The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-07-18
DAVENPORT, THURSDAY,
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
PENNINGTON, Van Buren Co., Iowa,l
July 4th 1850.

My dear SANDERS
Having, at length, found moments respite
from the duties ever, and necessarily attendant
upon the practice Of an arduous profession, and
hoping it may not be entirely uninteresiing TO
your readers, propose to do myself the pleasure
of writing short epistle for the Gazette. IT'S
the glorious 4ih ofJuly! How many recollections
| -embalmed in Memory,s most sacred urn does
it recall to mind! AT its mention, invountarily
does the Imagination, looking through the vista OF
the Past, rest with delight upon those immortal
n,who achieved ourliberty, who guided the ship
Of State safely over the stormy Of the Revolu-
ton, and established our Government upon the
sure and firm principles of republicanism.
What heart so indurate-so insensible to all
generous and grateful feeling, as not to hro5 with
| admiration and gratitude, when memory presents
| to mind, the ever memorable deeds of those IL
| lusirious spirits, who added the United States a
star Of the first magnitude and splendor to the
grand galaxy OF nations.
The present 4th will be a memorable day in The
history OF Pennington. Extensive preparations
for its celebration have been made, and in which
the Sons of TEN Odd Fellows, Sunday Schools,
| and "Fetlcr Cthscns'' from the surrounding coun-
try. and all the neighboring towns participated.
The keOsauqua Brass Band was present to en-
liven it with nusc,--the orator of the day was
Augustus Hall, lawyer of that place, and can
didate for the Senate who did ample justice to the
day and occasion.
The valley ofthe Des Moines. is certainly one
of the best portions Of Iowa. | am delighted
with the land ismostly tillable and very fertile
lis pleasantly sitnated-and for the space Of fifty
miles from the Mississippi, is densely settled
| Fl'wing through the centre OF this rich country
with high banks, and with crystal waters. is the
Des Moines River. Its margins, on either side
fer many miles above its mouth, are fairly studded
with fionrishing towns, OF all intermediate sizes
sizes, between Rockingham and Davenport In
one OF the pleasantestand largest of ofthese-Farm.
| ington--I have located myself in the practice oi
Physic. Do you ask how am pleased with il
fwonId answer that am perfectly delighted, be-
cause in size, in appearance, in morals, in every
thing almost, it is the exact counterpart OF Dav-
enport. The California movement produced
some tsta gnaton in business matters here, but
this like all other places Of am vigor will soon re
act from this temporary depression.
The Inhabitants Of the several towns. the Del
oines, in this vicinity, entertain hopes of hav
ing them, sooner later, transformed into cities
through the agency of the Slack water improvements
in process OF prosecution. This in my humble orin
the available funds appropriation has already
been expended withoat beneiting its igabty. at
least, to any extent. And am abundantly satisfied
that if the same amounts had been used in the con
sruction of Railway along its that would
now have been completed. and would also have beer
greatly more advantageous to the country. Indeed,
expect very little good 10 result from the improve
ments. even when they shall be fnished the river il
so in most places, that with all the aid the i'm
provements can confer, it will only be rendered nayi
gable for limited portion of the year-and that with
the smaller Class Of boats The "Geology of the
| try is very interestng-much more than any por
ton of Iowa, save, perhaps, the mines.
4haye already collected quite number of fne spe
eimeas, Tor some Of which wish you to reserve q
pfsce- in your cabinet. They shall be forthcoming
when visit Davenport, which, were to pursue my
lnciinaions, would be at very distant time; but
Fate. whose mandates are imperous, and must be i'm
p!icitly obcyed, has decreed otherwse-and silent.
ly-may not say phosophically, submit. The poll.
tics of this county at present, in most beautiful
confusion. Each of the great parties divided, and
the different factions contendi against each 9TH
er, with zeal and ascerhty Of feeling known only TO
politics. remain silent spectator Of the scene
and view, alternately with Indifference and disgust
the gatherings of a storm whose erces lightnings will
be unable 10 reach seattle my head.
Yours truly, fr+ ]. F. d.