Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-05-27
Letter from Illinois.

1The following, from J. j. CUNNING
HAM, Esq, formerly Senator from the
Mifiin, Juniata and Union districts, of
Pennsylvania, will interest many Of our
readers: l-Lewistonca GaseHe.
live in Carroll county, about one mile
from Brookville in Ogle county. con-
slider this one of the best farming coun-
tries in the United States, perhaps little
too cold in winter, but here the farmers
have little to do in winter but attend to
their stock. We SOW nearly all our wheat
in the spring. Some are now done, but
good many of cur farmers are in the
midst of their seeding. Last season we
had rather short crop Of wheat and
oats, but good corn. We can have our
wheat in market in four months from the
time Of sowing. There is ready market
for everything we have to sell, but money
is scarce, and commands from ten to thir-
ty per cent. interest. This high interest
is one thing that is inJuring our western
countries. l have always noticed that
where interest is high, money is scarce.
was sorry to see that your Legislature
altered the usury laws in the session of
1858. l think they will find it to be the
interest of the State to repeal that law.
Our Legislature meets every other win
ter. The Constitution fixes their pay and
time Of sitting at 81 per day for fOrty-tvo
days, and after that time 81 per day.
Everything in the western country goes
with rush !; men get rich in hurry,
and very often break up as suddenly; our
laws are all made in hurry, and conse-
queutIy are very badly digested; one
half of the Members, when they come
home, don't know what they have been
doing. l am told that the last session
they had as many as twenty transcribiug
clerks, while two used to do all in Penn.
sylvauia. But from what l have said
you must not conclude that our citizens
are ignorant, for, let some of your shrewd
dealing men come out here and they will
soon be convinced of the contrary. In
my immediate neighborhood, the pOpula-
tion is pretty much made up Of German
descent, from Pennsylvania.
In politics, we are strongly Republican.
think perhaps We have the strongest
Congressional district in the United States.
Give US Seward as our candidate for the
next President, and Lincoln for Vice
President, and l will almost insure $l4,-
600 majority, but We will support any
good men. l see the Democracy Of Penn
sylyania are in trouble. l think some Of
the Opposition in Pennsylvania have
better opinion Of Douglas than the people
of bis own State. We have no confidence
in his honesty a, politician. He still
wishes to stick TO the Democratic party
and be called a Democrat. lie reminds
me of passage Of Scripture | have read
of a certain woman saying that she would
eat her own bread, "ouly let me be called
by thy name" Only give him the name
of Democrat, and that is all he wants.
Elect him President, and he will deceive
the people, as Jas X. Polk and James
Buchanan have done. hope you will
be able to make judiciOus selection in
nominating ticket for next fall. If you
do, you must succeed but there are some
men trying to procure office in Peunsyl-
yaaia wka uill "Ai!l ap' aaJ patty.