Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-12-17
EPISTLE FROM IOWA.
Correspondence Of the Lewisburg Chroniclel
HAMPTON, Iowa, Nov. %, 1858.

storm has blown over, and the war of Ell
ments has, in the "Keystone" and in th
"Hawkeye" State, assumed an honorabl
standing in the elevation Of Republica
principles, have thought liue fror
your friend and whilom fellow townsma
would be acceptable to your readers. Lik
many other PennsylvaniaDs, he has fol
lowed tho tide of emigration and becom
citizen of the "illimitable, cbapginl
west," as a writer has aptly called thi
wide prairie land. 1t is true, that this il
q changing country but as l did not ST
down to write the thrice -tod-taIe of ives
tern agricultural and commercial progres
sion, l will only mention one department
of general interest in which there is any
marked change, and also one other thing
Of western importance in which there is
scarcely any change, generally speaking,
perceptible.
The first is in matters of public opinion
and policy. There is great Hegira out
Of the potent Democratic party, and great
accessions to the young giant Republican
ism. As proof Of this, your readers have
only to refer to the abstracts Of the late
canvass in this State, and in the West
generally. The voice from Iowa is dam.
per on the sham party. The election of
Vandever and Curtis to Congress, is an
honor to the supporters Of Freedom every
where, and especially to those unfinchiDg
sovreigns who proclaimed their condem-
nation ofs corrupt Administration in such
unequivocal terms. The fact is, bogus
democracy is, as the popular voice says,
"non est combatibus in swampo up stumpo,"
which your patrons will understand is
Latin, and will readily translate to mean,
that the aforesaid sham democracy is not
able to fight its way to power, and is like
wise surrounded by the numerous quick
sands and quagmires Of impossibilisy, be-
sides being perched upon the erect remains
Of the once renowned tree of its glorious
prestige.
A thing in which there is not so much
,hange, and in which Western men are
'ery much interested, is the capacious
Western pocket. Dollars and cents are
rost nnaccnnntahlv scarce and the cnnsa.
Improvement has unfortunately received .
evere check. But every evil brings in
Is train, at least some small amount of
,ood, to somebody. The hard times have
topped and put quietus on ~ species
# mad speculation which has taken pos.
ession of a certain class Of capitalists, East
nd West, and the growth of the country
Fill henceforth be more natural and per-
nsnent. Paper towns are also looking
downward, which j. great blessing. ,
A few words as to the locality iu which I
be writer has pitched bis tent. Hamp. ,
on, the seat of Justice, is situated near the {
entre Of Franklin county about twelve or ,
fteen miles from the line Of the Dubuque {
! Pacific Railroad, (Which by the way is {
nished, and in operation, some fifty miles, {
nd q movement is on foot which it is {
onGdently expected will end in the early E
ompletion of the road to Sioux City, on
be Mississippi river. 1t is proposed that q
be State loan its credit for the purpose, t
nd if this is done, you will again hear of s
be rapid settling Of Northern Iowa. The |
illage is only four years old, and in that s
ime has grown to respectable size, con- t
aiming Court House, steam grist mill
nd saw mill, stores, &c. There is in the .
good bodies of timber, and c
fine stream passes by the town. t
Some few miles westward, on the road o
, Fort Dodge, is the noted Walled Lake, =
hich, Notwithstanding the report circula- '
d in various papers, is a reality, being t
othing less than beautiful body Of clear v
ater in the midst of the prairie surround il
! by q regularly laid stone wall, compo- D
d of the we'll known boulder rock which il
found pretty generally dispersed thro'- r,
1t the western prairies, though, strange Il
lough, not seen for some miles in the Of
cinity of this walled curiosity, except d
ION its very margin, in the wall describ- G,
!. This lake is within few feet of the "
ad, and is worthy journey Of miles to tt
Miss Abigail Gardner, who was taken
the Indians in the winter of 56-57, is
sides at this place. Your readers will c.
collect that she and three other women ct
re, after their friends were murdered in ar
ID blood BY tho ruthless savages known as j,
k.pa-du.tah's band, compelled to wade liz
rough the deep snow for many weary th
lie, bearing heavy burdens, and being v,
bjected to the most horrible indignities il
their hands. Miss Gardner and Mrs. do
,rble were rescued, but the others fell re-
tims to the barbarity Of their savage sci
menters. Her story, as told by herself, uu
interesting and affecting in the extreme.
Q has since been married, and is living
peace among her friends. III;