New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-10
KANSAS AND ITS IMMIGRANTS.

We take the following extract from an account OF re-
cent visit to Kansas by the Editor OF Tie Presbyterian
Herald Of Louisville, KY:
"Our first design was 10 the river at St. JOsephs
md 90 down the Kansas side from that city, but learned
that there road from that point southwark and
would find difficulty in getting accommodations among
the Indians who the ssle occupants OF the Territory
until very recently. We therefore went rs far as Weston
Oh the Missouri side of the river intending to cross over
Fort Leavenworth and spend the night there but when
we reached Weston we learned that there was no public
house al the fort and that although the officers in charge
oft the habit OF entertaining fronds VINO might
call upon them in the barracks yet that great had been
The rush OF immigrants since ae passage of the bill organ
zing the Territory that they were grievousy oppressed
by calls of the kind and that il would be an imposition IN
call upon them with view Of remaining any length
Of time. We therefore deferred visit until the next
morning. After early breakfast proceeded TO the
ferry opposite the fort but found the eryman rather ardy
in his movements, not yet having bis steam up. After
exercising lungs for the space Of half an hour, we
finally succeeded in getting him to side Of the river
but by that time the crowd of passengers wishing to
cross had become so great that we were some
what doubtful Of the safety OF embarking on so
crazy a craft with large number of passengers.
The ferryman assured us, however, that there
danger and that If we waited until the next trip we
would only find matters worse "a the crowd would proba
bly, be greater then than il now was. We therefore
ventured his boat but such examining and jamming of
craay steam we have never seem and do not
care sec again We took the pains to count Them
and found that there about eighty persons board
most Of whom going into the territory 10
stake o their claims and take possession of the soil
They generally equipped according to border life,
having set Of camping furniture besides axes hatchets
weapons of the chase and OF warfare offensive and defen
sive. We began TO feel if we to use vulgar phrase,
had gotten into the wrong crowd having no weapons of
small pockeknie while every one about us seemed to be
armed to the teeth, and more daring, resolute reck
less set Of men we have scarcely ever looked upon;
Each man seemed to say by his airs and gait: 81
am able, single.handed and alone, to vndicate
my rights against all intruders". Still we found
that beneath this rough and forbidding exterior there
was generally current of and genial feeling which
would gush out whenever channel opened for it,
Many Of them had lived from their infancy the borders
Of civilization, rereatng from time TO time before the ad
vancng Of white population until they began TO
feel completely hemmed in by the Indian territory which
they forbidden to enter They had felt uncomtota
them in the States and the opening of territory
perfect godsend 10 enable them TO escape from the
sants Of the old sediments which they were fastening
10 avail themselves Of The river once passed. they
brsnehed Of in every direction, each in search of
spo on which locate his claim. As we rode OF toward
the fsrt we saw on the other bank another company
equally large awaiting the return OF the boat so great
the ruth OF population into the territory. The ferry
man assured that he had been kept busy engaged from
morning until night for the last two or three weeks in fer
rying immigrants Most Of those whom
from Upper Missouri, but they beginning TO arrive
in considerable numbers from all the western States
though but single month had elapsed since the opening
OF the country. II stated that between 5000 and
900 claims had been staked of within many weeks
and registered in the Squater Registry which had been
established Seve al meetings OF the settlers had already
been held and laws established for the government Of
claims amsng them. In reality the occupancy of the Ter
ritory not yet legal bu, squatters know law but
are law unto themselves This is emphaticay true of
the Kansas squatters.
. Kansas is said TO be better timbered country
than Nebraska. Water is abundant and of excellent
quality fine springs being frequently TO be met with
That the country viii support dense population especial
Nv after the lands reserved by the Indians made
sible 10 the whites as they will doubt in few years
be- no one who has passed through il can doubt That
thousands will rush into il from every part OF the country
is equally certain. Many of them will doubtless be sadly
and viii seek other locations but many more
viii remain and make il their permanent home But Tor
the scarcity Of timber there would be check 10 the
rapid settlement Of the Territory. The contest between
be free or slave State will Only accelerate the settle
ment of IT, Both sections viii pour ia their immigrants
by thousands. We can open scarcely T. single paper
from the free States but eye lights upon SEINE notice
Of company that is organizing to eigrate to Kansas.
Money In contributed literally to aid those who unsble
10 help themselves. The people of Upper Missouri
excited at the prospect of having free territory
md underground railroads three sides OF Them and
will make determined resistance ~ u The squstters who
,aye gone from that section have organized and banded
ogetber to keep out The Aboonsts The contest will
probably be Tong and fearful one aud may convue the
,aon from its center to its circumference before 1t is
rom the free will far outnumber those from the slave
stss and that many OF the latter viii go for making
free State. The preponderance was the other way
,hen We were there but the emgrants from other regions
zee ut Missouri had then had time TO get there few
,enihs may and probably will turn the scale the other
ay Our Missouri friends thought not but they looked