The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-10-11
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MISSOURI CORREsPONDENCE

yard" would probably be of some inter
est to your numerous readers in "old
Monroe" and not being pressed with
business this beautiful Southern after
noon, l will proceed to give you par
tial description of Southwest Missouri,
its soil, climate, products, politics, etc
We, in this county of Mcdonald, are
bordered on the South by Arkansas, ana
on the West by the Indian Territory, ,and
this town is within Is miles of the race
of "Noble Red Men, who first inhabi-
ted the country, but who are now pas
sing rapidly away to their 'happy hunt
ing grounds" where we all must go
sooner or later.
The Southern border of our county is
the famous Mason and Dixon line of 81
degrees 80 minutes, the Missouri Com
promise line of 1920 Our political
"savans" of that day, after much exam
ination and research, determined upon
this line Us the boundary Of free as well
as slace labor. According to climatic
influences and causes, slavery could not
exist profitably north of this line, while
South of it the peculiar institution OF
the South could flourish aud he forever
protected. 1t was nice adjustment of
the question at that time, and is an in
controvertible argument proving the
mildness Of our climate, for we certainly
have one of the most healthy and finest
climates in the werld.
1t is not much. if any, warmer here
during the hot months of summer than
it is IN Ohio, and our winters are very
short and mild, saving great expense to
the farmers and stock raisers. Our wa
ter is the purest and coolest / ever saw.
Both fresh and sulphur springs abound
throughout the country, and hundreds OF
invalids visit them every summer for the
purpose of recovering their health. All
Of the streams are as clear as crystal,
and flow over beautiful pebbly bottoms,
and they all abound with thousands OF
the "fnny tribe the favorite of which is
the beautiful "speekled mountain trout, "
which are very plentiful in the shallow
streams, (so much so that ! am fearful
that if the -"assistant editor of the
Spirit" lived in this country that he
would devote most of his time to Isaack
Walton's favorite pleasure and neglect
his duty to the Democracy.
Our mountains and valleys here are
all very productive,and present the most
beautiful scenery that can be imagined.
The products of the country is anything
that can be produced in Ohio; besides,
they raise excellent cotton in tins coun-
try, and almost all varieties of the fruits
grow wild; and to travel through the
country about the 1st of September, it is
almost like travelling in vineyard.
have seen twenty different varieties OF
wild grapes, and some of them are lar
ger than any tame grapes lever saw in
the East, and great many here have
commenced making wine Of them, and
say that they make excellent wine, pref.
cradle to any manufactured from the
tame varieties.
Immigrants are coming in very rapid
" and settling up the country, and they
generally appear to be very good class
of people Men and wornen who wish
ed to better their condition land have
come out to the fertile plains and valleys
of Southwest Missouri to obtain beauti.
full homes for themselves and children.
But tosehange the subject I will say
a few words in regard to the political as.
fpect of affairs in this county. Our STATE
election, as you are aware, comes off here
in November, and under :he presen,
proscriptiyc laws the Democrats Cal
though i'll majority in the State provi
ded they could all get to vote decided
MOTTO place any candidates in the field
but support the Liberal Republicans
and thereby abolish all these proscrip
tive laws of the Radical eternal llaters; 2
and then the Democrats can carry things
just as they wish to. The two Repub
lican Tickets as you are aware, are Nc
Clurg the Internal Radical Eternal hate
candidate, and B. Gratis Brown is tht
candidate who says the car is oeer ant
that the Rebels in Missouri must be al
lowed to vote as well as the niggers,
and I think that it is probable that w
may possibly elect him, and then iare
we'll Radicaism in Missouri
There are at this time not less thar
1000 Democrats. the very best ant
most peaceable men in the State who
have not voted since the war and canno
vote now on account Of the iate,ual tes
oath IN force here. The registration
laws give three Radicals in each county
| the power to say who shall vote and who
not, and the Supreme Court has decided
that there can be no appeal from this de
cision; therefore if man win not vott
| to continue these internal Radicals il
power, the Registrars can refuse hin
eren after he has taken the oath required
and prevent him from voting. Such Ca
ses we have had here in this town no
longer ago than yesterday, of as gooc
Union and law-abiding citizens as ther,
are in the State. just let the people O
"0ld Monroe" think of this, and see j
they will not make stronger exertions t
elect a sohite mans ticket than ever be
fore. Men, white American citizens O
the State of Missouri, refused and denied
1.-THE elective franchise, which is the only
guarantee OF their liberties, simply be
cause they are Democrats.
These Radicals, all over the land, Ger
tainly ought to know that the sam,
means which they use to make freemer
of American slaves, may at some tim,
be turned upon their rulers and destroy
them. In the county of McDouald alon,
we have over one Thousand male citizen
over 81 years of age, and out of thi
number only about three hundred ar,
allowed to vote; 700 white Democrat
disfranchised and held in bondage b,
200 Radicals; about 100 of the 800 tina
are allowed to vote are Democrats, anG
these 700 whites are inst rs pood citi