The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-18

Editorial Correspondence Of ST. Louis Republican.
CAMP NEAR KANSAS, Missouri,
I'll.

Editorial correspondence V o. LOUIS hfpuDitcGn
CAMP NEAR KANSAS, Missouri,
July 81, 1851.
Here we are encamped short distance from the
town Of Kansas, making preparations for start to-
morrow for the Plains. This ID the hrstplace from
which have had the leisure, felt an inclination
to write.
In fact, there is very little material for a COM
municaton to be found in an ordinary steamboat
trip on one of our western rivers. Saving the oc-
casonal bursting of boilers, running foul OF snag,
or some such casualty-which have but seldom
had an opportunity of witnessng-a trip OF hye
hundred name will scarcely furnish material Tor
paragraph. Everybody knows what modern
steamboat trip is, and shall only say OF ours that
it was on the Cataract-a very pleasant, well-fur
nished, and fast running boat, commanded by as
agreeable officers as are in the trade. The passen-
gers, ladies and gentlemen, were agreeable and
social and what most gratited all was the fact lat
the present time an important one) that we had no
sickness during the trip. Everybody was in health
and therefore cheerful and good .humored.
The cholera has prevailed to a considerable ex-
tent in the towns and neighborhoods along the Mis-
souri,, and in some places has carried off many val
liable citizens. But after all am induced to be-
eve, if the precise statistics could be obtained, they
would fall far below the reports. There ia gene
raj and unaccountable disposition to enlarge~and
magnify the mortality from this disease, or any
epidemic that creates general panic. The factin
sothe reason leave TO the Medical Society to find
out. The disease may be said TO have disappeared.
The reports from the trains upon the Plains are,
The injury sustained by the recent flood in the
Missouri is not so great as the published accounts
represented. The water not so high by seve-
raj feet it in 1874, and only the lower parts
of the bottom lands were inundated The higher
portions (and only these are cultivated) have gem
orally escaped injury. Here the crops look re-
markably hne and promising On the high lands
they are said to have been much injured by the long
continuance of rains, but such have seen since
my arrival here look well.
The Missouri is n river after its own fashion, and
unlike any thing else. In places where the flood
has not reached the high land it has done damage
by shifting the channel, washing in the banks, and
destroying the fields in this way There are
great many changes in the bed Of the river and
learn from the pilots that the navigation of the
river this year is likely to be very unfavorable and
difficult. The prospect is that there will be several
"bars' quite difficult to cross this season as the
one at Howard's Bend was last year. The river
above Boonville Is better for navigation than be-
low-at least we found it SO.
There is great deal of thrift and wealth in this
upper country. With easy access to market, there
is no place in the valley of the Mississippi that
would be more desirable to the agriculturist. The
COMMUNICATE easta very large portion of them
express lively interest in the success of the Paci-
tic railroad. They look forward to its early COM
pleton with high expectations; and already tho
prospect of it's being made is producing wholesome
results on the business and population of all the
section between st. Louis and the mouth of the
Kansas.
But, even now, Missouri, along her whole south
ern boundary, Is only pent-up crowd, mpatently
waiting the action Of the United States Govern
ment to let them pass the barrier of the State line
into the Territory If Nebraska, occupied by
large number of Indians. How long the restraint
of law and the guardianship of the General Gov
eminent may be able to keep the whites from the
occupancy Of these lands, remains to be seen. 1t
cannot be long. The white man will as inevitably
occupy this Territory, and that within few years.
that they have gone from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi The question of the occupation of this
Territory must and will be forced upon Congress
at an early period, and with it will arise questions
of deep import, both of policy and humanity, to
the rights and disposition of the Indians occu-
plying the lands OF these subjects will have
more to say hereafter, when have seen something
of the Territory, its population, soil, &c.