National Republican., 1880-07-26
Letters from Old virginia.

PETERSBURG, July %, 1880.
There are circumstances of peculiar national
interest surrounding Petersburg, especially to
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN. 1t is the birth.
place of several of tho leading minds of the
state. 1t maintained its sympathy with the
slavo-holders' rebellion to tho last moment,
even when there were signs of decadenco and
surrender ut Richmond aud in several other
parts of the Old Dominion. 1t was against
Petersburg, primarily, as debouching at Rich.
mond, that Grant gathered his forces and laid
his plans of attack at City Point Peters
burg, after all, was tho key to Appomattox
Courthouse,
There are many and good reasons for this
prominence. In point of commercial location
Petersburg commands the most important
pon in Virginia, or, rather City Point on the
James, which Is really but q suburb of Peters
burg and the natural outlet and inlet of Rich.
mOud. What old Alexandria was to Egypt
Petersburg may be TO Virginia. Her tobacco o
and cotton traffic should render her unequaled
in all tho world. II was mainly on account of
the oxtcnt and value of the second article
named that Petersburg was so strengthened
in its rebellion by foreign aid. Tho number
OF Scotch, English and German capitalists
engaged Ia tobacco speCulations in this part of
Virginia is much larger than Is generally sup.
posed. The amount Of money placed here by
tobacco capitalists in the army-ohest of Gen.
eral Lee was at one timO very large 1t was
very much to protect these foreign funds
that Leo fell back on his intrenchmonts at
Petersburg after his signal defeat at Gottys.
burg, the real turning point of the rebellion.
Tho money of cotton and tobacco alien
trifclters was on deposit ut Petersburg,
Richmond, Charleston, New Orleans, and oven
in Now York, to refill tho impoverished
Golfers of tho rebellion aud, ii Leo had been
successful at Gettysburg, to establish, by
European recognition, the independence Of
the confederate states.
All this is now matter of history. Hence
tho peculiar interest which must always at
tach to Petersburg. But IhiS interest is boing
constantly deepened by the progress of events.
1t is a singular fact that In its relation to the
United States census Petersburg has relative
ly increased more than any other southern
city. 1t has also yindcated the industry and
success of colorGd labor beyond any other part
of the union. Other cities have douo we'll in
this respect, but Petersburg eYcclls them all.
Tho solfcontrol, thrift, economy and in.
dustry Of the eolOrcd factory people of Peters
burg are worthy of the highest praise. They
havo delighted their friends and silsnced their
enemies. Abundant instances in proof of this
statement might be named. A single one
illustrates ALL There Ia a congregation in
Petersburg made up entirely of laboring
colored people that bought large lot year
ago last September, built a handsome
brick church with adjacent school.room,
at an expense Of nearly $4,000, and
every cent OF this sum Of money has
been raised aud secured among themselves
within these few months One little Colored
child brought into tho pulpit Of tho church by
the pastor has raised with her own hauds $24
and bought an elegant pulpit bible, This is
but sample Of the whole, Tor every member
Of that congregation has gone and done like.
wise, Many similar facts showing the bone-
iiceut results Of emancipation, might he given.
But these must suffice for tho present, My
next letter will be from Hampton. Q. W. ID.