The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-08-22
Kansas will be Free,

Rev. J. H. Byrd, of Leavensworth
Kansas writes to thee American Mission
ary," in New York as follows: Pr a.s.,-s<'
+ ..In my last letter /, intimated that /
would mention some reason why this can
not become Slave state. ., :
| 1st. The South cannot improve the un-
cultivated land within its own borders. =
Millions of acres are yet virgin in Texas.
Thousands of acres may be purchased ol
Government at twelve and half cents
per acre in Missouri, and large quantities
of good land learn, in the northern part
of the State, are awaiting for purchasers
at fifty cents per acre. 9s
| Cd. Very few slaves have been brought
into the Territory. I have travelled
through the country considerably, and my
opinion is, that if all the slaves were col.
lected together, they would not make a
very. large force for single plantation
This statement does not very well comport
with the bold assertions of the slavehold-
ers. In the State of Missouri, there is q
river called the Gasconader, and has the
North yet to learn that Southern politi.
clans all drink deeply in its waters?
Sd. The land of the Territory is rapid.
ly being taken up in quarter sections, and
cannot be secured in large quantities till
it comics into market Before this time
arrives, the country will be dotted all over
with small free labor farms, and desirable
tracts of several hundred acres, which
are necessary fora slaveholding planta-
ton, cannot then be obtained.
4th. This region lying opposite Platte
county, was early occupied by Missourians.
Free state men have since come in, and ]
am told that pro-slavery men, dishearted
at the hopelessness of their prospects, de-
sire to sell out their claims and return to
Missouri
9Th. Property is always sensitive to
danger, and pretended slave property pc
culiarly so. There are already several
Free State papers here, and hundreds Of
opposers of slavery scattered throughout
the Territory. The Free States of Iowa
and Nebraska are near neighbors. In
every community the question of freedom
will be discussed. If the presence of one
or two ministers of anti slavery inclinings
| is deemed so perilous to slavery in Mis-
souri,, that mob must be summoned to
drive such away, will slaves in numbers be
brought here? 1t strikes me that the idea
| is absurd g. sutu 5isa
81 9th. A large majority of the people are
in favor of a Free State. This the pro-
slavery party virtually confesses by import
ing hundreds of voters from Missouri
Many of the emigants from the south came
here to escape from slavery. I have met
with settlers from Kentucky; and my
friend Rev. j. G. Fee and others, will re-
ljoice to hear, that | have yet to see think,
the first pro-slavery man from that State
Many from Missouri are Free State men.
1t ought to be remembered by the coun-
| try that those border counties of Missouri
whose citizens have been most prominent
in the foray upon Kansas, like Kansas it.
self, were reserved to freedom by the Mis-
souri, Compromise. This country called
the Platte Purchase, is the most fertile
part of Missouri, and consists of seven
counties IN the north western part of the
State. It was not originally part of
the State, but belonged to the north west
ern Territory; till Senator Benton secured
it's annexation to Missouri. Then slavery
entered it. Some of these contain large
number of slaves The free State of Kan
sas on the border will doubtless diminish
the security of the Institution there. In
terested demagogues have seized upon
this view of the subject, and have thorough
ly aroused to fears of the Shareholders; till
they seem to have been haunted with woful
visions Of the sudden exodus of their bond
men. Politicians may talk about justice
to the South, and the balance of power in
the Senate to be secured by Slavery in
Kansas; but the slave holders of Missouri
are more anxious to retain the balance of
power in the hemp fields.