Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-01-25


This will, doubtless, seem an extravagant esti-
mate; yet the quotations of the markets will show
that the maximum prices are less than the present
market prices. Hemp has sold during the past sea
son for $50 per ton. Wheat is worth 81 2j per
bushel and corn So per barrel. The yield, too, is
often greater than the highest But it is not less
true that the greatest yield and highest price are
not often together. My object is rather to show
the least yield and the lowest price Negroes
field hands-have hired for some years in Western
Missouri at prices which could not be paid if their
labor were less valuable than as above stated
Men, at from $50 to $780, women, at from $50 to
$3.50 per annum the hirer paying all expenses and
losing all time Of sickness, the owner at no charge
woman, with two children, will bring from $50
to $780, and girls from ten to thirteen years of age
from $40 to $50 per aunum. l now pay for one
about ten years of age, Sc per month by the year
I need hardly say that negroes must be healthy
and profitable or farmers could not pay such prices
3. Is ii safe TO take SlaueS to Kansas noa.2
Of this there can be no doubt. They are less
likely to escape than from Missouri; are further
from the under ground railroads and hiding places
Of the Abolitionisrs; while the people of the Terri
tory are more on the alert and watch more closely
those who would steal them.
From the law there can be no danger Slaves
are now, and have been for years. in the Territory
so that slavery, in fact, is already established.
need not say to you that no lawyer, unless he be
an Abolitionist will pretend that any positive law
is necessary to make slavery legal But, ''to vnd-
cate the truth of history" ought to say, that the
veriest schoolboy must know, as a matter of his
tory, that although slavery existed in all the old
States in not one was law ever enacted to es-
tablish it. Laws have been passed recognizing its
existence after it had existence; never to esab
fish it before it existed 1t has been abolished not
by the repeal of laws establishing or permitting it.
but by laws positively and expressly prohibiting it.
Without such prohibtory laws it would now exist
in every State in the Union. Until such laws are
enacted by some competent legislative power sla-
very is legal in Kansas. Such laws Will never be
enacted Whatever might have been the result if
Abolitionsts had not attempted to force the peo-
pie of the Territory, their movements have "fxed
the fact" They cannot harm US now.
Land Offices are already established, and the lands
will be surveyed Immediately; they will be offered
for sale in some II or Is months at most. In the
meantime occupancy gives title by presumption to
l60 acres. When ready for sale, the pre-emptor
enters it at one dollar and twenty-five cents per
acre. We can estimate its then value by the pres
ent value ofland in the border counties of Missouri
In the counties on the Missouri river adjoining
Kansas, land is worth from $40 to $50 per acre.
In Platte the county in which reside, land with
in fifteen miles Of Weston, cannot be bought for
less than S25 while much of it will bring $50 per
acre. There is no reason why land separated from
ours by a river, or only an imaginary line, should
be less valuable. To distance Of $50 miles west,
the soil is but little if any inferior to that of Missou
ri. It's great staples must be hemp and tobacco
articles for the cultivation Of which negro labor is
almost indispensable. | need hardly say that TIE
grains and grasses will all succeed, where hemp
and tobacco can be grown.
| have said that Kansas was not suited TO the
poor man; l only intended to refer to those who
design to till the ground. But to the poor mechanic
it offers great inducements To all carpenters es-
pecally, and to stone and brick masons it will give
constant employment at high wages The rudest
beginner receives 81 so per day-good workmen,
as journeymen, receive in regular employment from
81 to 50 per day. Their expenses are lights, the
cost of living being low.
To all mechanics whoare not abotonists | will
guarantee ample compensation
Those who have more slaves than can be profit
ably employed in opening a farm can, in the mean
time, hire cut the remainder including the women
aud those too young to render much service in the
fencing,,and breaking the ground, at the prices l
have stated, in Kansas or Missouri Thus, by the
time they will need the money to enter the land,
they can realize enough to enter all they may
need
The great facilities now afforded by railroads and
steamboats,, render removal to Kansas, even from
the Atlantic States light matter.
Railroads from Virginia, Carolina, and Georgia
are now extended to the Ohio and Mississippi. on
which streams boats are almost hourly passing to
st. Louis; thence, daily packets leave for the Up
per Missouri river, during all but two or three
winter months, reaching Kansas in from three to
four days. Emigrants from the Atlantic States can
thus reach Kansas in from six to ten days at, too
but little expense, and without danger or trouble
from the Abolitionsts Below Cincinnati there
is no danger-eyen there little caution will Sc
cure slaves against escape. The expense from the
Atlantic States will be from $50 to SS0-to those
who take cabin passage. Deck passage on the
boats, in which the emgrant provides his own fare
will not cost more than half the above prices.
find have made my letter longer than l
contemplated But the interesting nature of the
inquiries must be my excuse. You will, therefore
| hope, pardon Inc, and believe me-
Your obedient servant
B. +. STRINGFELLOW.
DED.-Yesterday morning. HENRY HoLLNGs-
i