Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-28

KANSAS,
.7noher Letter from "John.''
CnirNfII Cry A nril lith lS,


shake, and my hand is unsteady. / have not
had the shakes much this spring, but the dis
ease fingers in the system and is ready to
break out at almost any time. 1t is the re-
mains of the sickness of last August and Sep
tember. Do not think that it is now unheal-
thy The air seems SO pure that ii is con-
tinual pleasure ssto drink it in,'' as one Of the
settlers says. l don't look as if | had the
ague, for am quite fieshy, and proper care
and diet will doubtless cure it altogether.
There are good many emigrants coming
IN this spring. We hope for emigration
sufficiently large to determine by their mere
! pressure the political character of the State.
But we have another trouble, which probably
effects four-ffths of us and that is inability
to pay for our claims in July next. We have,
many of us, used up enough money in squat
ting, to have paid for our claims, could we
have done SO at first. Many of the expenses
whichwe encountered, we could not well avoid
We were obliged to live on our claims to hold
them. The law requires the settler to erect a
dwelling, live in it, make il his house, and
make other improvements. We expected
however, to get our money back by way of the
crops which we hoped to raise. But the corn
crop, which is the principal one on the spring
breaking, was almost failure last season, on
account of the ravages of worm But we
still expected at least another season in which
10 raise money to pay for our land. Many,
who had been in other of the western States in
their inception, expected two or more wears
yet. But we have another element to deal
with, which is chattel Slavery blight upon
humanity and 4 mockery against God-and
those who seek to profit by this element well
know that the great body of us are unable to
meet the demand for payment this season
and therefore they employed serenty-t,ro sur
veying parties, last fall and winter, to rush
through the survey, which We are told is very
imperfectly done in consequence of such haste
Next we hear that the survey will be ready in
june and next, before even the land office is
established, we hear that the Presidents proc
lamation is on the way. and will be published
between the Goth of April and Is. Of May, Civ
ing only three months from that time in which
to pay for the land. And even this three
months may be cut short for aught | know
Now this haste hardly gives time for those
who have money east, to procure it, and much
less to negotiate for it. Besides, our letters
are systematically delayed-at least we cannot
otherwise explain it-and many of them de-
stroyed. In accordance with these things, |
hear that men around Lawrence even, and all
through the territory, are selling their claims
for whatever they can get, in anticipation of
their inability to pay in time. The land sales,
also understand, are to be guarded by mil
itary force. In short, since bullying has not
overcome us, other means, every means is to
be employed to crush us. In the language of
Douglass, we, together with the whole North,
are te be sssubdaed.''
Now, we want that Northern men should be
awake to these things. We want that capital
lists should come here with money, and help US
through. We viii give them shave, if tt
must be so-S300, or even S40O, for $500, at
10 per cent, rather than to lose our claims.
We want northern spectators to come and
buy the land which is not pre-empted, if il
must be bought by spectators. We want nor
thern men to hold it. 1t is worth the buying
rich and beautiful. We do shake 4 little,
but they shake worse in the other western
States. And then our living is often enough
TO make any body shake. / should have said
our want of living, for we have-but never
mind. We want northern people to wake up.
1t is getting dark that i can't write, and
must take this two and half miles before
breakfast. L wrote to George, April 1st, and
sent the letter by Doctor Hall clear through
Missouri. hope he'll get that one. urged
him to come here at once and take claim
which is still untakcn, next to the town. There
is still some uncertainty about the town.
There will be a town in the settlement, not far
from here. 1t may not be the site of the
A. sc. But the capital will probably be here.
At all events claim in the settlement cannot
be otherwise than valuable-worth several
times the ST. ,25.
People need not be afraid of prairie farms,
even without fire-wood. Coal is abundant.
Three claims joining we have it. Ny claim is
all prairie, and yet / have stuck to it, when |
could have had timber claim, on account of
its location. l have written thus to give YOU
an idea of our condition here, generally: bat
in my own case, particularly. | am in hopes
that some OF those who were friendly to me in
Clearfield, will help me to raise the money in
time. l would come back and work it out, if
there was no other way. could send my note
and bond to George for him to raise the mon
ey / cannot give mortgage until get
the deed. Perhaps l shall be able to borrow