The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-07-14

grass and fed there; at all events the,
should be watered at lea.t twice day
How can competent train ID aster-t'
say nothing of neutrality-suspicious. th'
policy Of this !
/ The river is here wider than at Law
rencc or Wyandot below,is nearly mudd
as the Missouri, and runs with swift cur
reut even to its banks An attempt had
been made during that day to swim across
drove of cattle; but the strong current
carried them below the ferry landing on
the south. whence the steep bank forbade
their getting out, SO that they went down
the river several miles, and three of them
were drowned The experiment of swim
ming proved wretched economy, alike in
time and money.
Topeka is a.rillage Of probably 100
houses 900 Inhabitants situated on the
north line of Shawnee County, which has
the Sac and Fox Reser.e on the south the
Potawatamie on the north West. Along
the north bank of the river opposite, a
party of Half Breeds have a reserve a
mile wide by twenty miles long. and |
give the goodfOr nothing rascais credit
for admirable judgment in selecting their
land. There is probably not an acre of
their tract that could not be made to pro-
du,e one hundred bushels of shelled corn
by the application of less labor than
would he required to produce thirty bush
els on the average in New York or New.
England. The soil is river deposit four
to six feet deep the timber large and
choice-Oak, Elm, Bass. Black Walnut,
Sycamore, &c., with thick underground
of shrubbery aud annuals. with wild grape
vines four to six inches through. l be-
gin to comprehend, though do not ex-
cuse the covetous impatience wherewith
Indian reservations are regarded BY their
white neigbors.
Topeka was one of the stronkholds of
the Free.State cause throughout the dark
days of Kansas. Here assembled the
6rst Consention chosen by the People to
frame a State Constitution as rallying
point for defense and mutual protection
against the Border-Ruffian usurpation of
1855; here the Free State Legislature,
peacefully assembled in Sc to devise and
adopt measures looking to redress oft the
unparalleled wrongs aud outrages under
which Kansas was then writhiDg, was dis
rersed BY Federal bayonets and cannon;
here the guns of the troops were pointed
against a mass meeting of the people of
Kansas, Assem- bled in the open air to de-
wise and adopt measures for the redress
of their intoIerable grievances, and that
meeting compelled to disPerse under pen
atty OF military execution. And here |
renew my VOWS of hostility to that Fed
eral Standing Army until it shall have
been distauded. 1t is utterly at war With
the genius and pcrilous to the existence Of
Institutions. The regular
soldier Is of necessity the blind, passive,
mechanical instrument Of Power. II or.
iered TO shoot his own father, be must o.
bey or be shot himself Twice has the
French Republic teen crushed by the
Bonspartesu urpation- cruthed by the
bayonets of Standing Arny pointed at
the breasts Of her faithful legislators. A
Republic whose citizens are not willing to
do their own fshting-all that is neces-
sary and proper-but must have Stan
ding Army to do it for them. lies at the
mercy of any bold, INSCRIPTIONS adven-
turer who can work his way to the COM
maud the favor of the Army. l trust
our army is near its end.
After greeting friends and speaking
o Topeka, | learned with surprise that
he stage for Fort Riley started at 3 in
he morning. leaving but a narrow mar.
gin for sleep: On rising, however, l
earned the high wind would not allow us
10 cross the river yet, and it was nearly
o'clock when We actually started.
We had now enjoyed three dry, bright,
warm days. which bad turned most of the
nire of the roads to a sort of sun burned
brick, though enough still remained in
;unken holes and brook crossings to re-
mind US of what had been. But the light
hing had flashed and the clouds gathered
throughout the night. and, as We drove
,ut through Indianola and took the Mill
AIRY Road westward, the thunder gave in.
iications of the shower which burst upon
is little before o'clock and poured till
| turning the brick of the road to mire
lgain. And, though the rain ceased. the
lay remained sullen sDd lowery, with
ransieDt glimpses of weak sunshine to
he end.
Our route lay for thirty miles through
he Potawatnie Reserve, and was DO lou.
ger encountered with great Army Supply
rains. as they were either north of US on
he California trail to Laramie, or south |
N the road crossing at Topeka and lead
ug to Fort Union and Santa Fe. A
ew Of the wagons We passed this day
nay have been heading for Forts Riley
nd Kearney; while pixies Peakers,"
9th going out and returning dishearten-
d, were in considerable numbers. ] do
ot see how those returning could well
esist the temptation to bolt and make
laims, as | hear many have done, gen.
rally seeking them in the south part of |