The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-03-06

East, could be graded and bridged the pres
ent season. Indeed there is no good reason
why portion Of it, at least, cannot be pu
into operation BY next fall. Whenever tn
grading and bridging is provided for, ant
in course Of construction, iron and machine
~ can be had, and brought up the Missouri
River for putting it into operation.
The writer is aware that II is the desire O.
the Company, to commence the work ut tn
Missouri River, at as early a day as possible
and progress with it both East and West.
ENGINE.
The Old Settlers Of Iswa.
The people of Des Moines held CRANE
festival, on the 22d. of February, the ami
versary Of the birthday Of GroRcE VASE
1sGToS. Among the toasts given on tn
occasion, was the following sa m g
tsTHE OLD SErrLERs OF Iowa May they
| live to see the buffalo tracks obliterated BY
railroad tracks-the Indian trail by the iror
rail-"
To which Hon. A. O. PATERSON, Senator
from Muscatine, responded as follows:
Mr.. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen:
Your call to respond to the sentiment just
| offered, | accept with pleasure, and tender
YOU NV Acknowledgements for the kindness
which prompted it, whilst admit my entire
inability to do it justice. Had never en-
tered into any matrimonial alliance, would
feel further reluctance in responding to it
before the array of beauty which greets the
eve on this festive occasion ,as it might very
naturally be inferred from my being select
ed, that the weight of age had settled upon
me. l am not aware how long residence
it requires in this growing State, for any one
to be entitled to the appellation of cold set
tier" but am very certain that many here
are better entitled and more competent to
respond to it than myself. l see before me
those who have seen Iowa whcn she first at
tracted the attention of the pioneer-who
have seen her arise from the chrysalis con-
the gorgeous hues and butterfly wings of an
Independent State. 1t is to them the peo-
pie Of Iowa owe lasting debt Of gratitude.
1t is now comparatively an easy journey
with the facilities afforded for travelling, for
our eastern friends to visit our young and
aourishing State; but twenty years ago how
different, how uninviting. 1t is true, the
broad prairies, bedecked with flowers of
every hue, presented scene on which, the
eyes of the poet and artist might linger
without growing weary. 1t is true, the rich
productive soil of Iowa, as we'll then as now,
offered inducements to gladden. the heart of
the husbandman, but civilization did not
settle upon the favored land, and it required
that resolution and nerve TO break of the
cherished associations of homo and friends
which characterize the earlier settlers of
this country.
The traveller may grow weary of long
and tedious journey across onr broad prai-
ries, yet how inviting the prospect and en-
joyment of q bright, glowing fire, good
cheer, and couch whereupon to repose his
weary limbs. How different twenty years
ago, when, with sluggish team, the pio-
neer wound his weary way without the pros
pect of even meeting friend, when night
spread her sable curtain over the lonesome
earth: without couch other than our
mother earth, to repose upon-without o
friendly eye to watch his peaceful slumber,
save the sentinel star that begemmed the
throne of midnight. May those who first
reared the rude hut and broke the virgin soil
who assisted in framing wholesome laws
under which We have grown and prospered,
ever be honored by the present and future
generations Of this State, so long as memory
serves to record the deeds Of the past.
The buffalo hearing the tread of the white
man, and shutting the breeze of civilization,
has been forced to seek home near the
Pacific. The red man fingered for time
around the favored spots Of his early youth,
but the council FIRE hasgone out, and he too
has gone close upon the track of the buffalo.
But short time since your own beautiful
Des Moines wound its way through the un-
cultivated valleys and hills of undiscovered
mineral, and sought the current of the Mis-
sissippi, with its waves unbroken save by
the paddle Of the eight CANOE" Those
valleys are now cultivated fields and luxu-
RANT landscapes-the hills are daily yielding
the richest mineral treasures, and the canoe
has given place to the mighty steamboat
which plows the waters and defes the winds,
and this again must yield to more power
full and swifter agent, to meet the pressing
wants Of immigration and commerce.
But II few years ago the old Father of
Waters, disturbed in bis oozy bed, rose in
his wrath, and with tyrant's power and a
giants strength, waived his watery sceptre
and claimed the right to bear upon his ample
waves the whole commerce Of the West,
from the Northern SHOWS to the Southern
Gulf, but the iron horse, conscious of supe-
rior feetness, bounded across the mighty
river, with velocity that outstrips the
whirlwind, and claimed Iowa as q race track,
one every way worthy of its mettle, whistling
tune Of defiance to the comparatively lazy
old river, and telling him, ''you are behind
the times old fellow, ten miles an hour is too
slow for young America to travel.''
In the benign effort to brighten the chain
of union between the several States--to hold
together as unit, the rich legacy bequsath-
ed US, how replete with interest is the fact
that, As it were by some unseen power, this
chain has given place to thick bands Of iron,
welded together by the solder Of mutual
interest, and the affection Of free, intelli-
gent and virtuous people.
For long time the Iron Horse was content
to play under the green shades and drink at
the refreshing streams in the valleys of the
East, but not content with 90 limited a space
for his gambols, he dashed his way over
and through the ssrock- RIBBED hills Of old
Allegheny, and quenched his thirst on the
banks of the Ohio; from thence, close upon
the track Of the buffalo and the trail of the
red man, westward no takes his way. The
Missouri waters will present him no barrier
the scowling wolf and red deer will quake
to hear the gathering Of his iron hoofs along
the valley Of the Platte--the eagle will Be
disturbed from his nest in the crags Of the
Rocky Mountain Pass, and with wide spread.
ing nostrils and fiery eye-bslls, be will enter
the great city Of the Pacific there to inform
the citizens that the Iowa Legislature will
al be up next week to spend the day, and
return in the next morning train.
GTA caucus Of the Democratic members
Of the New York Legislature has endorsed
the Lecompton policy, and expressed an
'sINcREAsINe cosrIDlNcE"s in the Adminis-
kration Of Mr.. Buchanan. Whatever tenn
porary appearances there may be to the con-
Erary, the bulk Of the Northern Democracy
will eventually take the same ground, not
excepting the Democracy Of Illinois.