The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-03-05
Western Correspondence.
NUMBER SIX.

| 4 Wc " f%"fJfuttVH- appearance una CHoI-
dcter Of tie Emgrants - West going pest
,eard-Coi0red settlement in Cass County
-"By Tom His vdiue 10 tie Coiony-
The national danger from Slavery Wells
in Micbigdn-MuSk Rats and Mcir dtceL
Hngs-1ra0ic in iive stock Jetreen Tie
East and Vest Conversation riM Hoo.
sier- Village Of Niles Departure for In
diana.
The broad alluvial vallies of the west
are the field for emigration, both from
foreign lands and from the eastern parts
Of our own. In 1913, it is supposed
that 300, 900 emigrants landed from Eu-
rope on our shores. In lS49 their mum.
Der was estimated at 1000 per day,
Quite proportion Of this large number
seek homes within the embrace of the
wide-spreading west. From the first of
September TO the last of November, the
great ihoroughfare leading from Ohio to
Chicago, and thence TO Iowa, was lined
with emigrant wagons going to the land
of promise. Four and six teams usually
accompanied each other. The wagons
were all covered with white canvass and
presented an imposing appearance. Day
after day, for weeks and months togeth
er, these bands or companies of emf
grants might be seen pressing their way
westward in numbers that would almost
battle computation. Like a fleet in the
distance-like the white fleecy clouds
that float before the gentle breeze, SO
moved this mighty mass of teams aud
hooded Wagons, at all hours of The day
One would be led to suppose that the
older states would, at this rate, soon be
depopulated, so great is the elllux west
ward. Fifty years ago, there were less
than 800 900 people west Of the Alle-
Each emf grant team carries along with
it all Of the elements necessary 10 their
subsistence. and most Of them for their
comfort. They usually camp out in
their wagons, aud cook their food, ami
par,ake of their meals, around the camp
fires, lighted for their convenience.
Some have cook stoves in one end Of
their wagons, which they heat up on
stopping for the night. They usually
wash by moonlight, and hang their
clothes on the bushes and leave them 10
dry over night. Poland starch and fiat
irons were of no more use TO them than
damask curtains and silver plate to the
backwoodsman in his hu, of logs.
These emigrants are a hardy and en-
tcrprising class of men and women,
whose appearance indicates that they are
prepared to srapple with llerculean dif,
licuIlies. Most of them are doubtless
possessed Of small capital TO aid them
in laying the foundation of their future
home. Our pity was somewhat excited
by the appearance of one emlgrant fam
ily, who doubtless were poor. They ev-
iden,ly set out quite too late in the sea-
son, and were doomed to reach their
place Of destination 10y the slow and le-
dlous process Of Icing drawn by an OK
team. 1t was near the last days of No
yember, on cold and frosty morning,
that we saw them. They had slept i'll
their wagon, and had risen and partaken
of their humble meal The wife had
an infant, besides other small children,
and as the sun was not ristn, they gath
cred around the fire, shiyering with cold.
The man appeared jaded and weather.
beaten. HIS care-worn countenance
proclaimed that his lot in life was toll
and anxiety. lie was busy in gathering
up to depart, while his poor oxen lowed,
indicative of their loneliness and scaniy
fare. Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, are
rapidly filing up with eastern settlers.
Some 1900 wagons crossed the river at
Burlington, Iowa, in five weeks. from
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and like
number at all the other ferries below
this point. Not only are the east NOV
ing " est, but the west are pushing far
ther westward, until the Pacific alone
will be the limits OF our wide domain.
In Cass County, Michigan, there is .
settlement of free blacks, most Of whom
were once slaves, and have been eman-
cipaied by their masters. Not long
since, forty were added to their number
Their master liberated them, gave then
funds, aud appointed an agent to accom-
pany them and invest their money in
land. They are industrious, and COM
mand the respect of the whites about
them. They have a merchant and va
rious mechanics, aud each pursues his
calling, with due degree of success
One Of their number is noted for his su-
perior strength, and bears the cogno-
men OF ." Big Tom. " When he is il
town, all feel safe He is a sort Of insu-
rance company in himself, both for life IL
property-a kind Of steam pipe, or safe
iy valve, through which all their fear:
escspe-a sort of moated wall, that, in
their view, renders the place as impreg'
nable as a forlress.-One night, Tom
was out Of town, and, as might be ex'
pected, a gang Of Kentucky kidnaPper'
came proving about the settlement, and
succeeded in seizing upon mother anc
her three boys, and carried them as far
as South Bend, Indiana. Big Tom
rallied help and pursued the villains, ant
overlook them at that place. They
were committed 10 Jail to await theil
trial, and the stolen family restored tc
their friends again. Oh the tlrpi,udt
and guilt of these land sharks! OF al
men these hireling man-stealers are the
dregE-the scum-the on-scou!ing oI
society. "They lie in wait-they set 1
trsp-lhey catch men"
There is proverb that no man car
bind a chain upon the limb ofhls neigh