Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-26
~ The Springfield Massachusetts,


Republican publishes the following beau
sifal and eloquent letter, in response to an
invitation to Governor Mcdowell, from the
citizcns Of that town, to deliver an Grafton
before them On the approaching annvcr-
sary Of our national independence. II,
says the Republican, sit be thought that
some liberty is takcniu thus giving pub
''city to lady's letter, the excuse is to be
found in the desire that the just sentiments
which arc so beautifully expressed in it.
may lind more ready access TO the heart
by knowledge Of the source from which
they come. Surely, surely the foul spirit
ofDisunion will feel itsclfrebukcd, and the
heart of true Patriotism be warmed by the
noble language of this Virginia, this A.
MEXICAN Lady:
WAsuIsoroS Junc l. 1sjis
Hon Mr.. Ashraus: Dear Sir: The letter q invita-
ton from the twenty-five citizens Of pring6ed. To-
gethcr with one from, yourself urging the
of that invitation were received by my father. Cow
crsor Mcdowell, this morning. but he Ia uJlittcd
By great anxiety account of the extreme illness
yourself the committee he has requested me.
by way ofauswcr bot to state to Won the circnn-
in which he !. placed, and 70 ask of you the
favor TO lay the statement before the committee.
Your letters have found him watching beside the
sick bed Of a beloved chiti, whose health. which
has been source OF the deepest anxiety with him
for many months past, has rcccay and rapidly SO
completely suken under the power of pulmonary
disease justify his fears IN regard her
and to leave him great di stress ard hociessne-s
await It's fatal termination, which cannot be distant.
Thus cireun<tanccd, he has neither mind
heart for any thing beyond his home. Doaras
the public good Is to him, secured he believes i.
ools can be By preserving Union is, and de-
lighted, Southern and FirginIon he
wocId be TO unite with his Northern brethren Of
Massachusetts in endcayoring a healthfa
state oil feeling this nloneutous subject to nil
part- OF our country; yet present he do moth
ing but tender his thanks the citizens of Spring
he'd For TN ir fattcTDg notice If hun, and
the hope TINT. in the past the great Common
wea!tbs II VIRGINIA and MAssAcHrsETrs were ev-
found side by side battling with united hearts aud
hands for the common country in the future they
may go $ cordial nud united Is ever finding
thing in sectional in party f-eings strong enough
10 break the tic which binds them their National
tHioa and 10 each other. Ns1y respectfully,
SALLY C.P. MCDOWELL
To this touching record Of grief and pa
triotisn, we have 10 add the sorrowful an-
nosnccmcnt, that Gov Mcdowell passed
through this place last week. bearing to
tits dark house and long sleep" all that
remlncd Of "thc beloved child" beside
whose bed he had SO anxiously watched.
-
GV The following graphic description
frcmthc Alta Californian, ofthe late conil.-
grafton in San Francisco will be read with
deep interests. One thousand houses were
sunk into ashes, and the loss of property
ranges from twelve to fifteen millions of
dollars.
Ir~n and zitc cefled MP IKE seorchcd leaves and
rtnt forth their brilliant flames Of green blue and
yellow tnt., mneling with aud modifying the great
red tongues Of FIRE whhh flashed upward from,
thousand burning houses. The hill sdcs were lgl-
ted If the were nbovc the Eastern MOUNTAINS
mud their trees, shrubs, heritage aud houses were as
Hsstingustubic IN the bright light il il noon.
f)rrkocss hung largc portion of the shipping,
where the broad and heavy ocean Of smoke lay down
in iinpcnoirnblc gloom the bay. People be-
came paralyzed. Many removed their stocks Of
goods, or portions ol Them four or FIVE times, and
Ind them osertskcn and destroyed by tho flames Mt
last. The streets we're cramncd with masses of
hnman beings and rushing teams, only giving way
before the advance OF the elements ~ the sinr1e
and beet ard crashing walls pushed them buck.
Men Became mad. Some rushed heudlong into the
flamci. Weeping women and prnttlilg infancy We're
Wandering anil ashes aud destruction. Evcryf,w
moments the earth md ar tren.blcd rs great nIild-
ings tern into fragments by posions OF gun
powder, and the atmosphere filed w.h shutter
ed timbers. brick mud mortar. The multitude hung
upon the borders of this .'vasf sea Of amc;h few
comparatively, knew or could know what where the
dangers and exertions at those who within the
range Of the sitting smoke and scorching flame. In
hess than nine hours from the beginning, more than
twenty squares oxisred only in memory, and in The
ascending columns Of smoke ind n1ne which cove
red tho city site.
But tire Saddles, sigh ofoll was the destruction Of
brave, but bcw lcrcd men, who finding them selves
suddenly surrounded with fire. rushed staggered
aud unccrtIin, from flame flame Ia hopeless efforts
escape; until strangicd nnd scorchcd they writhc
md fell in fall view Of hundreds who were complete
ly pewcrlcss TO save them. Others, after battling
inside Of what they had considered iire-proos find
lag the efforts the buildings vain endenvor
cd to escape but too late, The doors and wnlrw
blinds were red hot. aud coald No, be opened in
some instances, and their last chance of safety fail
cd them.
We cannot express our sensations OF Yesterday
while locking upon the blackcacd remains of poor
'u nany rs they still lay, barncd coals, amid the
merry street, still beyond the reach ofal who gazcd
upon them. May We never agaia horrible
spectacle.
We were nishcd yesterday witt. The names of
the sis noble men who were b,riei 10 death in their
cndoavors to save the store of raiice x Cah from
destruction. Captain Welsh was recovered from
the ruins aud buried yesterday. Tho othcis arc
Slessrs. Edward McCshill Leon Grecuabaum, Reu-
ben Baker, Ncusbaum and Roseathsl
-
" The people of Massachusetts talk
of making anew constitution, a New Hamp-
shire paper offers to sell them their new
ono, at a discount Of fifty per cent, on the
original cost.
Should New Hampshire not make
swap with Massachusetts. if she will wait,
says the Petersburg Intelhgencer, until our
now constitution is formed, we'll give her
n rare bargain. Wen swap our constitu-
ton for hers at par, and will throw in the
Suuplemcnt No claim, ho,v,t,-,.r mn III