NEWS SUMMARY. the House. But at the close of this Congress, a handsome vote of thanks was passed upon the generally acceptable manner in which the more than ordinarily difficult duties of that The War for the Union.-Since the isposition had been performed. He was a memsue of our last number, several of the most ber of the next Congress, and nominated in separate conventions of the American and Re-important and bloody battles of the whole war publican parties for the office of Governor of have been fought in the East-the first series Massachusetts, to which he was elected in by Gen. Pope, at, and in the neighborhood of, November, 1857." Bull Run, resulting in great slaughter on both sides and the final retreat of the Union army upon Washington-the second series by MeClellan, in Maryland, compelling the invading force under Jackson, Hill, & Co., to retreat across the Potomac, with an immense loss of men and munitions. In the office of Governor he served his native State very acceptably, but in the year 1860, with a view to bettering his financial condition, accepted the position of Vice President and acting manager of the Illinois Central R. R., and in the autumn of that year removed to Chicago. He was in the discharge of these arduous and responsible duties when, at the opening of the War of the Rebellion, the President nominated him a Major-General and assigned him an important command at Baltimore, where he remained to the great advantage of the Union cause until July 19, 1861, when he was transferred to the command of forces on the Upper Potomac. This last series of battles was at first reported a great victory for the Union arms and the whole North has echoed with rejoicing. But since the clearing away of the smoke, and the more careful investigation of the affair, it has been made to appear a bare victory, and nothing more. Our loss of officers and men was fearful. and the enemy are again at bay at Since that time he has ably and faithfully Winchester, which has been assumed as their served his country in many trying positions, new base of operations. During the contest and is one of the few Generals now in the Harper's Ferry was captured by the rebels with service who have not, for some omission or ten thousand men, under command of Gen. serious blunder, justly suffered the reproach Miles, who surrendered in a most cowardly and condemnation of the army and people.- manner. He promptly met his reward, howDiscretion, steadiness, perseverence, energy, ever, in the form of a cannon shot, and the heroic courage and a faithful loyalty in the dis-place was soon after retaken by our army which charge of whatever duties may be assigned him, to the very best of his ability have thus far characterized his career as a soldier. These are also characteristics which would eminently fit him for the discharge of the duties of Secretary of War, and if the able and energetic Stanton should resign, as it is rumored he designs doing, it is not at all improbable that Gen. Banks may be appointed to succeed him in that important office. THE ENEMY'S Loss.-It is a great weakness and the best evidence of weakness for leaders or people to be always under-estimating their own losses in battle, and over-estimating the loss of the enemy. Our newspaper reporters, private soldiers, army officers, and the whole people are shamefully guilty of this weakness. still holds it. The Maryland raid was a failure on the part of the enemy, who expected a general uprising of the people of that doubtful State; but our own ground for mortification is scarcely less, for that we did not cut off their retreat and utterly destroy them. All in all, the enemy have decidedly got the better of us in Virginia, and we scarcely hold a position in that State which has, at present, anything like a sense of security. In Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas several captures have been made by the enemy of places but recently in our possession. Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, came near being taken by the arch traitor Breckenricge; most of the interior towns of Kentucky have been relinquished to the enemy, and a half Walworth County Fair.-ELKHORN, Sept. 10 dozen times the border cities, Louisville, Cov- DOINGS OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. ington, and Cincinnati have been boldly threatened by his armies. Large bodies of troops have been massed at those places, however, and they are now (Sept. 30) regarded as safe. But the great event of the month, indeed the event of the war, has been the issuance of a proclamation by the President, declaring the slaves of all the States which may be in rebellion against the Government on the 1st day of January, 1863, forever free. This proclamation provides, however, that all persons within the said rebellious States who may be able to establish their loyalty shall, after the war, be compensated for their loss. The acquiescence in the proclamation is almost universal in the loyal States, while in some of them it has been received with great enthusiasm. The war upon and among the Generals still goes on-alternations and shiftings of commanders, annihilations and recreations of departments being the order of the day. Gen. MeClellan is in command of the defences of Washington; Gen. Pope has been transferred to the new department of the Northwest; Gen. Mitchell has been assigned to Beaufort; and Gen. Sigel has made application to be relieved of his command, for reasons, which if well established, must fix upon the Administration, or rather upon the President's immediate subordinates, a burning disgrace. 