The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-07-20

| and the Five Points-magnhceDce and sq1a
lor-wealth and poverty-iuxGTy and ,iestitu
tion-re6nement snd vulgarity--rfce in high
/ places and virtae in Iow-the ufodesty of the
boudoir and the painted harlotry of the street
the sanctuary where Immortal life is held up
to view, and the squaHd purlieus where mortal
life is put out in violence and blood.
We were in the city during the dull season
of the year. Business was comparatively in
active, yet importatioDs are heavier than they
we're Tor the corresponding period of the last
year, and the leading business houses confident
/ " expect fall business OF increased magnitude
and great prosperity.
Politicians are active, and d;sc1ssiolsp plans and
arrangements are earnestly going forward in
regard to the Presidential contest of next year.
Senator DOUGLAS late famous letter, defining
his Presidential platform. formed the 'sensa
ton staple of political circles when we were
in the city. The letter, plain in expression,
bnid in statement explicit in avowal of posi-
tien, unmistakable and categorical in declara-
tion. was like bombshell thrown into political
coteries operating as a surprise, equally, it
would seem, upon his friends and upon his
foes. Senator DoUdI.As has since been in the
city. and it is alleged that he and his friends
are perfectly confident of success at the Char
| lesion Convention This, however. may be
said for 'buncone-piaying the game of brag.
When we were in the city, Gov. BANKs, of
Massachusetts, was there. looking after bis
Presidential interests. A secret conciave of
leading Republicans was held to discuss Presi
dental matters. The morning following the
meeting of the conclave, the ubiquitous New
York Herald whipped out a full report of the
proceedings, speeches. names of speakers and
all. which produced great sensation, surprise.
amusement, chagrin and indignation-and did
essential damage to the secret BANGS Repuhli-
can conclave. The entire drift and proclivity
of the conclave was BANKs-ward-tbe design
evidently was to lay the ropes for the little
Iron Man." SEWARD, as Presidential aspi
rant, was reviewed with great plaiuness and
severity and one speaker eloquentiy and ably
presented the character, ability, integrity
statesmanlike properties and executive quail.
fcations of Gov. Chase. of Ohio. We believe
the two years, Massachusetts, constitutional
bigoted Know Nothing amendmeut,of which,
Gov. BANKS is understood to be the champion
was alluded to, very much to the uneasiness
and unhappiness of his political admirers
How to get rid the damaging influence OF this
amendment which bears SO heavily against
naturalized citizens of foreign BIRTH seems to
be great perrlexity.
It gives us pleasure to say, that all through
central New Y ork, in New York city, and in
Massachusetts, where we have travelled, Gov.
CHASE has troops and hosts of friends who ad
mire him as man and a statesman. and as an
able, incorruptible and uncompromising cham
pion of right principles, and ardently desire
his nomination and election to the Presidency.
During our stay iu New York. we were one
of the numerous guests at the JOHNSON
HOUSE, corner Of Gamblers street and Col
Iege Place, kept by our old friend, JOHN R
SURBURe, late of the johnson House, Cleve'
land. Mr.. SURBURa. is surrounded by bis old
faithful and gentlemanly Cleveland Clerks, bis
reading room table is spread with the Ceve,
land daiIies, and also, with that excellent pa
per the weekly Portage County Democrat
1 giving the whole air and appearance of the
house a home aspect to Western Reserve
man. Mr.. SuRBuRa. we are pleased to be able
to say, is doing good business, visitors from
Ohio are constant guests at his house, and he
is winning golden opinions here, as he did in
Cleveland as tip-top hotel keeper. Hii
house is pleasantly situated, neat, quiet and
oraerly-but three or four minutest walk from
Broadway-fare superb, and charges reasona
BILE. We cordially commend this excellent
house to all our Portage County friends, and
to all others who may be visiting the city.
BERKSHIRE County, Massive are on ou,
native hills once more. This delightful region
wild and fascinating with its romantic noun
tain scenery, is sometimes called, and not in
= appropriately We think, the Switzerland o
9 America, and the Swiss mountaineer is no mor'
attached to his native hills we are sure, thai
are the native sons of delightful old Berkshire
: to the mountain homes of their youth. W.
= are again resting in the hill conntry.' W.
1 are drinking in the beauties of the pleasan
3 valley, and gazing with reawakened admiration
upon these everlasting hills and listening
entranced to the music of the ever babhlin
: mountain brook. Over those hills we ran.
visionary boy and after long years of absence
!, spent in the heat and dust of lifes stern bat
II tie, we revisit them again. In natures ga
attire, in mountain, hill and glen, how like
how unchanged-how little to mark the laps
e of time-but in all the elements that made u
i the social life of those vanished years. ho'
IS changed Of those we left behind us ho1
= truly can we say,
"The young DID, the old are in their graves"
H. LANEsBoRouG1I.-Int this town of our natis
Is ity, and the nativity of our paternal ancestr.
u we spent night at tie pleasant residence c
ID Doct. HENRY PRATT, late of the village G
a. Ravenna Doct. PRATT, occupies the ancei
u trail mansion of his excellent and amiable wife
~ He has put the premises in most excellent IT
II pair,and embeished them with many improve
's, ments, making it one of the most delightfr
!" residences in the far-famed. beautiful valley {
g the Housatonic. Nevertheless, both the Dot
9, tor and Mrs. P. We are glad to know, loo
10 with desire to their former agreeable residenc
ID in Ravenna where troops of friends would b
TO glad again to greet them.
re Doct. PRATT's nearest neighbor is Hor
10 JOHN SAVAGE. late Chief Justice of the Stat