The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-09-28
Letter from Kentucky.
MINERVA, Ky, Sept. -, 1860.


melancholy days, the saddest of the year.
OF which the destructive appearance of Jack
Frost few mornings since, affords Us most
conclusive evidence. Up to Saturday. the
Sth inst, the weather was intensely hot. On
the evening of that day a violent storm, ac-
companied with wind, lightning and rain.
took place, which ushered in decidedly
"cold snap" terminating as above in the first
part Of tic season. To the less hardy prod
ucts OF mother earth, such as sweet potatoes,
tobacco, &c. corside rable damage has been
done. Corn, the great staple of this region,
has escaped uninjured. The farmers, such
as are not attending the Fairs, now in pro-
gresS. are engaged in seeding or housing
their tobacco. The seeding is done to some
extent by means of patent drills, some of
which are of IA width TO operate among the
standing corn, and others of broader gauge
! for use in fallow or open grounds. Machine
ry is brought in to expedite almost every
species of farm-labor Yankee ingenuity is
held in high Misunderstanding to save
muscular exertion, and increase the profits of
the soil.
! AS consequence, land is rapidly advanc-
ing in value throughout this region. Such
farms as 10 years ago sold for so per acre.
row readily command SO or $50 This is
the price of the best unmprovcd land-with
Improvements it sells for 500 per acre
None but capitalists are able to purchase
farms Of any considerable size; although ma
ny an adventurous person with money enough
to make the first payment. contracts for a
farm. and runS the hazard of making the bal
ancc of tie purchase money off of the land.
\ succession OF fruitful crop years enables
him 10 20 safely through while a single
failure knocks his expectations into p, and
affords some neighboring nabob chance to
increase his territorial domain at low tiy-
urc. Thus the land is accommodating in broad
estates. while the ouStcd occupants and land
.eSS Residents Of tbs county are removing to
new countries. to Try their fortunes where
land ana home comforts are within the reach
of Their purse strings.
The series Of Fairs of Northern Kentucky
extending through the entire month Of Sep
TENDER, is now coming OFT. at which cnor-
nous crowds are in regular attcndarce.-
" hIYc they continue ;he attention of every
body is absorbed in cattle and horses and
Surh other items as are the staples Of Ken
tucky exhibition. Every thing else is for the
time beng made subordinate to this great
idea. Even politics is decidedly below par,
the points G; difference between competing
animal, being OF far more Importance than
the points in dispute Between the various
candidates for ;hc Presidency. \ fast-run-
ning candda;, = consequently nowhere in
comparison with Il svii,-toot,d horse. and
">!avcry in the territories" is completely e.
cliI'sei ty beautiful patchwork quilt OF 9TH
er fabric from The hands Of the fair.
However we have had recent Bell and
Everett barbecue at Minerva with 1000 pco-
PIE i'll atterdancef ana spirited speaking
from trio of brilliant Kentucky orators.-
The friends Of these candidates are in the
l;::Se majority here. and Kentucky is as sure
for the Union ticket as the election rolls
round
i!rcckinridgc, as You will have seen, has
become frightened and taken the stump, and
has made desperate attempt to raise his
fallen flag and fortunes. But the effort has
proved signal failure. He mi>erab,
I skuked from the issue between himself and
the country, which is 10 other than Union or
disunion, and left us as wise as to his doings
in the event Of Lincotns election. as wewere
before. lie was afraid to follow the example
Of Douglas and threaten to hang. a la Jack
son, the tisunionists who should rebel a.
gainst the government in certain contin-
gcncy but contented himself with scouting
as ridiculous the idea or charge disunion, al
though proved upon his party by a "pyra-
mid of facts ard testimony. Since that
speech he is so dead, even in Kentucky, that
flames trump will never wake him to glory
again "lIe is sleeping his last Sleep" and
"lct him sleep on in the grave where Doug
las has laid him."
| Lincoln, it is believed here if elected,
would administer the government strictly ac-
coEding to the constitution and guard with
zeal every southern right and privilege. The
feeling against Republican administration
is being modified and softcned as tie proba-
bility of Lincoln's election is rendered more
certain. In fact most Kentuckians feel that
Republican rule would be prefera BILE to a
continuation Of Buchanan's administration
under the leadership of the dsunionists' can
ddate, John c. Breckenridge Even Ken
lucky turns against her "favorite son." when
he is found in the company of those who
lightly estimate the value of our glorious
Union. The young men especially, whom he
has stigmatiz' d a, having long tongues and
empty heads, like the bells they ring" at
barbecues, &c, are Indignantly opposed to
him, and will show him in November that
the sober second thought of Kentucky is
more determined to crush out disunion than
its first passionate impulse at the late Aug
ust election. So mote j! be, is the the pray