Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-08-28
ooRREsPoNDENCE OF THE TRAVEL
DER.

ST.. LOUIS August Is, 1862.
There is no State in the Union which to-day
has more cause to condemn tho wickedness and
insanity OF those who have brought the coun-
try into its present deplorable condition, than
the State of Missouri. With its rich beds of
coal, iron and led its vast agricultural resour-
ces, its facilities for communication by the
Missouri and Mississippi with the Atlantic
coast, with the prospect of the great line or
lines of railway to the Pacific passing through
its territory, an active and industrious popula-
tion-all these and many other advantages gave
Missouri promise of great wealth aud prosper
ity but in an evil hour, the influence Of its
greatest enemy and curse--stdDery--h brought
upon the people poverty, death, and desolation.
The male population of the State is in arms
almost en- mdSse. A very large number are in
the secession army AN equal number perhaps
in the Federal army and those remaining at
home are now roaming the country as horse
thieves, by courtesy called guerias, or are vol
unteers under authority and direction of the
Federal government to squelch out the afore-
said cut throats and thieves.
Of course st. Louis being the city and centre
of business OF the State is yisibly affected by
the sad change of affairs of the State. The
levee, which but two years ago presented a
scene of activity for miles, hundreds of boats
arriving and departing daily, now pres .nts
scene of almost desolation.
There are few boats from Helena and Mem
phis, laden generally with that root of all evil,
and former King, Cotton" occasionally one
from the Tennessee river, with a cargo of re-
jected government stores, sick soldiers, con-
demned horscs and once in while boat from
up river; but the general appearance of the
river front is desolate in the extreme. There
is no trade here, for merchants from the in
terror do not dare purchase goods to take back
with them, as the knowledge of II well-selected
stock of clothing, boots and shoes, and gro
ceries, especially salt, being at an point, would
provoke a raid from all the gueras within a
hundred miles.
Every day we hear of rads-some even
within dozen miles of the city. The people
of the interior seem to have taken up thievng
by force as n profession, and it needs the strong
arm of the Government to be put forth to stop
it; and it needs something besides moral force.
There is needed, at least, fifty thousand soldiers
to-day in Missouri, to garrison, if necessary,
every chief town, and to hang every guerilla
taken in arms. The merchants here are blue.
No trade, and no prospects of collecting
old debts are enough to dampen the ardor of
even the sanguine temperament of the West ;
but they all seem resigned, and live on hoping
for brighter times before long.
In this city marshal law reigns supreme.
Last week some of the loyal men agreed to
close their places of business at p NJ. to al
low themselves and employees a chance to
drill The Secesh, of course, did not close (;
but the Provost Marshal issued an order for all
stores and places of business to close at that
hour, and you may be assured the order was
implicitly obeyed. Passes are required for in
gress and exit from the city, which are, how
avnr silv obtained unon cnuSp hpiny shown
and that the parties applying are pursuing
their ordinary avocations and are loyal.
All this evil is not without its corresponding
good. 1t is perfectly evident to me that Slave
ry is dead or dying in Missouri, and that prac-
tical Emancipation is going on with vigor
which can hardly be appreciated Those who
are qualified to jndge, say that there are not
one third the slaves in the State that were here
a year ago. In the streets of this city ono does
not see nearly as many blacks as would be seen
in Boston or any Eastern city.
True, many have been taken South, but it
seems generally acknowledged that few will
ever be brought back, and that henceiorth
Missouri will be like Delaware, a slave State
more in name than fact.
St. Louis is charged with being Secesh in its
views. 1t may be so, but it does not appear in
any intercourse have had. There is a great
deal of outspoxen Union sentiment expressed,
and determination to stand by the govern
ment, unqualfedly. Throughout the West
wherever | have been | hear warm encomiums
upon the President for his refusal to enlist black
men. | think the negro is not as popular an
institution, politically or personally, as it is in
some Eastern States. The West care much
more for the opening of the Mississippi than
they do for the freedom of the slave, and the
opposition to slavery is from political and not
from philantrophic motives.