Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-02-09
For the Spectator.
CHIcAoe, Jan. 80, 1853.


.Nessrs Editors Were it my desire to avoid
complying with request of yours, could not do
so after observing carefully the different aspects
whlch,th TINS country presents to poor Old Virginia:
The old woman in dotage. and the infant giant is
certainly picture Of contrast 1t is with great
degree of pain that behold around me in this new
country that great activity and enterprise, the
want of which has made nv native State recede,
and this country '.bloom and blossom like the
rose." The traveller has many objects presented
to him which furnish food for thought, and one
from Virginia cannot suppress sigh when he per-
ceives these regions just emerging from state of
barrenness outstrlppng the firest portion of Gods
Globe.
This city is not more than few year settled,
and 1t is at this time in Importance far greater than
az the cities and villages in the Old Dominion.
There is more energy displayed here in a d.y than
Virginia can boast IN century. We have nc
right to complain, Tor as long as men can live on
''na'1owtess bone: of!,,e Resolutions of '9S and
~, and contlnGe to chew the cud of Incidence,
they !.lust be beyond complaint
Chicago is situated on Lake Michigan and Chi
,cago River. The scenery is UNMARRIED, being a
broad expanse of water on the East as far as the
eye can reach-on all other sides you have an ex-
tensive prairie, with only few forest trees to re-
lieve the eye. In many directions your eye wan
ders on until it meets the horizon without an OBJ
ject TO rest on but the prairie grass, which soon
assumes golden hue There are at this time six
lines of Railroad having their ternini at this point.
| Several others are in contemplation and will be
soon located, and in this country that is equal to a
completion.
In your State the tables change; in the first
place, some fellow finds something in the bible Ell
thtr revealed or political, to obstmct the passage
of act the receiving of funds to carry on any
grand scheme of improvement. Here they neither
"cuss" nor discuss anything long. They come to
conclusions so quick as to make us Involuntary
exclaim they are women. but you find in the end,
and that very soon, they are no women, but giants
with the intuition of women.
! We in the South have heard so much about an
ti-slavery that when we come North, we expect
all the time to ''run afoul" of black flag, but
such is not the fact As much as they praise that
Sophia, Mrs Stowe, they refuse to employ the
gentlemen from Africa when they can obtain
white labor | have not seen fifty negroes since
| have been in this city, and very few are en-
ployed at the Hotels. An amusing incident oc-
Cured on my passage to this place, and as it il
Illustrates so well what their views are on the sub
ect of''all men are born free and equal ~ will
rate it
Between Toledo and Chicago, man entered
one of the cars with several books ii his hand; a
mong them was Mrs. Stoves famous and infa-
NOUS Uncle TOMS Cabin. He was descanting
on the philanthropy of the author when he adj
dressed certain Vilginian on his right, land advi:-
ing him to peruse it, After quietly listening to
the representative of Africa's wrongs for some
minutes, he made some remarks of a general char
acter on the subject of slavery. to which Cuffy's
friend replied very tartly. Then the debate be-
came warm, and many ladies and gentlemen rose
from their seats and anxiousy gave ear to the dis
CUSTOM Cuffy's friend based his argument on
the declasation of Independence, as embodied in
have heard of) ard insisted on its proper interprc
tation Then came the Virginian's time. "Well
Sir," sud he ''do you admit that the gentlemen
and ladies from Africa are your equals ?" "To
be sure do" said the anti-slavery man, in the
IN st p ,sitive malMer "NFe'l Sir" said the Vi
GINA, 81 expect you do, as learn you have la
dy from Africa for your better half" can not
pretend to delineate the fury of his countenance,
when he, with stentorion voice and most indig
nant manner, said, 81 have not sir" who said
had2 He did not To- k very belliccse, but maGe
the query for fun, and then continued, got ne
gre! umph no indeed" At this time the fellows
actions and language 50 killed his argument of e
quality that all Cf the passengers burst forth in
laugh, and in the confusion the man vamosed.-
Many OF them wers from Chicag> and were the
most coRyulsed individuals have had the pleas
ure of seeing, and remarked to the Virgnan that
they agreed with him, and III ught equality be-
tween ''negfo and white man. was BEAUTIFUL IN tc-
ton, but it would not do for stern reality.
Many of tlfem entertain sound, practical views
terfere with family matters.
Z have taken up 50 much of your spac. by this,
that must defer communicating many more .icu
d csprits which have met with, until see you.
Yours Respectfully,
UNCLE TOBY.