Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-12


is, that the judges of the election were appoint
ed by the Governor, who was an active friend
OF Flenniken; they received the votes and re-
turned them without objection from any quarter
III but one district, and in that the objection
was withdrawn.
The truth is, large number of Missourians
who have g claims" in the Territory and intend
to reside there, were not there on the day of
the election But they will be there in the
spring, and will have right to vote they
will not, however, like Abolitonists, return so
soon as they vote, but will remain, and con-
tinue to vote. Missourans have believed that,
without the Douglass BILL and certainly under
the great principle recognized by that bill,
they had the right to move to Kansas, and
there to exercise the privileges, which, as free
men, they had before been accustomed to ex.
ercise
Abolitionists have proclaimed that their pur-
pose is not only to exclude shareholders from
Kansas, but to use Kansas as means for abol-
ishing slavery in Missouri; then, with these
for their levers, to abolish it in Arkansas and
Texas. Were they to succeed, it needs no
prophet to foretell the speedy dissolution of
the Union. Missourians have thus felt, that
in their efforts to defeat the designs. of the
Abolitionists they were not only defending
their own homes, but the Union itself To
protect their homes, they have made their
homes in Kansas. II, then, it is intended
by the charge, to say that those who once
lived in Missouri, carried the election in Kan
sas, there is some foundation for the charge.
While the people of Missouri are not law
less invaders" many have moved into Kan
sas mainly induced by the determination
to adopt all lawful means to. protect them
selves from the invasion of Abolitionists
Others are ready and determined, if necessary
to abandon their homes and move at what
ever cost of comfort or money. We have a
deeper interest at stake, and are not less self
sacrificing than the Abolitionists. In justice
to the people Of Missouri, will say from an
experience, as lawyer of seventeen years, dur
ing ten of which | was prosecuting Attorney
they are as orderly, as moral, as submissive to
law as the people Of any State in the Union.
At the same time, composed as they are of the
most enterprising, energetic, if not Intellectual
of the old States, they are as determined Of
purpose and as likely to effect their purpose as
any people in the world. When, then, say
to you, that to them this is not as it is to Abo-
Htionists and even to our southern friends at
distance a question of theory or conscience,
but matter Of home, of bread, that they have
determined to submit to any sacrifice, which
they can as good citizens make, rather than
suffer the Aboltionists to force upon the PEG
pie of Kansas system they do not approve;
you will readily see that it is not in the power
of Emigration Societies to effect their purpose.
There is now in the Territory majority of
more than .tonr to one in favor Of making
Kansas a slaveholding State; that majority
will, if emigration be left to itself, be increased;
if emigration is to be forced again, it will be
found that Missouri is nearer to Kansas than
Boston
! believe may assume that the spectators,
who SO freely advanced their money for the
purpose of colonizing Kansas with Abolition
lists, under pretence of desire to make it "free
territory" but really to amass fortunes by lay
ing out towns with the hirelings sent out by
them, have found their speculation so fat a
failure, that they will permit Kansas to be set
tied in the natural way.
If thus settled, it must become slayehold-
ing State.
1t is not adapted to the making Of towns
it is not suited for little farms; it can not be
settled by those who have not the command
of labor.
To the farmer who has no "help,n but is de-
pendant on his own unaided labor, Kansas is,
Of all, the least desirable country it cannot
be settled by such.
In the timber, the poor man can with his
axe, erect his cabin, make his rails on the line
Of his fence, with his own hands enclose his
land, belt his trees, and with his one horse
plough break his ground and put it in cultiva-
ton. But in Kansas there is no such land for
cultivation! Every foot Of timber is needed for
fuel and fencing. The timber is confined to
the banks of the streams on the bottoms and
the breaks of hills; hence, timbered land is less
fitted for cultivation, while, on account Of its
scarcity, it is far too rdiuoble for that purpose.
Farms must be made in the prairie. The farmer
must have team to haul his rails, and in
most cases they must be hauled so far as to
render fencing too costly for little fields. Large
fields alone, by reducing the proportion Of
fencing, can render its cost reasonable. Dwell
ings must be framed, or Of brick or stone. But
perhaps, the greatest Of all the difficulties in
the way OF the poor man, is the first cost Of
breaking prairie. To do this requires two
hands and at least six yoke of oxen. If hired,
it will cost at least three dollars per acre; but
il cannot be hired in Kansas for years; there,
every man will have his own land to break !;
each settler must, hence, have his own team,
his own ploughmen. In no instance has prairie
land been first settled by poor men. After a
country is settled, and every facility is afforded,
it is just possible for one here and there to
make a farm in the prairie. In Missouri, such
instances even yet are rare. In northern Hi.
nois, with all its facilities, its rich prairies lay
virtually waste until railroads were made
through them.
Such are some OF the difficulties which have
driven those sent out by the Emigrant Aid So.
cieties back to the towns Of the East which
have compelled so many Of those who emigrated
from the none-slayeholding States to return.
OF those from the non-slaveholding States who
remain, the substantial men Of means and in
telligence. large proportion, SO soon as they
are enabled to see slavery as il really exists
are freed from their prejudices, and from sheer
necessity become shareholders, for no other la.
Dor can be had. While, then, prairie is so nm
suited to the poor man, on the other hand,
to the man who can command labor, who has
one or more slaves, it presents many and great
inducements.
The outlay, il is true, demands some actual
capital. The house must be built by work.