The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
EMIGRATION TO KANSAS.

Mr. j. Jessup, writing to us from Toledo,
Ohio, remarks
ANY information you may send me in re-
gard to the emigration to Kapsas, which is to
go in April or May next, that can depend on,
will be favor"
1t is said, we know not on what authority,
that the Governor has ordered the election In
Kansas for the Legislature to take place on the
22d of March. If this be correct, that ques-
ton will be decided before the spring emigra-
ton shall commence.
AS to this emigration, so far as it may be I'M
der the auspices of Emigration Societies, we
have no information. 1t will be recollected
that We never attached much efficiency to their
action-that we feared the expectations they
excited, might retard the flow of voluntary en-
igration, and that they would not always select
the best men for pioneers. Not word would
we say TO impede their operations but, again
let US urge upon all disposed to seek homes in
Kansas, to depend upon themselves. Individu
al effort, in such a case, will accomplish more
than all the associations in the woodland it
is quite certain that the man who 'transplants
himself to new country, has the elements in
him of a true pioneer. Can this always be said
of the miscellaneous crowd picked up in cities,
and carried ont at others expense? Let Emf
grafton Societies do what they can--but let the
hardy farmer, who knows how to fell tree
and build a cabin, trust to his own strong arm.
The men who earn their bread by the sweat
of their brow, may not be able to reach Kan
sas, before the election for members of the
Legislature, but let them not be discouraged
1t can hardly be expected that the composition
of that body at its first session will be pro-sa
very enough to secure formal recognition of
Slavery. 1t will do nothing against it, and
may give it incidental aid but, let us not for
get that the usurpation, so far successful, may
vet be overthrow. Let the free laborers from
the West pour into the Territory in such num-
bers as to give character to future Legislatures,
and by positive enactment consecrate Kansas
to Freedom. Kansas is conquered for the time
by the men who labor not--let it be recognised
by the men who do labor The tillers of the
soil should own it.
We observe, that not only the Missourians,
but shareholders in other States, have become
interested in the slavecolonization of Kansas.
The Washington Sentinel contains a long letter
from General Stringfellow, in reply to some
inquiries addressed him by Messrs. Brooks and
Mcqueen of South Carolina, Mr.. Smith of
Virginia, and Mr.. Clingman of North Caro-
lima. They wrote, to know whether Kansas
will be slaveholding State, whether slave
labor will be profitable there, and whether it is
safe to carry slaves into the Territory. He is
emphatic on the first point, answering without
hesitation, that it will be slave State Soil
and climate, he says, are favorable-the ques-
ton was really decided by the election of Whit
6eld-there is decided majority of ProSla-
very voters in the Territory-there is so much
prairie land and such a scarcity of timber,
that poor farmers, unable to command labor,
cannot settle there advantageousy, while the
owner of labor can. He bears witness to the
great fertility of the SOIL and its capacity for
heavy corn and wheat crops, easily raised upon
the mellow prairie. The only reason, he al
leges, why the poorer class Of farmers cannot
settle there, is, the trouble and labor it costs to
obtain materials for building. He comedies
there is enough timber for fencing and fuel.
If this be the case, we will trust the free labor
ers to find materials for cabin. The following
paragraph is significant
81 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 especially, and to stone and brick
masons, it will give constant employment at
high wages. The rudest beginner receives
so per day; good workmen, as journeymen,
receive, in regular employment, from 81 to So
per day. Their expenses are light, the cost of
living being low.
"To all mechanics who are not Abolition
lists, will guaranty ample compensation"
Nonsense! The slave States, to a consider
able extent, are supplied with mechanics from
the North and West, and the supplies for Kan
sas must be obtained from the same quarters.
The mechanics who go there will find in the
necessary demand for their labor, ample secu-
rity for compensation. even should General
Stringfellow pronounce them Abolitionsts.