The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-08
81. Louis ON Sunday.
October ~, 1851.

The sun shines in all bis autumn bright
ness on the spotless blue Of the sky. But
the sky Of our Republic is overhanging
with dark clouds, and the storm RACES
through the blessed land of plenty, and
sorrow fills the hearts of families, free and
happy families, separated and afflicted by
the evils of war. Still war has also it's
blessings. A nation that looked down with
pride on every other nation of the earth /;
whose commerce has brought distant cont.
nents in near contact; and whose flag was
respected by all this nation, absorbed by
the exclusive mercantile influence, having
no higher object Of worship than that of
the almighty dollar, has become in less than
century so much demoralized, that the
hunting after money and Office, without re.
gard of right and humanity, has brought
upon MS war, which, horrible as it may be
in its destructive effects, may bring still
some good moral lessons, and purer love
OF patriotism and liberty, after the bloody
conflict shall be over.
l have visited, in journey of two
months, in the States of Michigan, Ohio,
Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri many
camps of Union soldiers, and have seen
more soldiers in one hour than in twenty-
five years of my citizenship in this country.
1 said, and had it printed, before our last
Presidential election, that the torches of
the Wide Awakes would turn into bayonets,
and the foretelling words have been mourn
fully fulfilled. 1 will say nothing of the
general stagnation of business, nothing of
our glorious stream, the father of waters,
where the wild animals are but little dis
turbed by the sound of the steam whistle.
shall give your readers but a short glimpse
into the Sunday life of st. Louis. Without
Fremont this important city would be at
present in the barbarous hands of secession.
according to the testimony of many citizens
1 have conversed with. Their hearts are
with the Pathfinder the soldiers worship
him; and as l witnessed all through my
journey. he carries not only armies but the
population of the whole great northwest
with him; Notwithstanding the "sword of
Damocles that hangs over him by the in
Auence of aspiring politicians and the an
athena of our Cabinet and Executive,
whose politics and proceedings are an indis
soluble engine to me, and many others who
have not yet lost all the hope and confidence
placed in them.
Should the trusting people be disappoint.
ed the day of retribution, am aware, will
be terrible one. l have heard voices
which resemble the sound of terrible vol
canic eruption. In the still unsettled ques>
ton of superceding Fremont, an event that
probably may come, there is hid the germ
of great events.
have made promenade on the levee.
There l saw long line of over one hundred
steamers, without steam and idle, who
knows for how long time to come ? Very
little freight there is for the Upper Missis
sippi, where few boats are receiving.
Before the steamer Des Moines, owned by
the United States, large crowd was as
sembled, looking on thousand square
boxes, guarded by soldiers, loaded with pills
for secession, and to be shipped to some
unknown place of action.
looked for the Northern Line and was
told that their trips are very irregular.
But tell me what is now regular Nothing
but treason and vengeance.
went out to the Notifications, necessa.
rily erected for the safety of the city, that is
in itself swarming with secessionists, kept
down by six thousand soldiers. These ems
trenchments, eleven in number, mounted
with thirty.two FOUNDERS, are built accord.
ing to military art, by Fremont, and strong
enough to defy any number of foes ap.
preaching from the western side of the far
extending city. This is one of the great
works of Fremont's skill, and by Frank
Blair charged as extravaganza. / met
here gentleman who was short time
ago member of the committee to Came
ron, our Secretary of War, on his tour of
inspection and investigation. He said to
me that Cameron's words were" The ex-
travagance of Fremont is enormous. What
are these Notifications for? Would it not
be better for the citizens to shoulder the
musket and meet the enemy 2" Mr..
Cameron" replied the gentleman, "we, es-
pecially the Germans, have raised Blair to
his present high position, and should he,
the enemy of Fremont, ever run again, he
would not be elected as q constable"
Cameron was thunderstruck. "You call
this extravaganza, sir" continued the for
mer I'VE differ with you in opinion, and
dread the idea of Fremont being removed,
in whom we set all our confidence"
l saw here also company of Fremont's
Body Guard, on horseback-excellent sol.
diers, Americans and Germans, headed
by Lieutenant Mclean, of martial ap.
pearance and bearing. Notwithstanding the
order of the President that these fortifca-
tions should not be completed, they are to
be completed, and they are working at
them, even today on the Sabbath. Free
mont is also building railroad through
the city and on the levee connecting the
camps with the Iron Mountain road. Also
on this road they were busy in digging to.
day.
At Fremont's Headquarters-the upper
story of which gallant Jessie is occupying
n0w-I paid visit to Colonel Fidla, an
excellent officer from the late Hungarian
war. Although busy with official writings,
I was admitted without delay. Nothing