Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-02-09
tcoRRrsroSpIscZ OF Tag FREE PRESET
From the Allpghanies.
Your Chronicle
GRIFFITH
NO. n,


HARRISBURG, Penn, Jan, 80, 1855.
To IRE Error Or FREE Pass -
You viii observe that ja.e ny letter from the
seat Of Government. Business makes it necessary
to spend my time here during the session Of our
Legislature, and instead Of writing from my home
in the Alcghanies, write from the banks Of the
Susquebauna.
Harrisburg il beautiful town, lying upon tho
Eastern side Of that beautiful river Its name i.
derived from its founder, John Harris who first set
tied here anorg The red men about IT'S One Of
the incidents of his life is the subject Of beauti-
full picture which occupiea conspicuous place in
Senate Chamber. The Indians. aroused by the
presence Of the pale face and urged by that instnc-
tive terror which seemed to tell them thu 'o white
man and the Indian could 49, I'VE togd1er, but that
thew and -. nuntins grounds must give way at
the approach Of the mer,-sezed Mr.. Harris and
bound him TO an elm tree near the bank, Of the
stream, piled the faggots around him, and APP
piled the torch; but the friendly interference Of some
influential Indians from the opposite side Of the
river, saved him from torture and death. At this
day the dry and gnarcd trunk Of that tree stands
surrounded by an old, implanted, weather eaten
board fence, making sort Of uncouth looking pen,
of come sixteen twenty feet square, inside of
which, and around the old tree, are growing six old
Lombardy poplars. These are the only mon uments
that mark the spot.
The Susquehanna at this point i. about three
fourths of a mile wide, in the middle of which is
beautiful Island Of some thirty forty acres, in
fine state Of cultivation. Across the river at this
point IL peautitui prldge, or rather two bridges.
the abutments OF each resting the Island, and
stretching to the shore One Of these bridges is Of
peculiar structure being composed of three spans
each supported by the usual arch timbers, and the
whole bridge forming one large arch. Thus when
you enter the bridge you cannot see through it, un-
I'll you get near the center or summit, then looking
down hill each tue whole BRUCE.
bridge, however, on the Harrisburg side of the
river is Of modern structure being level from,
abutment to abutment. About two hundred yards
below this there is another bridge, built for tho
Cumberland and Valley Railroad, which reaches
across the whole stream. lattice bridge of light
moers' 1t looks poNer'sh to cross it, and yet the
thunder of the cars, with their giant horse is heard
upon it every day. In this day, however, every.
thing says" Who's AFRAID ,"
Starting from this last bridge, two railroads run
OF into the interior, one along the Cumberland
valley, westwardly 10 Chambersburg and south
west to Haserstown, in Maryland. The other, on
the right bank of tho river descend. along its bank
Tor ten or twelve miles, and then turning to the
south stops at Baltimore
But to return to our own Capitol. Upon the top
of round knoll rising some fifty feet above tho
level Of the stream, stand the public buildings In
the CENTER facing the river tue Hall Of Legislation
in the middle; building for the Executive, Treasu.
ry' and Auditing department, about one hundred
ct to the west another and similar building. at
the same distance on the East. surrounded h, 5..
lighttu garden Of young forest and exotic shade.
trees, and being enclosed by heavy iron fence,
Standing upon Capitol Hill every way lies spread
out at your feet landscape of surprising beauty.
Enough, however, of description
A word or two as to what is the shan, and color
of our Legislature in session. Compo.ed of
new elements and new associations, It Is hard to
d zine Its action on some of the most important is
sues before it. Two weeks from tomorrow, L.
; Senator is to be elected. There are many and
earnest asprants some who are most Iealous and
most confident. think destined to be di,ap-
pointed. Ex-Governor Johnston, Gen. Simon
Cameron, formerly our Senator. A. G. Curtin pre-
sent Secretary OF STATE. Prof. Tiffany, J. H. |
Moorehead, 1hsddeu- Stevens, Judge Meuot and |
host Of others are before the people now. II as it
IS supposed, the n,w political organization takes
he subject uto their hands, they can and will elect
'ho they please,-they have the strength and ! |
I'M led to the conclusion that they are likely to Sc.
Get man Of Democratic antecedents, but /, NAV |
be some one not nov considered prominent-and |
feel equally confident that no must be nti-NeLras-
ga and Tariff in his creed.
The Rum question is still unsettled in our State /
tSisL of tLa s"eny secured a seeming expression |
II the people against prohbi;ory law last fall,
While we have elected majority of the members
adorable to such law. The course which Is like
y to be taken will be, to pass law prohibiory in
is character. stripped of some Of it. offensive de-
ails, to 60 into effect say the LIST Of Jan 1856.
md then leave to the people at election, TO say
~ their votes, whether they desire the next A.
emily to repeal it. Such Law would be sustained
~ our people, believe.
We have scores Of banks asking for charters. bu,
thinkthey will.msny Of them fail. The Legisla.
ure is not fairly at work yet. You shall hear from
ne occasionally. Yours. ac,
A. W