The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-21
GENERAL wnlTFIELD,s LETTER ON KANSAS


We find in the Knoxville rennessee) Standard letter
from General Whitfield the delegate from Karsas W
Helms esq which win be read with interest by all who
desire information in regard Kansas Territory The
letter is follows
WASHINGTON Ciry. january q 1856
My have received yours Of the 18th ultimo,
and avail myself Of threarles, leisure reply You ask
me to give you Information in relation To Kansas Terrific
rvits climate soil and ia general phy sjcal and pcp-
graphical characteristics obec, YOU have ia view
ing you state TO obtain "renbe information for the
benefit Of several who contemplate removing to the
Territory To all inquiries respecting Kansas have thus
far promptly responded, from Of dIty To your
quiries II affords pleasure 10 respond; for recognise
in your letter the hand Of friend aud Tenncsscnna
which, you may well say, will have
for my homelike ring Though my fortunes
be cast in land beyond the great Father Of Waters
never, forget my heart ill cold In
DEATH ecase "a puIsste with the warmth of true fal aec.
ton towards the land OF my BIRTH the home Of my kim
dfed and frends-not summer friends attracted towards
me by the glitter az worldly prosperity but those friends
generous and true wO in years past encouraged with
their sympathy, assisted with their counsel and
ored me with their confidence Wherever ! may be
hereafter thrown by the vci1sifudss OF life whatever
the ties thai may hereafter bind 10 another peo-
pie in another part Of great republic, never
those ties my heart entirely from The State Of
my nativity and the people From whom have received
many marks OF confidence and good win. 10 adopt
again the Language u your letter my own, "te lime
hope will never come when Tennsssssns footsteps will
fail 10 awake 10 my hosom a icnnesseans welcome.
The introduction Of the bit organizing the Tefritoes
o. Kansas and Nebraska and the discussions hcb followed
s Introduction hay. directed public attention during the
last twelve months 10 region which had hitherto been
terra ocgao inhabited by aborignes in savage state
partially reclaimed by The parental policy o tire govern
ment seconded ~ the benevolent aoors of the Christian
missionary This vast region OF country stretching from
the Missouri river TO the Rocky mountains aud comprising
twelve degrees Of latitude ensbracex Of course great
riety Of climate, soil and natural productions A large
portion OF 1t is reeess waste and be inhabited
bat along the Missouri river the distance III hundred
miles westward there much fine snd particularly The
Territory OF Kansas think do not exaguerae when
sas that the best land Ia Tennessee ~ inferior iefl
to thai VI Kansas Some idea VI its producvene~s may
be formed om The fact thai the ordinary yield III
the ii from 6fty seyeny-ige bshcs beat from
twenty to iorts bushels hemp, from eight hundred
twelve hundred pounds Potatoes furnps aud other
cueut roots produced with very little cultivation
plums and other fruits grow spontaneously various
parts OF the Territory.
From this general statement correct cetirstc may be
formed Of the superior quality Of the soil in tbs labe
portion Of the Territory VI degrees Of
fertility 10 the sod Of Kansas here general
characteristic OF the soil il that il entirely sterile Of
eKubefant fertility.
The climate Of Kansas IL colder that Tennessee
IN proportion 10 is more northern geographical position
Bat while The egant should not expect 10 the Territory
The midness OF southern winter he viii find btnlseB
equally removed from the rgor d lbe northern In
hesithulpess particularly in exemption from all puimo-
nary diseases there IL climate in my opinion
ing that o. Kansas II there j. any drawback the "a
tore growth Of our Territory land andor compes me q
state everything favorable unavoFsbc II the scarcity
OF timber This scarcity l. obyaied 30 far ne fuel i con-