Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-06-19
miscellaneous.
For the Watchmau
OF A LETTER FROM THE
WEST

I EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE
WEST.
Since | have been away from home, have
occupied my leisure time in writing you n
reference to our own personal affairs. The
rain is now falling in torrents. ] am, in con-
sequence, prevented from attending church,
and will give you in this letter, more ox-
tended idea Of the West than have boon a.
bic to do in my former communications
Supposing you believe. as most Of the Eas-
tern people do, that the West has been, and
still is, tho receptacle of all the scum and
scurf of New England and Middle States,
mixed up with a large foreign population,
many Of whom, left their native country. " for
their countrys good | will endoavor brief
ly to set you right in this matter. WILL in
the first place. take view Of the moral and
religious condition Of this country, more par
tcuarly Wisconsin, this State is believed
/ by many in New England. TO be the great de-
pot Of thieves and cut throots, who have os-
capped iustic an the Eastern and Middle
States You will of course admit that he
who has the enterprise and courage 90 lcave
the old homestead, not wishing to remain and
divide the last hundred acres of land between
ten or twelve children. and delve away upon
his share. for his and his iamilys support,
I
his fortunes. willing to undergo the priva-
tions. hardships, tolls and triumphs incident
to prairie life, is possessed Of that quality
which should render him a good citizen. an
aiicctionate child. and an onterprising and
ambitious man. The world. and especially
the people composing this nation, admire
person possessed Of this restless epcgy. if it
may be properly SO called, and will admit that
he who has that spark burning in his breast
and the courage 20 follow its promptings, is
much smarter, and has a stronger foundation
TO build upon. than he who quietly snbmit.
90 a sleepy dormant mind, contcnted to live
as his fathers lived, and die Ike them. This
is the strongest argument in favor of the West.
Nearly all the young men who leave the East
upon fortuEe-scckng journey, are possessed
oi those gems which render them The flower
of the country. They experience the suffer-
iugs of q separation from all those they hold
most dcar-thcv undergo the last pressure of
a mothcrs hand or fathers embrace-they
take the last kiss of their little brothers and
sisters. and after saying a farewell start forth,
like a mighty ship, destined for the Artic re-
gions. Bold and noble hearts are these. and,
II they DO not always realize, they at least
merit, SUCCESS Such men have settled the
West They have made the broad prairics
blossom like garden. They have founded
cities. erected churches. academies. colleges.
and school houses, and are in fair way TO
become formidable rivals, in all chat pertains
TO civilization, morals, education and useful
ness, to their Eastern brcthrcn, or even the
most refined countries of Europe True, ma
ny rogues cmiyrate 20 a new country but
they are generally those who have oyaded the
police Of their own country by their shrcwd-
ness and cunning. Such are soon caught
mapping by the wide-awake pioneers of the
West and secured in jails and penitentiaries.
= HuIt tnnut ,ir spu rf3 Hds attasu' "r
the West The Eastern farmer selects his
claim of prairie land in some one Of the Wes-
tern States. lie Is possessed ofa large share
of ambition, and grasps his plough with a
strong hand and hopeful heart. lie breaks
fifty acres of the one hundred and sixty, sows
his seed, and then he is at leisure to fence 1t,
improve his cabin, and in the evening amuso
and instruct his family by reading from some
useful book The season rolls round and in
autumn comes his harvest From six months
hard labor be has fenced his farm, erected a
comfortable log cabin, raised one thousand
bushels of wheat two hundred of corn, and
minor crops in proportion. This has occupi-
ed onc-half of the year. During the winter
months, he drives TO market, sells his sur
plus produce, and with his little balance re-
turns TO a happy hreside, welcomed by his
wife and perhaps a half a dozen bright eyed
children Such Ia generally the starting point
of a Western farmer. The mechanic leaves
an his eastern associations, and comes out
west 90 mike a home. lie finds ready em-
plovment no Goldfish aristocracy to leer at him
AS a mechanic he takes his place according
to his moral worth The western people a.
dupt the creed that " all men are created
equal "-honco an are respected they extend
q supporting hand and ho succeeds. His chill
drcn grow up and receive all the advantages
to be found in now country. The profess
sional man does we'll at the West. At first he
may have his office in a barn, and no shelves
for his books if he has any, but he catches
the life of the country, and coat off. goes to
work. battles with all adyorsitos, endures the
!, trials. and in few years rcaps rich harvest
Thus itis, so far as ! have observed, in the
y western country. If man comes out de-
p ieJyaipcd 90 succeed, and bears up under all
the vicssitudcs Of business life, is industri-
Gus, honest, porsovering, economical, and
y keeps an eye out for the main chance, he
must necessarily, with the blessing Of ProW'
dcncc. become wealthy and respected. Thus
IS have l given you q brds-eye view of the
y west, from what have seen of it, in Wiscon
J. sin. The last six months have visited Mil
waukie, Watertown. Columbus, Beaver Dam
= Portland, Lowell, Oak Grove, Claymen, Ocon
D., omowac, Dodge Creek, Hartsiord, Lun Prairi'
=" and numerous other places Our business
IN has been such as to need our travelling, anC
o- thus have had very good opportunity t.
see the country ! will notice the manner
and customs of the different races Of peo
pie in my next, and give you my impression
\ Of them. A. w, S.
& For the Waterman.
n LAWRENCE, May 2S, 1851
ed FRIEND WALTON, In this busy hustlin
~ wnrld thera are probahlY fow plaees that caI