12 M.-Dear Doctor:-Here I am, industriously elbowing my way through a "big" crowd to get to the place where tickets are sold to the show of pumpkins, squashes and other solid rations, Change has been distinctly minus here for an indefinite period, and the postal currency has not yet made its appearance, I learn upon presentation of a bill-but the gentlemanly Secretary relieves me of further anxiety by passing out a "complimentary." Having gained admission to the grounds, I find myself ushered in among a mass of people, evidently intent upon sight-seeing and concentrated enjoyment. A crowd of people, gathered around the speaker's stand, attracted my attention. The Annual Address was being delivered by Col. Meecham of Rockford, Illinois. Gov. Salomon, who was engaged for the occasion, being occupied with the duties of State. The address was suited to the occasion, sensible and practical, with much timely advice to the tillers of the soil. After the feast of reason, the question of provinder required-and secured, as the "Congregational Society" will testify-my next most hearty consideration. Dinner over, I went out in search of a familiar face, and soon encountered the President, Mr. Preston, who was making himself omnipresent as fast as possible, during the progress of the Fair, to the intent that the arrangements might conduce to the comfort and pleasure of the exhibitors and spectators. For this gala day of mingled sight-seeing and social reunion, the Walworth folks are largely indebted to the enterprise and pluckiness of the President and Secretary. I appointed myself a committee of one to inspect the articles on exhibition. I can't say that my deliberate judgment harmonized with that of the respective Viewing Committee in all cases. I was forcibly struck, however, with the fact that this was no mean exhibition for the A General should be esteemed for his moral times, when the excitement, incident to the peculiar crisis and intellectual worth, his skill as a command-in military affairs, was distracing the public mind. The er, and his energetic devotion to the progress of the war-not because he has been educated at West Point, or was born in America. great feature of the Fair, however, was the "big" crowd, and I was sensibly impressed with the preponderance of good looking ladies. I should have counted it no loss, if this had been my only compensation for coming hither. The Fair, which was begun so auspiciously on Tuesday, and continued with uninterrupted pleasure and satisfaction through Wednesday, was not destined to so gladsome a terminus. In the evening of Wednesday, ominous clouds hung in the horizon. A thunder shower was im In Minnesota the Sioux Indians, instigated by Rebel emissaries, have committed the most fearful outrages-burning villages, butchering the populace and carrying some hundreds of the women into captivity. History has re-minent. It came, and left only mud and an unpleasant corded no atrocities more infernal than some of those, which upon good authority, are attributed to this warlike tribe. Gen. Pope is at St. Paul, preparing measures of extermination, and several Wisconsin regiments have been ordered to that post. With the Chippewas, Governor Ramsay has succeeded in forming a treaty of perpetual peace. precedent to spice the next day's entertainment. The anticipated multitude found it more to their inclination to stay at home on Thursday. Ladies Equestrian Display was made the special order at 11 A. M. There were three competitors, and three premiums offered; hence each one felt confident of a premium. They all displayed much ease in managing their horses, and grace in their manoeuvres. Then came the Trotting. Time as follows: FIRST CLASS-STALLIONS. The show of Flowers was small. There were a few choice boquets. A flat boquet exhibited by R. Coburn, "Gray Eagle," C. W. Phillips, Delavan, 2:32-2:22- was meritorious. 2:32-$15. "Brown Tiger," S. H. Stafford, Geneva, 2:31-2:28-2:28 -$10. SECOND CLASS-MARES AND GELDINGS, "Guy Shoemaker," S. B. Owen, Geneva, 2:34-2:28-2:31 -$15. "Snapp," A. Hastings, Geneva, 2:44–2:43–2:46—$10. The Committees of Judges having finished their labors, and passed the books into the hands of the Secretary, the awards were announced from the speaker's stand. In the class "Durhams," Messrs. Fernly and Perry had some fine stock and swept the premium list. Our friend Brooks of Durham notoriety, whose stock receives so much attention at the Fairs, did not enter the list of competitors. In class "Devons," Messrs. Richmond, Taggart and Foster, were the principal exhibitors. Mr. J. Foster, Sugar Creek, had a very fine cow and calf, which would be hard to beat. In class "Grades," the exhibition was large. A pen of Grade Devon heifers, stock of A. H. Taggart, Delavan, attracted much notice. There were nearly 600 entries by 209 exhibitors. I am informed that the receipts amounted to over $1,200. But for the last day's rain, the Fair would have been pleasant throughout. C. La Crosse Co. Fair.