The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-28
RESOURCES OF KANSAS.
To the Editor of the N. P. Tribune.

To the Editor of the N. ?. Tribune.
SIR 1 send you the following extracts from
letter recently received from young friend
in Lawrence, Kansas. One year ago he was
engaged in business in one of the western
counties of New York, but shortly after the
passage of the infamous Kansas N ebraska act
sold out and with his family migrated to
Kansas, casting his lot with the gallant band
of freemen who are 80 nobly striving to preserve
that broad and beautiful land from the ruthless
grasp of the insatiate Slave Power. He is a
young man of great energy and intelligence
has travelled much in the West, and perfectly
reliable in his statements. You will see that
he perfectly confirms the reports of the i'm
portant mineral resources of Kansas 1t is
pretty evident that the people of Lawrence at
least have concluded hereafter to do their own
voting, without the aid or interference of drunk
en- desperadoes from Missouri. He says:
ain my last told you that l was on the eve
of a western tour We had a successful one
and one which satisfied me that Kansas has
greater resources than any State in the Union
that l have visited. We spent two weeks in
travelling. Our course was nearly due west
The country for three hundred miles is really
delightful-rich rolling prairies, watered by nu-
merous streams of pure water, and skirted with
valuable groves of timber. For ten days we
try fills up, many large villages and thrifty
towns must spring up on some of those water
courses. l went in company with three Cali
fornians in quest of California products. Al
though | am not at liberty to say all that
might, yet / may say, and that with safety, that
the mineral resources of Kansas are second not
even to California.
ave found both tin and gold, and hope in
time to reap an abundant harvest.
I" / know of no place that offers so many in
ducements to young men as this. There are no
old fogies to displace. Most of US are young,
and have matters in our own hands. Our city
is filling up very fast; it has been surveyed, and
good titles can be had. Capitalists throng our
streets and invest their money freely. Mills,
factories stores, &C., are going forward with
good speed. We have three weekly papers, and
another in progress.
"Our last election was quiet, and resulted in
very large Free-State majority. The Nilsson
rians have majority in the Legislature, and
will give seats to their friends, regardless of the
certificate of the Governor. Still l have no
doubt of the final triumph of Freedom in Kan
sas. Full threefourths of the actual citizens are
FreeState men. There ia no other politics
here-Whig, Democrat, and Know Nothing, are
not known. The question is Freedom or Sta
Gerry, and on this alone we take issue. 1t has
been said that the virgin soil of Kansas must
be the battle field :; this is true, and it will be
fight in which there will be other weapons
used than the artillery of the Gospel or the
sword of logic. The propaganda must be met
with arguments that they can comprehend.
Ere the glorious banner of Freedom floats over
our loved Kansas, her soil must drink the blood
of hundreds of invading desperadoes. We are
not unarmed as we were at our previous cleo
ton in March. More than thousand shots
per minute await the invaders of the peace and
purity of the ballot-box in this place. Our
brethren are also arming. Let Congress defend
US, and all IS right If she refuse to do it. we
shall defend ourselves"