Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-07-27
From our Kansas Correspondent.


FoRT LEAvENwoRTH, July II, 1854.
DEAR SIR:-I arrived at this place last
evening. and find it of much more importan ce
than had supposed. The buildings connect
ell with the fort, are some Of them large and
substantial, and altogether occupy an area of
several acres. But few people are here, ex-
cepting such as are in the employ of the gov
eminent, and consequently everything has
stiff and military appearance. The military
reservation, am told, embraces an area of
six square miles, and is situated on high
bluff of the Missouri river, about thirty miles
by land from the mouth of the Kansas river.
There is a good landing of limestone at this
place, which can be said of but few points on
this river. This place, of course, is not open
to settlers, but some sluatters are laying off
town about three miles down the river, where
some of the government officials, are said to
have purchased claims. This conduct of the
officers, very much exasperated the blood and
thunder Missourans whose motto is "knives
to the hilt, and bullets to the muzzle, for all
northern men, and they called an Indignation
meeting, of course, and uttered great swelling
words, which, probably, frightened the officers
and soldiers very much, although could not
learn hotc much 1t is thought the fort will
be able to hold out against the enemy, while
their provisions last, if the men do not all die
of disease. BY the way, these same bullet
Missourians have offered reward of five
hundred dollars for Eli Thayers head, which
will probably frighten him terribly. 1t is sup
posed, however, that it is bogus offer, other
wise MIR. T. would be likely to claim the re-
ward in person, for he certainly could not en-
gage in more safe operation.
A meeting of the squatters, on the land of
the Delaware Indians, was held a few days
since, and in addition to the usual blood aud
thunder resolutions against tie North, they
resolved that they would not pay but S 20 an
acre for the land, and no person is to be al
lowed to bid over them at the sale. The trea-
ty with these Indians provides that the land
shall be sold to the highest bidder, for the
benefit of the Indians; but what are treaties
to squatter sovereigns from Missouri Hav-
ing seen these resolutions in a Missouri paper,
before came here, and as l passed through
the whole length Of the territory along the
river, l concluded to count the squatter shan
ties OH the land Of the Delawares, and they
amounted in all to fire. am sure the count
was correct, unless there was a mistake in
counting the last dwelling, which was COW
cred wagon, standing in the prairie. AS
passed this, | happened to think that hailed
from northern State, and the impression
was SO sudden and powerful, that may have
counted the last one wrong. The others
can youch for, for was as self-possessed as L
am now, and was wholly unconscious that
was without the protection of the Missouri
ans Failing in with one of the soyeregns
| asked where Gen. Somebody, the president
Of the meeting, and Col. Ditto the SECRETARY,
and Judge Do, who offered the resolutions
were stopping, and he said they had gone
back over the river to Missouri. This inform
alton very much quoted my fears, and l slept
as well as usual all night, and awoke this
morning to find the fort stlll standing, and no.
body wounded, except two or three over at the
hospital, who have been attacked with the
small pox.
Don think. by the above, that all Missoui-
ans are like those brave Generals and Col m
els who travel over this territory to peddle
resolutions. Far from it. But very few SYM
pathise with their course, and am assured,
| ON what l regard very good authority, that a
| majority Of those now in Kansas territory, al
| opposed to the introduction OF slavery. One
man, and Missouran, told me that on the
! Wahawsa river, where he had claim, there
| were i'll the vicinity, about three hundred
| men, and all, so far as he could learn, opposed
| to slavery and their rules made no distinc-
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