American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-12-03
Correspondence of the Virginia Star.
ST.. LOUIS, Nov. %, 1888.

H
DEAR SrAR:-Thinking that Your
numerous readers wcnld like to hear
from "your humble servant" and
having too little courage to attempt
a swim through the streets of Mud
opolis, l have concluded to devote
few moments to the edification of the
"red wamus democracy" and the
"Union Saving Wings" of Old Mo
mongolia.
Since last wrote you, L have aca-
ded around considerable, if not
more. When L first arrived here |
formed the opinion that st. Louis
was the most economical in the use
OF dry streets of any place that it
had been my misfortune to visit. but
since then, we have had about 6 in
ches of snow, which has now COM
menced melting, and Oh! what
streets! Wishing to make few
calls, "rolled up my trowsers" and
took O short perambulation. Well,
the consequence was-20 SO
cts. for cleaning off the mud, and 10
for backing my boots. Pedestrian
ism is far below par; it is W orse than
F'ree-Soilism in Virginia; and when
q man wants to go couple of
squares, he must pay 5 cents, or
have his pants washed. ..
But aside from that, I must give
you a nut for some of our Republic
can friends to crack. The State of
Missouri requires free negroes to have
a license to remain in the State. /
have heard several trials before Re-
corder YOUNG, and it invariably oc-
ours, that all the Free-Soilers are
against them, and the free, open
hearted, chivalrous pro-slavery men
take up for the negro. One man
(pro-slavery) went so far as to pay
the negro's fine, $50 and costs
and then went with him to procure q
licensed Show me Black Republi-
can that would do as much.
A large number Of negroes are
coming over from Illinois, and pay
ing a heavy tax to get the 511jvileqe of
Remaining IN q SLaUe State! Where
is the northern sympathy for the nc
gro2
Judge Douglas will be here to-
morrow. lie sent word ahead that
no public demonstration should be
made. He will be serenaded though,
and | have no doubt will make his
appearance aud give us short
speech. -. ..
Politically, / think Mr.. Douglas
the most popular man that | ever
heard of, During my stay in this
city, / have been introduced to
number of gentlemen Of all parties,
and it seems to me that they ali
stand for Douglas first, Douglas
last, and Douglas all the time. He
will go into the Charleston Conven-
ton with the vote of New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Ten
nossee, Illinois, Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, Missouri, and Mississippi, GER
tain; and some of the leading men
here, claim Virginia, Louisiana, N. |
Carolina, Georgia, and Maryland. -
| will just say that it is all like q
jug-handle-all on one side. Doug
las is the man.
Business is brisk here. The river
is in good order, but if this cold
weather continues, boats will soon be
ice-bound. The Missouri at st. Jo-
scph is full of ice now, also, the Up
per Mississippi.
To give you a small idea what it |
costs to live here, | will give you u
few quotations Of prices: Butter,
374a4O cts. Eggs, 80 cts. per dozen;
Apples, 3a5 cts. each; cartridges,
$3.50 a dozen; Turkeys, 81 ,5Oa$2,0 90;
Wild Pigeons, 81 per doz; Honey, |
30 cts; Venison, Is cts; Oysters,
80 cts, per plate dozen.
/ would say to persons about emf
grating to this country, that unless
you have available means sufficient
to keep up for at least ono gear, stay
at lone. If you como here, and
have to go on tick for everything, be-
fore your crop is matured, these
debts will be due. Then you are
sued, executions are issued, and ev-
crything taken to not half satisfy
the debt. After this, you are kept
constantly under the hammer, and
scarcely, if ever, get your head above
water. Persons going to Kansas,
would do well to stop in Missouri. -
The best of lands can be had for
from 81 to IS per acre, in the vicin-
ity of tho Iron Mountain, where a
city is fast building. by coming /
here and calling on Mcssrs. HARRIS
d DEDLEY Rnnl Eelnin a nnnin my