The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-07-16

list y1psssetses sf pavsapert asa Isva,
DAvEHroRr, July IL, '66.
10 te Editor Of tie Daily Gssetts.
Dear Sir:-Would it -
agreeable to you. and q your readers, g
knew something Of the Impressions made
upon ! passing stranger, from Western
New York. On his 6rss visit to DsveApors
and Iowa, II so. l viii ao, dsny myself
the pleasure Of furnishing you the means.
Though | have, At various times, wan.
dsred from my native valley in New York,
nor,hward as far as Montreal and Quebec,
and some two hundred miles beyond; east
wAsd a. far ~ the White Mountains Of
New Hampshire and into Maine; southwark
through the Carolinas and Georgia; yet
never, until the last gwo weeks, had | been
west Of Lake Erie. had never found the
convenient time; and, in my younger years,
and with facilities Of travelling vastly less
than are enjoyed now, it was o great
achieyement for . tswnsman Of mine to
push HE sdventurops way to the valley OF
the Mississippi; and the lucky man who had
accomplished il aud returnsd in safety, was,
to ill his ~neighbors. a wonder and 4 marvel.
Circumstance recently favored the wish
had long felt to see . little of the boundless
west. Of which I had heard and read so
much from my boyhood. resolved at once
to start. Taking = 6ne s,eamer at Buffalo
and crossing the Lake to Toledo, thence
passed across Southern Michigan and North.
ern Indiana to Chicago, where tarried
two days, and then resuming my seat in
the cars, and sweeping across Northern
~Illinois, through Joliet, Ottawa, Lasalle'
Peru, Shelf ED and other towns, and thro'
illimitable prairies, along the Chicago and
Rock leland r. r., | caught my first vision
Of the waters OF the Mississippi at 4 P. N,
last Monday, one week ago to-day. There
they were, flowing broadly and smoothly,
flashing in the sun light, and skirted with
forests and fields Of verdure. ASP. n. i
had crossed in q steamer from Rock Island
to Davenport. Since then I have busily
used both eyes and ears, traversing the
place in various directions, and looking ou'
upon the charming scenery around making,
meantime, q flying excursion, occupying
mos, of two days, to Iowa City.
Ihaye, from the car windows, taken such
chances as 4 bird on the wing may, over
the broad prairies Of Iowa; not often, - in
Illinois, presenting 4 ~boundless level. like
the waters of these great Western Lakes;
but, gently rolling and undulating far as the
eve can reach; dotted and skirted with for
eats and woodlands; sometimes covered with
vast fields of waving ~heat or luxurian,
corn, or herds Of cattle, with here and
there, away in the distance, an occasional
neat farm house, and sometimes with only
| the wild prairie grass, the virgin soil having
never yet been subjected to culture; bu'
giving abundant ind eaiions of great iertili'
", and awaiting the tread of teams of pa.
,iens oxen dragging after them the e~leaving
plow. II 10 indeed inspiring to an Eastern
man, and makes his heart swell with de.
light, to look abroad over these far-reach'
ing prairie lands, and to anticipate. with as
sured con6der ce, that Iowa is soon to as
sumo a proud rank among her sister States
yielding, psrhsps. to none ofthem in wealth
and denseness of population, and happy
homes, and all the evidences Of refined cul
ture and high civilization. In the tempora'
ry metropolis Of the State, have been pres
snt for some hours in both houses of the
Legislature, convened in extra session, anc
listened to the earnest discussions there
going on in reference TO the best dispose
ton Of the noble grant of lands recently
made by Congress to aid in the construction
or various lines OF railway across the Stat
from the Mississippi to the Missouri river
and was pleased with the appearance Of tn
members; SO earnest, SO energetic, 80 busl
ness looking, and apparently SO well htte
to care for and promote the interests an
develop the great natural resources OF
new, vast, growing commonwealth. as
ceDded to the top of the Capitol and looke'
on, over the city and the Iowa river ane
the region lying around, and wss gratifes
with the indications, manifest on every side
of intense activity and rapid Advancement
I, gratihed me Is an American citizen, Il
reflect that this 10 q part Of my own grea
and noble country; tina, the people of low
are my own countrymen; and as saw ther'
a company OF men from New England un
der Dr.. Gutter, making through lows
around Missouri, to carve them out free
homes in Kansas, I involuntariIy and ear
nestly bade them, from my heart, 5000
speed, and could not, would not, suppress the
wish, sincere and intense, that The virgin
soil of that fair but abused Territory nigh
be preserved free from the polluting, blight
ing influence of slavery, and become for
evermore ike fair Iowa, the home of peace
and prosperous industry, and happy, honor
| able, high-minded feemen:-
| .Nsn who thar duties know, and know their right.
And knowing dare naintxin.P
Bot Davenport Is. in an especial manner
to me a spot of high interest 1t seems ey
identity destined to be, in far higher measure
even than now, a town Of great CONNER
cisl importance. When from the observs
tories of Iowa College, and the Female
Seminary, and the top of Mr.. lie Claire,
mansion, and ether points on the elevated
bluff lying back of the city, have gazee
around me on the broad Mississippi, visible
up and down nearly fifteen miles, vessel.
moving on its surface, the Illinois shore
Rock Island city opposite, Moline, various
islands covered with yerdure, and set like
emeralds in the river, | have thought Day'
snpor,, as i lay below me, and its elegant
surroundings no. unity characterized BY
ex.President Fillmore. in q little speech he
made here from the deck of = steamer, a