The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-01-20

fixed by this :moneyed monopoly = or,
would they build no hotels, then might
take boardeEs at So per week, as ia other
Places instead of 81 5o-and Everything
else in proportion. Perhaps some feel
indignant because the agents of the Aid
Company refused to take $4,000 for their
bargain In the saw mill, without moving
| it, which was offered for the purpose OF
keeping the mill from the Yankees, and,
as Missouri fre-eaters said, g drive them
home :" or perhaps the. I" Indignation
ists' are merely going to oppose the
moneyed monopoly" of Missouri, who
brag that they g have all the timber In
the Territory claimed, and Irish enough
hired to live upon and keep the settlers
off of the same .;
/ l might, Mr. Editor, suppose many
other things that has caused this "deep
and heartfelt indignation" among our
people but, sir, in the call, which | have
before me, the Lawrence Association is
accused of " encroachments upon the
rights of others" in what, we are, left
only to conjecture. That claims have
been Jumped" timber cut by Yankees,
and also by Missourians, may be true /;
if so, individuals are responsible, not the
Association. Such disputes should, and
can, only beisettled by the legal tribunals
of the country. The laws are plain.
Conform to them, and there viii be no
trouble-at least this is my. opinion
Lawyers may advise you different, how
ever; but one thing is plain: if Congress
did really (of which | have no doubs)
open this country to settlement, did ex-
tend the operation of the presumption
laws here, and allowed claims made upon
unsurUeyed lands, they also intended, and
did give the courts power, to protect, not
only the person, bu. also the possessions
of the inhabitants; and / believe, when
the courts are organized, they will exer-
else it, lawyers opinions to the contrary
Notwithstanding. It is right they should !;
and il they do, / assure my Indignant
friends that the Lawrence Association
will not complain. .s.. ,..,...e -a.,-s
But, Mr.. E1itor, in connection with
the Lawrence Association, and a proper
understanding of this matter, let me re-
mark, that, prior to the Sd of August
last, if not later, no person had claim,
or the shadow of a claim, in Kansas Ter
ritory !; no one as claimant, or as res
ident, had right here. All this land,
at that time, belonged to the Shawnees !;
the '.Indian tide hal not been extinguish-
ed" With me on this no one will differ !;
and l venture the. assertion, that at the
land Office no person viii attempt to date
his claim back prior to this time. 1t
would be suicidal in the extreme, prov
ing himself trespasser upon the Indian
lands, and becoming liable to a heavy
fine and damages. Having thus, Mr..
Editor, settled this point, we willsee how
stands the factc in reference to Lawrence.
Upon this spot, the Sd of August last,
lived thirty-one men twenty-nine were
members of the first pioneer party from
Boston; two were Messrs. Stearns and
Wade. The twenty-nine had. prior to
that day, selected this site for a city.
Upon that day Saarns and Wade made
claims for farm purposes. Some of all
parties have resided here ever since.
East, west, and south, for miles, the coast
was clear. The town could not move,
as nature, with careful eye, had marked
this spot for that purpose with a rock
coast, the best landing upon the river.
| High and undulating prairie. reaching to
| the very waters edge, and gently sloping
back, peculiarly fitted it for beautiful
city For that purpose it was settled
| for that purpose i. has been and is occu-
lpied
/ That Kansas Territory was open for
settlement and pre-emption claims the Sd
, lof August may be true, and may not;
this leave to lawyers and land commits
sioners to settle. Before that time, we
have already agreed, that no one could
make the shadow of acclaim. The facts
in reference to the settlement of this place
have already stated ;.now as to the law
) Under the pre-emption law of l841, now
in operation here, one prerequisite IS
i" that the Indian title shall have beer
exting guished." Of this l have spoken
ALREADY. OF lands not subject to pre-
, emp.ion / find the following: ]. " Sec.
! ! ltioas or fractions of sections included
within the limits of any incorporated
town." 2. .'Eyery portion of the public
lands which has been selected as a sitE
for city or. town" 8. every parce
or lot of land actually settled and oceu
pied for the purposes of tia1e, and no
I, layriculure." f. "All lands on whicl
! are situated any known salines or mines. ;
These laws are pointed, and so plair
.that the way faring man, though a fool
! cannot err Lawyers may quarrel, ma!
l bubble, and endeavor to explain thes'
laws away with technicalities but ther,
I sands the law in all Its force no one cal
4 , plead ignorance. Let US, in imagina
ton, look ahead little. Mr.. w. goes
two years hence. to the land Office to de
: clare his intention to pre-empt. Th
Commissioner axis when this claim wa
made. /" The eth of june" says Mi
w. "That cannot be-" says the Com
: missioner; "this laa1 then belonged t
! the Indians, and, by your own coafes
sions, YOU owe the United States 81, ,00'
for trespassing upon them - "But,
!, stammers Mr.. W., " am mistaken;
d was the 81 of August "But," chime
: in the voices of twenty,nme men, the frs
!, pioneer party, "prior to the 81 of An
gust we had selected this as city site.
n At the very moment of the ratification
: the Shawnee treaty we were 'occupyinj
: it for purposes of trade, and not agrieul
ture. . "Itis in the incorporated Cit
:, of Lawrence, chimes In the Commo
Council. 1--WE are Occupying 1t 70
purposes of trade, and not agriculture,
add the voices of twenty thousand cit
gems. at is full of .salines and mines,
say thousand boys, with their hand
full Of coal, lead ore, tin ore, quicksilver
II iron ore. gypsum, DC; these" ad
e they, eve found upon it in abundance.
! /" How IS this 2" asks the Commissioner
/. Iturpino. to the now crestfallen Mr.. w