-Left Madison at 10 o'clock P. M. of Thursday, and after a most tedious round via Milton and Minnesota Junction and a weary forenoon on that most illiberal of all Western thoroughfares, the Milwaukee and Minnesota R. R., arrived at the pleasant little village of West Salem, the location of the La Crosse County Fair. The exhibition had been in progress two and a half days, with delightful weather and a large attendance of enterprising people from all parts of the County. Of the show itself-except the masquerade mule race, which was extremely funny-we feel hardly competent to speak, owing to the fact that the greater part of what had been on exhibition had been removed previous to the late hour of our inspection. We nevertheless, found, in addition In class "Working Oxen," Messrs. Foster and Taggart to fine samples of wheat, corn, potatoes, pumpkins, &c., had the best. The show in department "Horses and Mules," was fair. In the department of "Fine Wool Sheep," the show was large. Messrs. Bloodgood, Cross, Holden, Blount, Rice and Taylor, who were the chief competitors, had some fine stock. Coarse wool bucks were exhibited by Messrs. Smith and Young. In department "Swine," there was not a very large show. Edwards, Jeffers and Dunbar were exhibitors in this class. &c., in Agricultural Hall, several pens of fine sheep, a few good grade and half blood cattle and a number of excellent horses. Among the latter, two colts exhibited by Rev. W. H. Card, pastor of the Baptist Church, were particularly worthy of notice. One of them, a Morgan of three years, is a fair copy of his paternal ancestor, the Great Gifford, and the other, a two year old, of Black Hawk, and pure English blood, is one of the finest colts that we have seen in the West, or anywhere else. Both are stallions, and will doubtless be liberally used by the their stock of horses. In the department " Farm Products," some fine samples enterprising farmers of La Crosse for the improvement of of wheat, oats and corn were on exhibition. The white winter wheat and white Poland oats, were especially fine. Large potatoes, beets, onions, pumpkins, squashes, turnips and carrots filled up the tables. In class "Farm Implements," there was a meagre show. A reaper, (J. P. Manny's) a mower, (Buck-eye) plow, and corn plow constituted the summa summarum. Department "Household Manufactures" was well stocked with carpetings, bed spreads, clothes and embroidery. Wagons and Carriages were exhibited by Isham and Sturtevant. FRUITS AND WINES. Messrs. Babcock and Tubbs had the best show of fruits of all kinds. No pears on exhibition. Mr. Coburn had the only specimen of plums, which were handsome and delicious. Mr. Congar of Whitewater, had handsome specimens of the Delaware grape. The Committee did not find a great variety of wines, but gave the samples on exhibition proper attention. The show in the department of Fine Arts was rather limited in quantity, but excellent in quality. There were some choice paintings-Landscape, Portrait, Oriental and Crayon. It afforded us great pleasure to witness the many evidences of thrift on the part of this young Society. The worthy President and Secretary, Messrs. Fourtelotte and Harwood are able, zealous and popular officers, and the other officiary and members seem to be equally determined to carry forward the good work of developing the industrial resources of the County with spirit and energy. The Grounds occupied by the Society are handsomely and centrally located, neatly fenced and provided with a good trotting course. "Agricultural and Mechanical Hall" is a large, new two story building, well adapted to the objects of the exhibition, and also susceptible of use as a public hall for the gatherings of the people. Our address, on the relation of Agriculture to the suc cess and prosperity of the American Government, was attentively listened to by an audience of two thousand people, worthy representatives of the thrift, intelligence, beauty and energy of one of the noblest young counties of our glorious commonwealth. La Crosse River Valley is one of the most beautiful and fertile in the State, and few are making equally rapid progress in the development of their agricultural re sources. Hold! we are the prosperity and honor of the State. Well, it's a very pleasant thing for one to feel that he's himself again-pleasant under almost any circumstances In concluding this necessarily brief and general notice of our visit to Salem, we should not omit to thank the several officers of the Society, Messrs. Seymour & Lottridge of the Republican, and their ladies, and Mr. McFan-but that pleasure is considerably heightened, when, and family, charges d'affaires at the depot, for those friendly courtesies and that cordial hospitality which contributed so much to our comfort while at Salem and to a a pleasant remembrance of the occasion. EDITORIAL MISCELLANY. The Editor again in his SanctumDoubtings and Reassurances of Identity -Congratulations-Plans for the Future, &c., &c.