Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-11-12
Gbt Otrmont p5onie.


OCTOBER, 23d, 1859.
Mr. Editor. At length, after nearly twelve
hundred miles continued march, we have arrived
within twenty-five miles of Leavenworth 1t is
upwards of two years since we set out for the
mormon War;" and nothing has been accom-
plished except the reduction of another of our
Territories to a state of chronic anarchy. Such
an interference as our general government has
exhibited in Kansas and Utah with those popu
lar measures by which the people usually con
stitutc themselves organized bodies polite
evinccs degree of turpitude that seems almost
incredible. Had it not been for this interter
ence, both of these territories have 10 doubt,
would now be in the enjoyment of good gov
ernment. But as it is, there is no government
in either of them. At the town of Granada
which we passed through yesterday morning
the people had caught a thief and they had
borrowed the use of the Atchison Jail to keep
him until the Territory becomes a State and
has laws of its own for his trial. For the coun-
ties away from the river have no courts, court
houses, or jas, or any of the machinery of JUS
tcc. in fact, except Justices of the Peace and
they would be of no use unless sustained by a
large part of the pcoplc-two to one, who are
accustomed to freedom and are observant of
! her forms.
There are legitimate objects of interest in
this new territory for the care and attention of
the general government, but which, As they can
be made of no use to slavery are neglected.
The condition of the road, for instance, from
Leavenworh to Salt Lake, is shameful. 1t has
become great. useful and necessary thorough
| fare between the two seaboards of the American
continent, and especially for our poorer class of
citizens. those whom the Democracy ought to
have under their especial protection and it
ought to be furnished with bridges and kept in
good order; but there has hardly ever been n
days work done ON it by the government. Sew
eral hundred thousand dollars have indeed been
appropriated for its surrey, that is, for the sur
vcy of an old road that has been travele near
y a quarter of century--as if Vermont should
appropriate large sum for surveying the old
road from Brattlcboro to }ennington-and thi,
large sum has been expended, without much ap
parent method or profit, tn road remaining
Just as the wheels of passing vehicles have lief
it. At Ash Hollow there is piece of road tha
is standing bug-bear-and rightly so too from
its badness--to all who have to pass that way
> 1t is anticipated with dread for a week befor,
reaching it and yet company of soldiers OF
their way to the political war of Utah NIGH
make passaby good road there in the cours
of one day.
One company of troops starting from Cam
FLOYD with spades and picks in the early spring
; and another from Leavenworh, could have tn
; road in pretty good travelling condition TO
( next years emigration and they would accom-
plish infinitely more than has been effected y
tb., h,,, Of nf lpll h.,
been squandercd on it. Such evidences of neg
lcct as this road exhibits, gives one paint
|, idea of the want of energy, care and good sens
g on the part of the government that pretcndS I
e rule him and sway the destiny of great pee
N pie. When he turns from these neglected il
/ tercsts and sees his government coopcd up an
'a hemmed in as it were by the petty political il
luences that have sway at Washington, he col
ceiycs for his government bitter feeling
humiliation and contempt. 1t reminds him
the puerile miSgovernment of Mexico, who's
feeble ray could scarce extend beyond the ma
, row limits of the basin in which the capital
y situated. all outside of that world, being wor
unrccognsed and unknown.
We have fallen in with a great many Pike
Peakers returning to their homes Some
- them have gold others are going to return
the spring, and others still are satisfied wi
&C. what they have got for their pains, that is, the
labor. mere mas eNluclltlN nceI great dnlou
of deception and fraud practiced upon the pc
pie with regard to the Pixies Peak mines al
NJ a great deal of suffering and ruin has been t
~ consequence of it. Gold is certainly foul
res there. and some even will get rich; but whe
one fortune will be made hundredS are likely
be lost 1t would have been kind and b
~ name act on the part of our government to ha
sent scientific commission there to survey t
gold region and render report. 1t twould ha
II. tended to counteract falsehood and allay ru
Gus excitement. But how could goyernme
ere engaged itself in getting up false issues a
ruinous eXcitements, be looking after the int
sA- ests Of the people by the nculcation of mod
eess alton and truth?
Nothing has given me more pleasure fol
long time, than to witness the dignifed attitu
l. in which the free people of this Kansas Tel
tory stand in regard to the seryile spirit of
general government. The American charact
American nationality and American sovereiI
[E ty, as represented by them, stand in an infni
y to " more elevated and dgnifed position bei
the world, than as exhibited by the more forl
ere. embodiment of our sovereignty in the pres
rch, administration. Such evidences of manly
t. titude and capacity for sclf-government, gi
-- at a time when slavery seemed on the point
bringing the sufiocating darkness OF Egypt
on the land, hold forth the most gratifying
cheerful hope for cur free institutions whic
hei have witnessed for many years.
just The people among whom am encamped
cap night, are generally from the free States OF
- Union and, the kindly, generous, unsuspecl
- frankness of their intercourse, (they don't kl
uB- my sentments) is as pleasant to the feeling
ly Of their golden corn-felds are to the eye as
=, lie basking these bland Indian summer days
hntA