Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-12-07
Correspondence.

correspondence.
[The follow ng letter from Judge Hastings
of California, to his brother, DR.. Hastings, in
this city, will no doubt be interesting to the
public generally. The writer was resident
of Muscatine from 1887 to lS49, during which
time he held several offices of honor and trust
IN the Territory:]
New YoRK, Nov. 20, 1860.
DkAR BRo HER:-I have, as you have
learned, been to Europe-been to Naples,
Rome, Leghorn, Genoa, Turin, Marseilles,
Paris, London, Liverpool, &c, &C.; have
spent many days in the Catacombs of the
ancient dead, and have been living, as it were,
in the houses and temples of the people before
and since the Christian era. The ruins Of the
early ages have made deep impression upon
my mind, and changed my views somewhat
Of this world. cannot attempt to give you
description Of what saw, nor Of the solemn
impressions upon my mind when, for instance,
in ROME, stood at the block to which St.
Paul was chained; in the Mamertine Prison.
now underground, and walls perfect, and the
room in good state Of preservation; and,
when descended into the CatacOmbs of San
Sebastian, near Rome, where $4,000 Of
Christian martyrs were inferred underground
in the walls of the caverns, which caverns
run underground many miles. The whole Of
Rome IS . ply ical history of the Apostles
and early Christians. After having spent
many days in making my Investigations, l
visited the Vatican; also, st. Peters, the
wonder of the world, which cost more than
S5l 100000 Here is the tomb of ST. Peter,
before the grand altar. And, finally, had
4 day for an audience with His Holiness, the
Pope; and never shall the impression of his
benign countenance be erased from my mind
when His Holiness took me by the hand and
lnterrogsted me for about quarter of ar
hour about my family, and the Catholics o.
California and of Mexico, expressing how
much he loved his children of California anc
the United States.
Tell Foster that believe the Union of these
States is dissolved, and that nothing can save
it but the immediate repeal of the hostile laws
enacted by Iowa and other States, in violation
of the Constitution If South Carolina goe
out of the Union, we shall form the grea
Pacific Republic, and gradually absorb Mexico
Yours, &C., s. G. HASTINGS.
| We have also been permitted to make tn
following extract from a private letter to Sue
Foster, Esq. from his brother in Chicago
BROTHER SUEL AS to political squalls AM
troubles, secession would be a dangerou
precedent. If South Carolina & Co. g
peaceably out, next the Pacific States an
Utah will follow; and then will not Sout
Z rolins & Co. be quite as troublesome a
Independent neighbors as they would be a
IN integral part of the Union? For som
years, have thought that, owing to the COZ
ruption of the Government and its official,
| the Gays OF our hepuotlc were numbered
; Reform or perish" should be the motto
the Government. There is now some reason
able hope and expectation of reform. WIS
the result will be is beyond my ken; but
suppose there will be some concessions mad
and the South will stay aplague-spot, whetht
y in or out of the Union. In the meantime,
am IN favor of enforcing all laws-Fugiti,
Slave Law and all. Of what use is it to lii
crate slaves, and have them spread broadca
over our Northern lands-a set of lazy, pilfe
D ing vagabonds? Better remain where the
are; we have too many of them here now fl
u our good or theirs either.
Yours truly, JOHN H. FOSTER.