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Scraps of Sabine County Gossip. Scrap No. 1 (Letters)

Date: 1853-06-14; Paper: Nacogdoches Chronicle

Scraps of Sabine County Gossip.

Scrap No 1

Dear Chronicle

Since the date of my last Scraps it has been satisfactorily ascertained that Hon. Joshua r Speights has, at the pressing solicitation of his numerous friends, consented to be a candidate for the conjoint representation of this county, Jasper and Newton, at the coming election. There is no doubt but he will be elected and according to the gleanings of Madam Gossip’s budget, we cannot send an abler representative. Mr. Speights is both sound and sanguine on all the important measures that are calculated to facilitate the property of our loved state. He is an enthusiastic advocate for the Great Pacific Railroad and is well posted up on that important subject. Besides has extensive experience in legislation he is one of those mild and agreeable gentlemen who possess the happy faculty of con ---- the favor of their co-workers in the House. By avoiding all noisy discussion and premature muddling with every little bill that comes before the body, when an important measure appears he is the better prepared to act with promptness and -------- himself and to bring forward a friendly influence to his and that seldom fails to ensure success. It is to be hoped the people of Texas will send many such men to the next Legislature.

Scrap No 2 – The River appropriation bill seems to be quite unpopular in this county. Indeed, the people regard it as a reckless and legal---- mode of throwing the funds of the State into the hungry ---- of a few favorite individuals who seldom fail to regard self-interest more sacredly than they do the interest of the State. True, our streams need improving, but, by the plan proposed, a vast amount of money will doubtless be squandered to little purpose. The people however, deem this bill to be as wisely as ----- and as judiciously framed as such a bill could possible by, by any set of men. This county will oppose it.

Scrap No 3 – The rail road excitement is again raging here, and in our neighboring counties with renewed fury. Ninety thousand dollars of stock was subscribed in the village of San Augustine on Saturday last, before the books had been opened three hours, and it is confidently gossiped, that more than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars will be taken in that county. A meeting is being agit --- in this county, and from the feelings manifested towards this great national project, old Sabine will swell the stock list to the utmost extent of her capacity. The project is a grand and --- one – and such favorable demonstrations at this time and made in this way, speak volumes for the good sense and enterprising spirit of our -------. This is the only substantial mode of manifesting an interest in this noble enterprise. It will create confidence abroad and tend to draw the route into the only practicable region through which the road can be -------- projected. Success to the good work. It goes gloriously on !

Scrap No 4 – The scourge of disease and death with which our county has been so severely ----- seems to be withdrawn, and the doctors are now busied either in replenishing their medicine bags, or whiling away the time more usefully on their farms. Farmers are earnestly petitioning the weather-gods for a copious rain. The cotton crop is indeed, very unpromising in this county – during the last heavy rains the lice did much injury to the young plant and the drought is now completing the withering blight. The corn too, is by no means bidding fair for a full crop. Indeed, unless rains come seasonable, more than half crops will not be made. The weather has been scorchingly dry here for more than three weeks, and the nights are extremely cold for the season.

Scrap No 5 – the gold fever has suddenly made its appearance in this county. Not the California gold fever. It is the Texas gold fever. Many of our young men are making preparations to leave for the Texan gold region near Austin. They have been tempted to quit their homes - their peaceful occupations – and old associates, by the glowing accounts of this new Eldorado that are circulating through the public papers. I hope our young friends will not be disappointed but in all probability, they are taking a premature start.