The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-08-18
6eqsfai 7qieNigepce.
frms the HissouFi Den0crdt.
Missouri and Kansas Notes.
CABIN OF THE SULTAN,
Tuesday Afternoon, July 81

~A.NSA sAO-Saas
DEAN SrR:-If inquiries concerning
the true character of Mr.. Park would
have caused Sir Walter Raleigh to grin
rather humorously, he would have died
of laughter if he had followed me into
Kansas and the adjacent districts of Mis-
souri,, and listened to the strangely incon-
sistent answers given to my questions as
to the natural capabilities aud condition
of the Territory, and the political opin
ions of Its present settlers.
''It's the garden of the world,,' said
one person who had travelled extensively
in kansas-not the gentleman | men-
toned in a letter of last week-but an
early elnisEant and settler.
''Excepta strip of land along the banks
of rivers, the Indian reserves, and spot
or two here aud there, it's a poor coun-
try, sir. it never will send more than
couple of members to the House of Rep
.resentatives even when it is fully set
tled, y was the equally confident assertion
..sf 4 politician. who said that be also had
travelled in different districts OF the Ter
ritory.
After asking about score of settlers
and politicians the question which opens
the heading of this article, and receiving
most conflicting answers, | determined
to try to ascertain the relative strength OF
the political parties in the Territory.
There are three distinct parties In Kan
sas-the free State, abolitionist and pro-
slavery parties. The abolitionists are
mere handful of scattered settlers; but
they vote, except the followers OF the
radical leaders, Messrs. Garrison, Wen
dali Phillips and Parker, who never vote
from principle-with the free State men.
The majority of the free State party adopt
the doctrine which Bennett OF the Herald
las branded as Scwardism-they cry,
leave slavery alone where it already ex-
ists," but mo more slave States" Poll
ticians might howl TO all eternity, L be-
lieye. and vet be unable to cause uncor-
.rupted human nature to declare, that the
first is either Infamous or unjust. But
it Is a part of Davy Atchison's dema-
X
gogaicai programme. to represent the
opponents of forcible slavery extension,
and his own personal ambitious views,
as infamous and anti-Southern fanatics,
whom il is the duty of all Constitution
alists to oppose and crush out; and there
fore it is that the free State party IN Kan
sas, the majority of whom are rs much
opposed to Northern crusade against
slavery. as to a Southern crusade against
freedom, and large minority OF whom,
L am assured, are from Southern States,
especially Virginia, Kentucky, and east
ern Missouri, are universally branded as
abolitionists or 'sabolition negro Thieves" /"
Every freesoiler / have met has Indig-
nantly denied that single attempt has
been made TO deeoy slaves from MIS-
souri,. or that such course has ever been
thought of. / should think that squat
ters would have too much to do to attend
to their own affairs, without amusing
themselves at such dangerous pastlme
Bat the Missouri regulators are so IN
tensely in earnest, that they are ready TO
believe the most improbable stories with
out examination, and without the slightest
misgivings.
| have heard the free State party vari-
ously estimated as constituting from ONE
fourth to fye-sevenths of the qualified
voters Of the Territory Atthe Shawnee
Mission Its force was estimated-a cheap
store les-fashion-at 'sthe lowest posi-
bic rate . In that part of the Territory
its numerical strength was certainly very
insignificant. The Governor and his
private Secretary, l believe, were the only
free State men at the Mission. The
highest estimate | heard any pro-siavery
man make OF the free State strength was
sstwo-fifths of the entire population. -
This was given by ar. Ssearns, the gen
tlemanly but NEST intensely pro-slavery
proprietor of the ParkyilIe Southern
Democrat. lie added, "two-fifths did
Ilos cast their ballets at the last election,
sui that was not decisive test of their |
aErengsh, because 8 great many of them
Idiid moi vote. From acoilection of facts
shown to me by prominent politician.
! resident and one Of the first squafters
IN the Territory, ! infer that the pro- |
slavery party is, at least, one-fourth less
numerous than itsopponent- These facts
have not yet been published, but soon
FM be. /
The free State party support their
newspaper organs well: and may justly /
boast Of them Lawrence, not yet year
Sd. supports q daily paperi Il IS not so
aro.s <s the Missouri Oa.,or-., q, Il