Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-12-24
FROM THE ALLEGHANIES.
HuNrINapoN, December l6, 1858.

htNllNuboNt btceiHpcT loi lohos
Many days have passed since
wrote my last letter to you. The tolls Of active
life have left time to gather up thoughts
for even an occasional letter Now snatch lei.-
ure moment, before tho sympathy of its fellows
drags it along into the of the day and devote
it to you and your readers.
Since my last, many change. have swept over the
business and political field. Industry, trade and
commerce have all been parnlyzcd by the crushing
influence Of badly administered Government
| Merchants, Mechanics, Manufacturers Bankers
and Banks have gone under the tide Yet, with
all this, the spirit Of Barnaby Ridges raven,
which never said de-" distinguishes our people
| as nation, that the thousands are still upon the
| wave, as busy, as anxious, as hopeful, and many
Of them ms prosperous ever. Tho first blast of
the storm struck and overwhelmed many whose
| hopes seemed brightest others reefed their sails
threw out their best bower, and have ridden out
the storm in safety. Business is reviving-a Wig
and substantial movement is seen in the ave-
nues Of traffic and labor.
Anot her storm has swept over The wrath Of
an indignant people has been poured out in all its
fury upon the National Administrations, Buchan-
an-an apostate Fedcralist--to prove the maxim
| that cone traitor is worse than ten Turks" was
compelled to prove to the madmen of the South
that there was no measure of madness and mean
ness too extravagant for him, that he might show
his faith. They pointed out the path, and made him
lead their forces against truth and right Blinded
| by power and tho vile Hattery of those who used
him, he rushed on to his own ruin. James Blu
chanan, and hi. "weak- kneed followers, have
now no party in Pennsylvania. Hk administration
is only counted as in the grade you go up to
| Franklin Pierce and John Tyler.
doubt not that much of the promised prosperity
which now looms in the future, is mirrorcd in the
determination of the people to go back to the good
old day "hen white American labor was fostered
by our Govercment; and when pauper and slave
labor were evils to be got rid Of
But enough of this. All the great interests of
our State ase waking up. Iron and Coal-the
great mineral staples, moving forward and
upward Industry begins to smile, with hope that
work will seek workmen-and not the laborcr
| the labor.
Our little Railroad and Coal Company, which
was incorporated to deveope the Broad-Top Coal
| i'Siuh' although Heally stTuCh uOWn ny tne pCcu-
mary pressure, has been able to sustain itself so
far, and hope of ultimate md complete relief ap-
pears in the future. The black diamonds of Broad.
Top have proved that, as generators of heat they
have no cquas-a emi-btuminous Coal, as it is cal.
edt has added, to the easy ignition and great blaze
of the btuminous Goals, the ferceness of the heat
of the anthracite increased by its btuminous quail
ty. The Coal field lies about rs miles south Of
us. The Railroad is completed from this point
to the Coal. The mines have been opened and
they are now delivering, as high 500 tons per
day, on some days, and on others less. When its
mertorious qualities we'll understood it will |
have no doubt, take possession of the market
Twenty miles added to this road will reach Bedford
springs, one of the most delightful watering place,
in our whole country; and the waters of which
are inferior to mono in their medicinal virtues.
We have had no winter here yet few inche,
of snow in November, two or three freezing DAYS
last week, make the sum of winter so far
Rain, rain, almost incessantly-truy tho rain ha,
fallen on the jus, and unjust, for no ono ha. been
able to avoid it. No where within the range of my
vision can see any snow. The tops of our highest
peaks are frowning in the dark and sombre shad
ows of autumn. Our Canal is open, and we still
some times hear the mellow ecnoes OIL une pua,...,,
horn.
In two weeks from next Tuesday our Legislature
meets at Harrisburg to commence its annual CO..
sion. You are aware of the complexion, politically
of the House-the "People" having large major
ity. In the Senate, measured by old party land.
marks, the "Peopie" are in the minority. Never
theless, some imagine that the organization of thai
body may not BIO so entirely harmonious One
Senator is Anti-Lecompton-was last winter, and
will not likely change now. What he will dc
is not known. 1 think he will vote for the Ad
ministration Speaker. The last blow at Judge
Douglas has been received here with new decara
tons of bitter hostility against the Administration
at Washington; but have seen them fight kiss
make friends so often, place but little reliance on
their profession.
hope to be able to write you word, now and
then this winter Yours,
A. W.