The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-26
A Thought Of the West.

of the Hon. STEPHEN A. DOUGLASS, of IL
linois, who, it will be recollected, took an
actiyep part in favor of Minnesota, in the
late session of Congress:
Speaking of Texas reminds me of Judge
Douglass, of Illinois. Where the game is
politics, and popularity The stake, can an
swer for the Judge, be will be thar. The
Judge has held all the offices of any account
in Illinois, and has now come down to
Washington to astonish the natives on a
larger scale. Napoleon kept his eyes open
seven days and nights. Judge Douglass
does net sleep at all. Il sayors of his met
tie, thai his plan for annexing Texas was
among the very DISCRIMINATING third or
fourth, while the slow coaches come lur-
bering along with ''plans'' down to the
thirty seventh, the last arrival at present
recor ded.
But as was saying--ten years ago, Judge
Douglass was beartiless youth Of twenty
years of age, freshly come among the peo-
pie OF the s'Sucker State" with an air about
him suspiciously redolent of Yaakee land.
A mere youthful adventurer among the
square, suckers, one would deeR! the po-
sition embarrassing. Not so with the judge;
he had come on business. A political for
tune was to be made, and no time lost. He
was alDoiil lsunching on the sea OF popular
favor, and he commenced general coast
survey the day he arrived. He soon made
himself District Attorney, member Of the
Legislature, Register of the y. S. Land Of
fee, Secretary of State, and Judge of the
e Supreme Court.
This was well enough for boy. The
Judge is now thirty. and has GENE down to
Washington from the Quincy district, to
make the new territory Of Nebraska and
annex Texas.
But to come at the point of my story.
dropped ia on young Douglass one day,
when he had advanced about six months in
that preliminary coast survey. After a
; hearty show are you, hoss," we sal down at
his office table over water melon, as large
as the premium squash lately exhibited in
Thorburn's window. interrogating him
through mou;hful Of the pleasant vegeta-
bic, said: "Well, old boy, how the -
do you get along among these ginger-color-
cd, ague-shakins, badly-preserved samples
of humanity"
''Get on? why it is the greatest country
II the world"
And then followed the most magnificent
eu!ogy of the country, the people, and flow
ing OF into vivid pictures of political ALI
ances, offensive and defensive plots
counler-plots, grand caucus manGuvre-
head han off--get the nomination in spite
''Veli,'' said |, adroity dropping in my
oar, whilst his face was buried to the ear
IN the melon, ''aow do you adapt yourself
TO the people? How did you gasuraii=e
yourself, as il were:''
'Oh nothing easier; you see ike II.
It's democratic. But it did come awkward
al FIRST. You know 1 am, or rather ,oas,
bashill 10 rather painful degree. Well
nov, une-tenths of my constituents desplse
Injuries, and have no such thing as second
room in their houses. In beating up for
votes, live with my constituents, eat with
my constituents, drink with them, lodge
with chem, pray with them. laugh, hunt,
dance and work with them; | eat their corn
dodgers and fried bacon, and sleep two in a
bed with them. Among my first acquaint
Bluffs. Fine fellows the Is, b. the
way, am sure Of five votes there. Well
you perceive had to lire there--and did
live there. But, sir, was frightened the
iirst night l slep there. own it, yes, sir, |
acknowledge tue corn. An ice bath in
August is something; but was done to an
icicle--had periodical chilis for ten days.
Did you ever see Venus in linsey-wool-
sey:"
"Non
''Fhen you shall see Serena LIS. They
cali her the white PIover;' seventeen
plump as a pigeon, aud smooth az a persin-
mon. How the devil, said to myself soil-
.oquiZing, the first night | slept there-am
TO go to bed before this young LADY, / do
believe my heart was topsytur,ied, for the
idea Of pulling off my bouts before the girl,
was death. And as to doffing my other fix
tares, would sooner have had my leg ia
ken off with wood-saw. The crisis was
tremendous. 1t was nearly midnight, and
the family had been hours in bed. Miss
Serena alone remained. Bright as the sun,
the merry mink talked on. 1t was porten-
tiously obv ious to me at last, that she was
determinedto outs,t me. BY repeated spas
modic efforts, my coat, wa,stcoat, crayat,
boots and socks were brought off. During
the process: my beautiful neighbor talked 10
me with uuaverted eyes, and with that pc
cuiiar kind OF placidlty employed by paint
ers TO emnody their idea of the virgin.
dumped myself down in a chair. in cold
persplraton. Does not the dansei stand
on point Of local etiquette. 1t may be the
fashion of these people to see strangers in
bed before retiring themselves? May not
have kept those beautiful eyes open from
ignorance of what these people deem good
breedings Neither the lady's eyes nor
tongue had indeed betrayed fatigue. Those
large jet eyes seemed TO dilate and grow
brighter as the blaze of the wood fire died
away; doubtless this was from kind consid-
Grafton for the strange wakefulness of her
guest The thing was clear. determined
TO retire, and without delay. | arose with
firmness, unloosed my suspenders, and in a
voice not altogether steady, said
sMiss Serena, think will retire.
ssyou will lodge there, sir;' incliuing hei