Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-11-13
Out West---No. 3.

my friends in the Fast. The Illinois pCo-
rlc are on the eve Of County elections. The
political papers will at oncc. elections over
book you up in relation to the result % no
time need be occupied in making predictions,
all Of which might fail. Suffice II for you
TO know that party lines in County and
State contests are exceedingly faint, and in
many towns hardly traccahc. Men readily
and seemingly without any mi'si'lng' OF
conscience are now passing over from one
party To another, and voting, each one, ac-
cording TO his own predictions, for whom
he happens to cherish the warmcst friend
shin: or Tor whom may be regarded by hun
as the best fellow" There is really no
party discipline. especially in the rcpubli.
can party. Tho party and It, name are
new and time and times political conflicts,
trials and achievements have yet work to
DO, to cement and discipline the Republican
party, to enable 1t to win future victories
worthy Of it, name and principles. II can
and must politically reScncratc and redeem
the world
+ but political matters may shdc," and
| must redeem my promise to write about
prairie chickens, experience in the legal
profession. aud surface views Of society In
general and. finally, anything thatwill kill
time in writing, provided 1t il warranted
not to kin the printer in printing, or the
reader in reading. In boyhood ! doubted
whether Illinois rrairics were sohountilully
sprinklcl over with vcritablc chickens. All
doubts are removed. They are nearly as
numerous rs the trout in our New Eng
land mountain strams Would you know
how they are huutci2 The sportsman
mounts hi. horse, armed and equipped with
all the necessary filings, taking with him
his well.traincl aud faithful chicken dog,
regular setter. The sitter beat, and ,cour'
toe prairie, keeping at no great distance
from III, master. lie sos chicken in the
grass, stops OF sets, lightly lifts ono fore
paw, vhiuinely turns his head TO hi' mas
ter lis master comes up. Tho setter
move, rapidly along 10 tho chicken. The
chicken ris.-. and often reveals others at the
same time. The chickens flight At Grt,
FROM o., tall sas, Is heavy aub slow, the
aim OF thc hunter &, sure and uuerrins, aud
rarely, IL ever, fails % bring FROM the wing
90 The ground the one aimed at, and very
frequently many other, of thcsc beautiful
birds. In th. way my friend, Col. Hume,
aud my.,r l.s-rl lea one huc auiunual
forenoon twenty-five as 6uc chickens as ever
winged the ayr, or lyll dead and bloclius at
the hunter. irct. Many have made or.
tune, iu hunting aud sending O. Eastern
market, thg-e prairie chickens, and no
doubt many more will DO the same. We
became tired 81 The chn-r and dropped into
prairie cabin, constructed OF hcwn logs.
Tho owner, wealthy farmer and his good
wife, welcomed u. and kindly consented to
cook in genuine western style, q couple Of
our chickens ior supper. W. at dinner
with them aud again took 90 the cha-, with
about the same succ.s. ~ attended, as in the
forenoon. supper came. or We came 90
super any Way you choose to have IL, in
due time, aul vr Iy,Durrl 10 with q relish.
For thr benefit and amusement of my lc.
sal friends, perhaps, a few general oh.er,a-
ton. upon ll.roi, Courts, lawyer 900! pac.
ucr will not o. regarded as wholly iuoppor.
tune. Judge, courts, trials, and practice,
90 me soam queer Talent and legal acquire
mruts M, not wanting. but the same rough
and rrlIy pitch and terrible style prevail.
10 court. of trial aud tha administration Of
justice, which IS .o peculiar and character.
i.uc ofwcs,rm lie ana manners. No man,
because ha is juic, or lawyer, need wear
.uG dicky, wrll-rall.hsi boots, nicely al.
jus,ri aai rgr.umcl hair, and presume aud
rely upon hi, dignity, for surely the care.
l,s, hotels, The rushing whirl Of society and
thc prairie mud will take the starch out Of
the dicky, the shine from the nicely polished
b1'ts and the man with Eastern dignity
will fad iI an conc. IN order 90 give YOU
some idea Of court, Of justice aud trial by
jury, il becomes necessary, among other
things % introduce myself "a. one IT the ac.
tors The suit was an action of tro,cr, 10
recover ,hr value oC two calves, alleged by
thc plaintiff 9, have bacn taken anl convert
"a by the defendant. The parties were a
Mr. Rrel, plaintiff, and a Mr.. Bachus, de-
lcndaut. l, seemed % b. well understood
aud generally conceded on all hand, that
the plaintiff is li,islnt, luarrcl,0ma man,
and i, addicted 20 the sin Of selling 10 any
who will buy, rotsut whiskey. While on
the other hand the defendant, is highly re-
spectacle citizen. Industrious, honest and
upright, esteemed and respected by all who
know him. made the closing argument
70 the Jury IN defense, and in the course Of
my argument took occasion 10 animalyert
with severity upon the character Of plain.
TIL, and at the same slime pay what deemed
a jus, tribute Of respect TO the character Of
my client, the defendant The people in
the cour, room seemed TO justify my rcyarks.
The plaintiff was sustained by one j..
Wood, Ell. H. replied to me in a speech
Of nearly an hour He is a man Of acknowl-
edged Legal requirements and fine natural
cndowmenis. lie is about fifty years old
has practiscd law in various States, and has