
honor and greatness to State, Virginia,
with the mildest climate, the best soil, has
not credit sufficient to borrow S200,000 10
continue open her scattered and poorly
supported public schools for the remainder
OF the year; and not until the fertile acres
of our western States become more fully
occupied will emigration seek the forty-mil-
lion cbt-burdened State of Old Virginia.
The above thoughts have been suggested
INV frir down tho .Tnmps river on the
steamer Ariel, plying between Richmond
and Norfolk. Every mile has "reminiscences
OF colonial times or Of the war Of '61-'64.
Near Richmond, Powhatan was the site OF
the residence Of the old chief OF that name,
whose war-club, raised to intlict the death
blow upon Captain John Smith, came slowly
to the ground as the form OF his daughter
Pocahontas was intcrposed between the
club and his victim. but not at POWhatan.]
She was afterwards married to Captain
Rolfe, and her blood still courses in the
veins OF proud Firginians.
Dutch-Gap canal, an hours ride from
Richmond, was one OF Buffers uncom-
pieted enterprises. 1t was finished by the
Government in 1871, and saves seven miles
run Of the steamer. Passing through this
canal gave rise to the following conundrum
E" Why is the water Of james river like
lager beer" s'Because it fills the Dutch
gap" Malvern Hill, where Mcclellan made
his last stand, and Bermuda Hundred,
where Butler was "bottled up"; City
Point, where Grant had his headquarters
during the siege OF Petersburg, and where
President Lincoln was on visit when
Richmond was evacuated; Berkeley,
the birthplace Of President Harrison. and
near the point where was given McC!ellan's
o,.ln &c nhn,, ~ Ian
By flank movement; WcStover, General
Pope's headquarters, in the residence bullt
OF English brick; Wilcox's Landing and
Fort Powhatan, where Grant laid his pom
toors and crossed $50, 900 men in folty-ciGht
hours; Lower Brandon, the home OF the
Harrisons, in whose hospitable dwelling
have been entertained every Presidento OF the
United States from Washington to Lincoln;
Hampton, where Butler called the refill
gee slaves contraband Of war;; Newport
News, where, On the Sth OF March, 1862,
was fought the great naval battle between
the United States vessels Congress, Cum
berland, Minnesota, and st. Lawrence, and
the Confederate ram Merrimac. The Mer-
rmac ran her sharp-pointed Prov into the
Cumberland and sunk her. The Congress
was disabled, run ashore, and surrendered.
The next day the little Monitor came into
Hampton Roads, and in her the Merrimac
found her match The latter never left the
Roads. All the above places awaken IN in
terest in every true patriot.
But we arrive in view OF Old Point Com
fort, Fortress Monroe, the Rip-RapS, and
Hygea Hotel, and soon are registered, and
while supper is preparing so en- n1dSSe to
The fortress to witness drcSs-parade and
take in the fort. 1t is the largest fortress
in the country, has some 500 guns, was the