The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-05-26

n
opening of the Atlantic and Pacific rail- |
road; and while was highly gratifed |
at the general prosperity in every section
through which I passed, l was very
sensibly impressed by the improvements
made By the general government on the
Kansas river; it is a work of which the
nation may be proud. This river, once
broad and shallow, has had its channel
deepened and its banks walled, and is
now perfectly safe for steamboats, of the
largest class to navigate from Fort Riley
toits junction with the Missouri, while the
land reclaimed from the river all along
its border iscovered with wineries; beauti-
full orchards, and delightful groves charm
the eye at every advance; and back from
the river on the bluffs may be seen the
spires and steeples of churches in the
numerous cities in that fertile State.
"Now the people of Kansas are asking
for the removal of the seat of govern
ment to that State, it seems to be asettled
question that it should be removed to
some point nearer the center than its
present location. Restless spirits in the
States bordering on the Pacific are urg
ing the formation of western confeder-
acy and asserting that the Capital being
in the extreme East, Legislation is partial
to that section. 1t is to be hoped that the
iron chain, connecting the east with the
west, may serve to bind the States togeth-
er more firmly than ever. But in order
to remove every cause of jealousy in our
power, would recommend the removal
of the seat of government to some part as
near the center as practicable. lwould
Suggest the junction of the Big Billie and
Kansas rivers, is about equi-distant from
Boston to San Francisco, and would there
fore recommend the removal of the Capt.
tai to that place.
The committee to whom was referred so
much of the Message as relates to the re-
moval of the seat of government report
ed in favor of the location recommended;
but member from Missouri moved to
amend by substituting st. Louis; this
seemed to find special favor from south
ern members about twenty spoke in ia
vorof the amendment; it was shown that
st. Louis was nearer the center of popu-
lation than any otherplace which had been
named; and there seemed to be no op-
position to theamendment, at last men,
berfrom Maine arose and said, Mr. Speak
} er: geographically considered there can
be very little said against the amendment,
st. Louis would the eastern
States better thanany place further West,
/ and presume the extreme western States
} would not object to St. Louis.
But, there is one objection which to
J me is insurmountable. st. Louis is in a
slave State. The member took his seat
The Speaker looked first to the right then
, to the left, no motion, not word, not a
! whisper. Never before had that house
been so still. After waiting FIVE minutes
the Speakerput the question; every south
!, ern member voted for the amendment,
i every northern memberagainstit 1t was
lost by large majority. What a blow
to st. Louis! The people of that city al
) ready imagined that they were living at
, the Capital of one of the first nations of
the eartn; nencelOftn Ot. LOUIS was W oS
associated with St. Petersburgh, Paris,
and London, and ere long to stand high
er than either. The bridegroom might
) have been won had she cleansed herself
from the pollution of slavery; but he
5 had passed into the arms of younger
5 sister, and was lost to her forever.
, The Capital was removed TO Kansas,
and on the first day of January 1856, in
: the House of Representatives beside the
, Speaker sat an old man whose locks had
been whitened by the frost of seventy
: winters. The Speaker arose and said 81
: have the pleasure of introducing as our
9 guest the man who first dreamed of saw
7 ing the Union by removing the seat oi
E government to the Kansas valley. F" AS
: the members arose to receive me ] awoke
= A northeast storm was beating furiously
against my house, and l determined to
> seek milder cline. So hurry up your
/ saw-mills, Mr.. Editor, as shall wanl
f lumber to build me store, { | suppose
r cannot rent one, for am not fit for any
. thing but trade. JOHN B. WOOD.