-During the past five months, since the snowy 6th of April, when we crossed the Wisconsin line for a tour in foreign lands, we have passed through so many strange scenes, witnessed so many new spectacles, formed the acquaintance of men of so many widely separated and far distant lands, been ground through the mill of so many and diverse customs of life, and withal jabbered in so many uncouth, semibarbarous (!) foreign tongues that we had almost come to doubt our identity. True, when we at last touched terra firma in the beautiful harbor of New York, and mingled with the thronging multitude of rushing men and of frail (yet beautiful) American women, on Broadway; and, especially, when we encountered Barnum and the paraphernalia of his gigantic humbuggery, it did look as though we might, after all, be the veritable "Yankee man" we used to be. But, after making our way through the war-scarred coun try along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio R. R., and afterwards on foot and alone through the woods, and over the mountains which lie between Grafton and Beverly, Virginia, at the peril of life from the attacks of men who recently were brother citizens of a glorious and happy Republic; after a few days apprenticeship in the loyal army of the Old Dominion, against a gathering horde of dare-devil "bushwhackers;" and after sundry other new and strange experiences of like character, it is not remarkable that we again began to doubt; nor, that even yet, after two weeks in the old familiar office where, in times past, we have encountered and despatched such loads of secretarial work-where, too, a thousand times we have grasped the ponderous pen that ornaments our table editorial and done our best to prove the right and uproot the wrong-we say, it is not strange that, even yet, as we ruminate upon the past, the question should occasionally come up, are we really we? after wanderings in foreign lands, one finds himself at home again-in the dear land of his birth, of his labors and future hopes-in the midst of those whom he has loved in other years-under the benign shadow and ennobling influence of free institutions such as are found nowhere else on the earth but there. Truly may the American, who has traveled in other lands-though even the most enlightened and liberal of all others—say, in the language of the good old song, "There's no place like home." Torn by internal dissensions and almost riven asunder, America is still dear and ever dear to the heart of the true patriot; and all the more dear because of those very trials which threaten her institutions, nay her very existence as a nation. NEW EXPERIENCES OF PATRIOTISM. For the first time since the immortal Declaration of In dependence, the traveler in Europe has been made to feel that he was not specially honored for the place of his nativity. The "wish being father to the thought," it is the assumed position of the aristocrats of the Old World that this wonderful "experiment" of the American Republic is a stupendous and wretched failure-the light of its sudden and transcendent glory going out in darkness and blood. Consequently the American abroad is now, to some extent, the butt of ridicule-sometimes of meanest taunt and contemptuous scorn. But to our mind these circumstances, so far from making us ashamed of our country, rather tended to exalt and endear it. They show to what a recognized height we have climbed as a young nation, and are a stronger proof than any other of the envy and jealousy of the other powers, and, more than all, of the sure fatality of our example as a republic-if the government maintains its integrity, as it surely will in its influence upon the corrupt aristocracies and decaying monarchies of the Old World. Resting in this conviction, we held our head higher and spoke more proudly of the newly revealed power and future glory of the American Republic, flinging back for taunt and abuse our own emphasized conviction of the felt rottenness and inevitable comparative decline of European powers. REASONS AND PLANS. Previous to starting for Europe, we gave our readers to understand that we were not setting out on a tour of mere pleasure. Had that been our object we should not have selected these trying times, when every man who is a man feels like sacrificing everything he has and is upon the altar of his country. Pleasure was not our ob Still, the world is beginning to look natural again; we feel less inclined to think in French and Dutch than dur-ject. ing the summer; and, best evidence of all, the