The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-07
NO. 40l.
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
KANSAS TERRITORY, August 20, 1854.
.,,.,o- III, National Era.


'n inner | have received hundreds of letters
yOul ri narts of the country, inquiring about
Il [O "a. Although wishing to impart all the
n r-.a,ot;on ia nv power, yet were to devote
., time TO letter writing one-half at least
o. ].aII 90 unanswered. A few put me under
'N,v..cnsl obligations, such that am obliged to
- At least to them. Others, whose letters
VII NJ h unanswered, will from this learn the
Ne, - civ. One wants to know elf the lands
o. ave subject to pre- emption 2" another, if
-. 5st them for nothing, or how to pay twen-
S' 60 cents per acre, the cost of survey" &c
w., that are known all over the States
NJ before we can possibly know them here,
", o.s ffty miles in an Indian country, and
!. sor,e distance from Westport, Missouri,
'Io .asrest post Office Another wants to know
Ol ~, k;rd of winters we have here, what kind
manners &C.. forgetting that | am just
u $50 and have not resided in Kansas yet
ii nDl. ,rs,ks. Another wants to know if we
~ ~, ,be apue here, and if So whether as bad
A- ,. Ul;n1iso a place | never set foot upon,
> s. = :, ad ipfnitum But hundreds of ques-
~. ~ s-a cskcd which are all right; and, so
80 80 possbly can, wish to write one gen.
% -.l ensgsr. The lands purchased of the In
go embrace nearly fifteen millions OF acres;
80 800. IN except about eight hundred thousand
~ belonging to the Weas south of Kansas
- end the Delawares and Iowas north of
- ,gsr. are subject to presumption. AS to
=, g5u,es.ead bill, we know nothing OF 1t here,
gsther passed or not, or whether 1t would ap-
- ~ Kansas lands or not. | think the
<lEoee lands, south of Kansas river, will be
&, .s.tled; they appear to be settling fastest
I.,sce, Kansas and Wakarusa rivers, on the
C,liJrnia road
n reach here, o person coming by the Mis-
ami Should land at Kansas, cross the Shaw
~, Reserve thirty miles, to Wakarusa ferry,
and YOU como to the promised land. AS to
Ii;n, claims here, | refer the reader to the
c-,.r.futon Of the mutual Settlers Associa-
- ws;ch, Of COARSE you will publish. These
lax, gil be respected, and justice administer
Il la-s as reacoably as in the States. Claims
,-s however, frequently sold by settlers
think this Territory 10 well watered springs
r.. IN abundance; prairie could not be richer;
tnter rla- be scarce IN places, yet limestone
.,;e5ll exst 10 abundance. Our timber con-
i. principally of walnut, oak, cotton wood,
i.ls ssh 81. Soil of all kinds, from clay loan
arh. sandy soil good clay, for brick or pot
,,r. ware. csn now be found. This part of the
Territory Is very rolling. | am at least five
q irei feet above Kansas river, and only three
nile. from it. on the richest of soil. A pleasant
i.s-za grccts Us from the southwest to inhale
i.-C. vi i Is almost equal to drink OF wa
nr am satisfied that the country must be
.fallAv much more so than in Ohio. Possibly
s.ae lasy have the ague along the river, or
.tBf streams On the low lands. | think no diff
hsrl Y would be experienced in securing lc-
s.oa for q colony of any size, where water,
timer. and stone, exist, sufficient for all pur-
Fxes: yet to secure such place now, emf
--lts would have to 60 further west. The
Kansas river is nearly az large as the Missouri.
NDimbOats have been up one hundred and
serenity five miles to Fort Riley and | think,
viih snail beats, it may run that high the year
ra.nd There are good water privileges in the
i5FfbOry. Horses, oxen, cows, and IN fact all
Kinds Of stock. are high-cOws from S25 to
$40: oxen. from SIS to 500 per yoke; good
L'rses, from 800 to $50 per head. All kinds
og furniture high-at least one-third higher
than 10 Ohio Bacon, So cents per ID. Flour,
$3.50 per 100 lbs. Store goods a shade higher
than in Ohio | speak of the Kansas market
n Missouri.
~ Of the MissOurians, the greatest proportion
II taa settlers here are Northern pcople-nine-
lea!lis Of the balance honest Southerners, who
Ire coming, Gs they say, to get rid of slavery
Wa much mistaken in the character of the
llssurians. A few fanatics, who were re-
slsed to extend slavery at all hazards, seem
Or the time being to give tone to the whole
g-Yle; but 8 better acquaintance convinces
re that great majority of the people con-
.emn the violent resolutions of Westport and
Oiher places. But the die is cast Westport
wl be another Ait0n Blood is in her heart
hsnlreds VIII shun her; and Kansas, only foul
niles further, will reap the fruits of her trea
.0n
DO you apprehend any serious difficulty
WIKI the Shareholders 2" is frequently asked.
-n;ser no although they have boosted and
;t.e4teu,t much, get fhsy are not fools, anC
sol know tie shedding of Northern blood tC
asian slavery here, would raise q storm thai
soaId end only with slavery itself. Northern
1en Iced not fear all they have to do, is to be
true to themselves, and not, coward-like
-Elck.a to the demands of these Shareholders
I'D paddock their lips, and "wait till the
roper time to meet this question" NOoC IL
b: proper time--now is the time that the
stockholders are moving heaven and earth tC
cAti.sh slavery here; and now is the time
Ike men. We should meet them, and not, like
5Tsrts cry, Hush, be quiet; don't agitatt
.le question noW. wait till we are stronger"
"ieexIlanation is necessary here. In speak
is OF the mission establishments, 10 my last,
Id no' make the proper distinction. My re
nl'As Ttrc true as to JohnsOn's mission but
'no1 have become acquainted with DR.. Still
ue' man. who alec has a mission here.
u.' No-d to newspapers which copy my
+lA-s. Do not put words into my mouth
''ta nersr utter. Copy exact from the Era
y n; ct ali Much injustice was done me in
il-F articles by a portion of the Eastern
pas. Besides, those copying my sayings viii
- he ,aTor by complying with the "courte
q The press"
Vae word 10 emigrants. Those who hav'
~'ley ean 90 well here. Lands which cen b
1T nothing now, by paying year hence
'.''.'aent price, | honestly think in two
as VIII be worth S25 to $50 an acre. NJ
%" coIatry ever settled one-fftieth part al
=: as Kansas IS now settling. Emigrants art
1i'.'''hg N scores; tents are stretched all Over
We tfaine: cabins ere going up in all direc
e fla and 'ciH work, can do well here A
'lH with only team is independent. But K
Ne Who have no means, can't nor ,con't wol
aNasas Is no place for you. Emigrants mus
-!eit to meet some hardshirs. We have n,
ls houses 70 receive you in everything is in
el7lnien. yet; settlers are generally of thu
-A' Kind, with pioneer hearts. Society j
sooi' We are all sOciab!e, accommodating, anc
e ler'on who now has the l0il, and meet
-e5e diaeulties, and gets his choice of til
40 wi. never regret it. Were in Ohio to
-'y' With my knowledge of Kansas, shoul
fe no tine in coming here, pitching my tent
hiding cabin, and preparing for living
-asIstlnd me, | urge no one to come; fer, a
al new countries, many chicken hearte
sTsl get home-sick, and leave. But if 20
-''e made up your minds, and are coming
isyoa. 10 ''
an, truly, yours, SAMUEL N. WooD.