Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-07-12
KANSAS.

KANSAS.
We yesterday had conversation with very
intelligent gentleman of this city, who has re-
turned from Kansas after an absence of several
weeks. Everything in relation to that territory
is now specially interesting, and we present such
facts as we remember, hoping our readers will
be favored with more detailed account of his
observations in few days.
He travelled up the Kansas river some hum
dred and twenty miles, and says that the soil is
very rich and productive, and the country ex-
ceedingly beautiful. Along the river extending
for a few miles on each side the country is dense
y timbered, and so also are the borders of the
small streams which empty into the river from
either side. On leaving the margins of the
streams the country is high rolling prairie. The
soil is good, but the want of timber and water
will be found a serious drawback to the rapid
settlement of that portion of the territory
the climate while he was there was bracng and
healthy, but those who reside in the country,
complain that it is very fuctuating and change
able.
The Shawnee Indians own the territory on
the south side of the Kansas for some two hun
dred miles west of the Missouri. Our inform
ant says they are very considerably advanced in
civilization, and that he was very comfortably
entertained while travelling among them. They
devote their attention to agriculture and many
of them have large and very fine farms. The
growing crops give promise of an abundant har-
vest. Our friend assures us that the husbandry
of these Indians will compare very favoraby
with that Of their neighbors in Missouri.
They appear not a little uneasy and restless
under the passage of the Territorial bill. Many
of them have been cherishing the hope that ere
long they would be endowed by Congress with
the rights of citizenship. They dress, live and
act like white people, and declare their determn-
alton not to sell their lands on any considera-
ton whatever.
The Delawares occupy a section of country
on the north side Of the Kansas, not unlike in
its main characteristics that owned by the Shaw
nees. A delegation had just returned from
Washington and it was understood that they
entered iuto stpulations to sell all their terrific
ry with the exception of reservation fronting
ten miles upon the Missouri river, and extend
ing forty miles back into the country. The res
ervation includes all the inhabited portion of
their territory. The treaty had not yet been
signed, but the preliminary arrangements for it
had all been made. The Delawares are also liv-
ing mostly in dwellings, though they are not so
intelligent and far advanced in civilization as
the Shawnees.
The emigrants are pouring into the territory
in great numbers but according to the laws of
the United States, or rather the treaties of the
Government with the Indians they are not per-
mtted to remain there. The Indian title to the
lands is not yet extinguished, and when our
friend left Fort Leavenworth, the u. s. Mar
shal was engaged with posse driving the
squatters and emigrants out of their territory.
Many, however, were pushing onward beyond
the Fort to the borders of the great plains
where they hoped to be beyond the reach of the
Marshal. The country is not yet open TO SET
Element and can not be till the Indian title is
extinguished. This will no doubt be effected
as rapidly as possible; but the philanthropist
will ask where can the poor Indians go? That
question suggests sad and solemn reflections.
Let us hope that many of them will become
civilized and enjoy with US the blessings of lib
erty.
The course which the officers of the govern
ment feel bound to pursue, is producing much
ill feeling. among the emigrants. They are
hardy and enterprising and seem determined
each for himself to pre-occupy large slice of
this new and valuable territory Desperate et-
forts are being made by the Missourians to in.
duce shareholders to 60 there, but the balance
OF the feeling Is against it. Many of the most
intelligent Shareholders admit there is no chance
for them. This should not ull our northern
people for single moment, and they certainly
should not be deferred by the clustering of the
Missourians from going there. Every one who
can should hold himself in readiness "to emf
CRATE" as soon as the country is opened for set
tlement. We look upon it as patriotic duty
for our young men especially to settle this ter
ritory and make it free State, thereby remov-
ing forever the greatest obstacle to the perma.
nence and future prosperity of the American
Union. It will confne slavery to definite limits
The northern people would respect their rights
under the constitution and leave them to enjoy
their peculiar institution" till their interest and
their duty should conspire to lead them to abol
ish it. The peace, we fear, the very existence
OF the Union is at stake in the proper settle
ment of this great question. Let all who love