Legislature is here still, just where we left it in the early spring, squandering the people's money, throwing paper balls at empty heads, and pitching into everything that tends to Consecrated as we had been to the industrial progress of our commonwealth and nation, it appeared to us that the interests of our cause might be promoted by a faithful and judicious inspection of the industry of other en lightened nations. The products of that industry were gathered together from all quarters of the globe at the world's great metropolis, and the labor of a lifetime could thus be accomplished in months; this, and this only, was the reason of our going at that time. That we labored zealously and unremittingly may be judged in view of the facts, that we spent two solid months at the Exhibition, going immediately after six in the morning, remaining until eight in the evening, and not unfrequently forgetting to dine; that we traveled, altogether, several thousand miles in France, Switzerland, Germany, Prussia, Belgium, England, Scotland, and Ireland, carefully though, of course, hurriedly-studying their agriculture, mining, and manufactures, and actually visiting-not merely passing through-no fewer than sixty-two of their most important cities and towns; and that, on our return to America, we made a detour into Virginia, spending some two weeks among the guerrillas, and returning to Wisconsin, Sept. 4th, just two days less than five months from the date of our departure! But all that we have seen and learned in those interesting countries, and at the glorious Exhibition, will have done but little good, comparatively, unless we now take up the pen and become a narrator and commentator thereon. Accordingly, we have commenced in this number, and shall continue-so long as we have anything calculated to interest and profit our readers-first, a series of articles on the nature and quality of the exhibitions made by the different nations; and, secondly, a concurrent series of Notes of Observations on the foreign lands in which we traveled; making both as terse, practical, and interesting as time and ability will permit. Nine Cheers! for those County Agricultural Societies in Wisconsin which, in the face of all the extraor dinary difficulties of the present year, have held successful Fairs, and so contributed to the progress of those great arts upon which the present salvation and future greatness of our country depend. In times like these, there is no element like pluck! Worse and Worse -At the close of every session of the Wisconsin Legsslature, a virtuous and indignant people have said, "Well: it's to be hoped that we have at last touched bottom! Surely there can never be another so stupid and worse than useless Legislature as this last one." But each succeeding session has convinced them that all such hopes are vain. The recent extra session, which has cost the State not less than twelve or fifteen thousand dollars, came very near being as barren of good results as was ever a council of Sioux squaws. who have an idea of what is meant by statesmanship, and who are ever ready and anxious to do everything in their power to advance the public interests; but they are unfortunately too often overpowered by the votes of the opposite class, and at the close of successive sessions, are as heartily ashamed of what has been done, or not done, as we or anybody else. There is certainly good material enough in the State to creditably fill the 132 seats in the two houses of Legislation; will not the people awake to the importance of selecting their best men and of keeping them in their places so long as they continue to be faithful and ably discharge their responsible duties? Rotation is the curse of our western politics, and we may never rationally hope for judicious legislation so long as we keep our halls perpetually filled with new men to be bamboozled and fatally controlled by a few designing, conscienceless tricksters who, by dint of sharp practice and bad whiskey, succeed in keeping their places from year to year. Farmers, you have always had the credit, with politi cians, of being honest, show them this fall, that you have likewise common sense and a determination to keep them at home and to send up to the Legislature for 1863 wise and true representatives. Our Notes of European Travel will be re How long the people will continue to send men to the Legislature who are mere wriggling, "one-horse" politi-sumed in the November No., and thenceforward regularcians, with no appreciation of what either the present or the future of the State demands, the Lord only knows; we have no data on which to base even a Yankee guess. It would be unjust to deny-and we have no disposition to deny it-that there are many gentlemen in both houes Ip continued; each article bearing the date and place of the observations therein recorded. It was our intention to publish the first of the series in this number, but we find, at the last, our columns too crowded with matter which seems to be of more immediate importance. |
