The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-21
Correspondence of the National Era.

Correspondence of the National Era.
INKLINGS FROM THE FRONTIER;
Or, LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND SCENES ON THE
So TENTED FIELD. 4oiG
TIsHANNGo CRY, CHrckAsAw NATION,
ssf''' 80 ~ rs aii->s-.-f - Ap~sl7 sie6Ss
10 the Editor ofshe National Era: ~.
Life on the plains and adventures on the
tented field has its joys, its pleasures, its
charms, as well as its pains, it's hardships, its
peris. Few are those in the busy marts OF
trade, in the ease and pleasure-loving circles oil
refinement, in the luxurious homes Of the opu
lent, In the rural retreats of the happy farmers
and mechanics, and throughout the settled and
civihzsd portions of our country, who have an
adequate idea of the beauty, the picturesque
ness, the grandeur, of our vast and almost illim
table plains. t5' r ''est p 'I'"'
Your " correspondent" like wait, has been
blown 70 the wild regions of prairie land, to
noat tor few passing seasons among the flow
or island OF the expansive savannas of the
great West and feeling an ardent desire tc
commune with the busy and social circle he
has left behind, not being entirely satisfied
with what sometimes seems an inactive, a 81
lent, an aimless life, has concluded to furnish
you occasionally with inklings of such sights
scenes, and thoughts, as may present them
selves, happy if they prove of sufficient worth
to interest your numerous and intelligent read
ers. They serve to illustrate and depict the
character, the mode of life, amusements and
recreatons, the trials and privatons of the dwell
ers and sojourners on those mighty plains
the soldier, the hunter, the adventurer, the
pioneer-those daring and energetic spirits
who frame our " manifest destiny"
II ne succeeds in being as graphic and as
faithful as he desires, in calling attention tc
and eiciting an interest in an almost uninhab
tied portion of our West, and in an almost neg
lected class of people, his ends will have beer
accomplished, and he will feel happy con
seriousness that his peregrinations have not
been altogether useless, nor his time proftlessly
spent.
1t is here on the plains, rowing over the
hower-carpeted prairies, who expose their un
dulating, wave-like surfaces to the genial
rays OF bright sun tracing the meanderings
of groye-skirted rivers, brooks, and brooklets
that slowly drag their course along, or &c
purling and singing over pebbly beds, and
merrily dancing to their own sweet music, Oh
nesting down in some lovely valley-retreat, re
tired from the world, that the observing travel
Ter meets with specimens of the genus "homo,
OF almost every variety of character, every
shade OF color, on various purposes intent, with
representatives from almost every walk of life
every nation and rank of society True, these
people are sometimes scattered hither and
thlther, and only seen, after traversing vast soil
-sades. But, when seen they always form q
pleasant episode, and present lesson for the
student of human nature
Occasionally the selfexiled wanderer meets
a lovely, intelligent, woman
bright celestial being, almost divine,
Ssrayed far away from scenes ofpleasure,
Fltly deemed heavenly born ali earthly tres sure
10 cheer his soul, to light the hearts dark shrine
Here, on those majestic plains, may be seen
troops of soldiers-gay "Cavalleros," ever as
ready to chase the Camanche, the Kiowa, the
Cheyenne, the Apache as the buffalo, the elk,
the deer, the antelope. Here, too, may be
seen the fast-receding race of American abo.
rhymes, the yet ultamed, ,,ild, and sacage
ropers over natures widest domains, the Arabs
of the plains, living by the chase, and the
primitive children of nature, leading a quiet
and pastoral life among the fertile valleys, and
peacefully tending their focks and herds, upon
which they depend for their subsistence, as
well as the ciUilized and enlightened Indians,
of almost every shade of color from the full,
blood, down, or rather up, to the pretty Creoles,
with the Indian blood scarcely preceptible in
the features or complexion.
The charms of prairie-life soon strike the
wanderer, and he clings to it tenaciously, or
relinquishes it with many regrets. The hard
ships and privations undergone are repaid by
the beauty and the sublimity of the scenery,
and the buoyant and thrilling character of the
The soldiers, after the most severe campaign,
cannot break the dull monotony of garrison
life but when idleness begets depressing care,
and lethargy weighs heavily on the mental
faculties, he longs again to be mounted on his
faithful steed, and gayly prancing over the
plain.
sentiments, and feeling like an eagle Gagged"
expresses himself as follows:
Oh for the plains where the air is so pure
Where wild flowers gree, me with sweetest perfume
Where the aerial songsiers their melodies pour
Forth SO delightful, unconscious of gloom.
Oh for the plains, where the sky is so clear
Where clouds do not finger 10 daIken its smile
Where each gentle breeze the heart sends cheer
And bears of It's cares 10 Oblvion's isle.
Oh for the plains, where grief never dweileth,
Where hsfmony reigns in her beauty serene
Where the grandeur OF nature forever di.pelleth
Each n6de doubt OF a Power Supreme.
Oh! for the plains, where world crimes mid vices
The foul ae'er aIiured into misery and shame,
Where never triumphant the temper arises
To prove by his victims his power and lame.
This communication is intended to give you
an Introductory insight of life on the Plains
q foreshadowing of the subject matter of future
letters.
Your " correspondent " has been traversing
these vast plains for several years-has chased
the buffalo on the head waters of the Missouri
in the regions of the North, and eaten salt
with the braves of the warlike Camanches on
the Rio Colorado; and therefore his letters, his
descriptions of scenes, events, and characters,
will not be merely the effervescence of an ex-
cited imagination, prompted by first and crude
Impressions, but his aim will be to give truth
full delineation, without attempting vivid pen-
pictures or Aowery style of diction. In fact,
you cannot expect much of letters that may
yet be written where the smooth side of stone
DR. the top of a hat viii be brought into re-
QUESTION to serve as writing table.
! have doubtlessly said enough for an intro
luctory letter, and, hoping to find time to
furnish you with series of desultory letters in
regular succession, am yours truly,
Guy OAKLEAF.
SPRrNGrIELD, ILLINOIS, april 6, 1859.
To the Editor ofthe National Era:
Our municipal election took place yesterday,
md resulted in the success of the entire Repub.
lean ticket. The city contains about fifteen
thousand inhabitants, and being the seat of
Government Of this large and growing State,
derives considerable importance as focus of
political opinion, and sheds a sensible radiance
over the whole land. The city and county
we're formerly Wing, but on the disruption of
hat party, it's adherents having Southern ante
:edents and sympathies, and the ghost of abo-
ition before them, went over, with few excep-
ions, to the Democrats, who have since had