The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-03-21
Letter from Illinois.
ROCKFORD, ILL.,, March : 1850

winter months. and can take general view
OF the weather during that period. 1t has
been rather a hard winter here, as it seems
to have been with you in Vermont. We
have had great abundance of snow, from
two to three feet covering the ground for the
last two months. Old settlers here for a
quarter of a century, say that there has been,
during that time, but one winter with so
much snow, and that several years ago.
In order that any Of your readers that are
curious in such matters may make proper
comparisons between your climate and ours
l give you the result of my notations of the
thermometer, at a. m., during the three
months, presenting the mean temperature in
each, viz: December, % Q January, IL 9
February, 10. omit fractions. The
coolest morning was February I'd, when the
mercury settled to 81 . below O.
| see you share with US western men in
the great joy produced by the decisive victo-
ries of our arms on the Tennessee and the
Cumberland. We all feel as if tl.is was the
beginning of the end of this most wicked re-
bellion. The abandonment of Bowling
Green on the one side, and of Columbus on
the other, and the unresisted occupation of
Nashville, the capital of Tennessee in point,
are the speedy and natural consequences of
those brilliant achievements. We Illinoisans
are indeed much inclined to claim this as our
thunder, inasmuch as the great and decisive
action which gave the nation Fort Donelson
was mainly fought by I.linoisans not exclu-
sively, however, as Indiana, Iowa. Minnesota
and one or two other states contributed por-
tions of the indomitable forces that on that
occasion showed what western men can do,
in the most trying circumstances, when honor
and duty CALL must not be understood as
claiming any pre-eminence, on the part of
the troops of Illinois, over those of the other
states that fought by their side 1t would
not be just to claim any superiority except in
numbers.
Two full companies engaged in the action
were recruited in this city, in part from our
own citizens. and in part from the citizens of
other towns in the county. One belonged to
the gallant llth, commanded by Col Ransom
Nermonter, believe. and a relative of Col
Ransom, who fell at the storming of Chepul.
tepec; the other to the 10th, known as the
lead mine regiment. The casualties to our
citizens were fortunately few, only one (Tra.
vis) being killed, and some four or FIVE woun-
ced, among whom We're our major (Nevins)
and our captain (Andrus). Several other
companies recruited in this city are in the
service at different points, but were not at
Donelson. One arrived there very soon af-
ter the surrender.
There is at the present time constitution
al delegate convention in session at Spring
field. Were it not for some insane fantasies
which have characterized it throughout. il
would attract very little attention in these
stirring war times, when the destinies of a
great nation hang suspended upon the events
which every day is developing. y conven-
ton to amend the constitution in this state
is not. as with you, ushered into being by
the act of a council of censors, chosen peri.
odically by the people. Our legislature, by
an act, submitted the question directly to the
people in the election of 1860, whether they
would CT would not have convention Of
delegates, called for the purpose of proposing
amendments, which were expressly required
to be submitted to the people for their sane
ton Or rejection. A majority was found to
be in favor of the measure, and subsequent
ly, in pursuance of provisions made for the
purpose, delegates were chosen by the sew
eral counties, in the manner and proportion
that representatives are chosen; "and Lere
comes liz the gazelle." The leaders of tht
defeated democracy, having forgotten righ
and lost power in this state, seem to have
laid deep plot to get possession, silentl!
and coverty, of this body, with view to ;
thorough and complete revolution of tht
state government, in all departments. Th'
innocent republicans, filled with anxiety ant
alarm for the fate of the nation, were willing
to forget partisan politics ,and so indeed wer'
very many of the Douglas democrats.
In this state Of things the plot was sprung
and was perfectly successful; as it could no
we'll fail of being when there was secresy ant
concert on one side, and ignorance and non
action on the other. A large majority of th'
delegates chosen were democrats, of differen
shades it is true.
On the assembling of this body, early il
January, the cloven foot was soon disclosed
Numerous propositions submitted showed
that presenting certain propositions for tn
amendment of the constitution, their only lie
| gitimate business, was among the least i'm
portant matters with which they intended t
deal. To make long matter short, ther
were abundant indications that attempt
would be made to arrogate to itself the pow
ers of Legislature, in redistricting the stat
for members of Congress, which had alread
been done under the census of 1860: and a.