The Republican journal., 1869-11-18
LETTER FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK.
SYRACUSE, Nov. 8, 1869

o"epe DOdIu, inc Hist llllic lOI liulll-
Der of years the Democracy have complete
control of the State administration legisla-
tive and otherwise. Matters had come in
deed to such a pass, under Radical control,
that the people demanded a change mpcra-
tive. The last Legislature, (RadicaD were
so shamclessly corrupt, that votes were open
ly hawkcd about as mackerel in q fish market,
and we saw Il o. S. Senator-a late Radical
Governor, Fenton-absolutcly buy his way
into that once exalted position. SO the whole
bundle of Radicalism including its new
Constitution, with negro suffrage, and all
else-was consigned to the tomb Of the
Capnets," or 4 more ignoble place. Ii il q
funny episode, the way the white-coated
philosopher Greeley, =" run" for the office of
Comptroller. He was Supposed to have
some little popularity in The . rural DISTRICTS
but there is scarcely Il school district in the
State in which his muddy boots are not in the
1000 ahead OF his ticket. And thereby hangs
a tale-for ne was indebted for it to Dana of
the Sun. who carried his paper in for him
must lastly, although he, Oana) most COR
daily hates and despiscs Greeley. Dana
knew that such support would annoy Greeley
while It was not likely 10 elect him. Since
the election, Dana is having fun over Gree
ley's popularity and influence with the peo-
pie. The truth is, that Greeley is a shallow
and whirligig humbug, and the people have
m shown how rlpch thny tba,,
Radical politicians in pronouncin@ this yer-
dict over him
AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDER.
About the time | was wiring ny former
letter to YOU, Il Mr.. Newell, with some few
assistants, was cXcayating his grounds for
well near his house. Mr.. Newell is n small
farmer, residing in the little village of Car
| diff, within the town Of Lafayette, about six
teen miles from this city. When the work
man had dug down about three feet, he I'M
earthod what led them all to make further
| and more careful examination, resulting in
the discovery of a pctritaction or statue Of Il
giant human body, some ten feet in length
The news rapidly spread Of something
't''t mp t'ii NV ~ Va ~ "
hold the wonder and see ii relieved from the
incumbent earth. The news soon reached
the city, and the next day Sunday the roads
were literally lined with carriages and pc
destrians, and still the wonder grew on sue
ceeding days, until fee of fifty cents intro
duced some order among the crowds, and
proper regulations preserved the object from
injury by illterate or needless persons Since
that time, the papers and the public mouth
have been full of the subject, and the theories
advocated in respect to the giant have been
| too numerous tor mention and often very lu-
dicrous and absurd 1t has been pertina-
ciously sought to make out the whole affair
| to be humbug," but the arguments are on
| the face too weighty against such Il theory to
permit il Il moments credence with sensible
people who have examined the subject The
next question for discussion has been Whcth-
nr II was Z ~tatnn or a petritn"ti"n n While
the press and public generally were occupied
in discussing these points, the attention of
scientific men was called to the subject and
the Giant has had the benefit of an intimate
| visit from Prof. Hall, State geologist; Prof.
Woodwork, Secretary of the Board Of Re
gents of the State; Prof. De lIaSS, we'll known
| from his explorations among our Western
mounds and Central American antiquities,
and other sayants. There conclusion is that it
is statue; that it reposcd in its late bed from
| time immemorial; its incumbent three or four
feet Of alluvial soil undisturbcd meanwhile
by man; that il is Il work of sculpture unlike
and superior to anything heretofore discover
ed on this continent; that Ne stone is dittJ-
eM from MU Of our Onond0Dt gYpSlu or
limestone qualYteS, nna indecd M0t Meye Is
no stnilr htud Of stone IN tie fNU4H SUITES
The statue, rs | have remarked, lay be-
| meath about ) II feet Of alluvial soil in Il
| recumbcnt posture upon bed Of gravel. 1t
lay upon its back, leaning u little to the right
side, the legs and feet turned in accordance
with this position; one arm with outSpread
| hand rests upon the abdomen, the other is
under the back. The whole figure gives the
| impression of a person dying with pain, cS-
| cepting the head, whose countcnancc all are
at once impressed with rs conveying Won
derlul power and beauty heal and face
| that strikes one with something akin t. awe,
rs being A Spcudiuq object and that object Il
being Of more than ordinary mortal mould.
The body was raised a day or two since, and
| is now ON exhibition in this city, lis entire
exclamation reveals the fact that its back is
rs beautifully and faithfully wrought rs lis
| front SO faithfully to nature indeed, that
| its very perfection has afforded arguments
| for the advocates Of the pctrilaction theory
who say that art could not 50 well counter
felt nature. The statue is 10 feet inches III
height, and all its proportions are admirable,
according to our anatomsts and sculptors.
The side upon which it has rested in its
pravellv bed is abraded about an inch, from
1.-The pcrcoation of water in the course OF
wears, and this is the only defect apparent
it is otherwise as it came from the sculptor's
hands.
| You have here the main facts about this
giant, which is pronounced by eminent scien-
lists to be the greatest archaeological diScov-
cry ever made upon our continent OF course
III shall not be so foolish as to repeat the
theories advanced in respect to it, which IN
deed only show that the theorists know moth
ing about it, and that it is a mystery now
1 i.l l., ab,I