The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-04-26
Ihe geta'a of freedom
Lawrence. Saturday. April26. 1855.
Editorial Correspondence.
ALTON, ILL., April 9. I8!

= 4 E :
Louis, giving brief mention of my trip
down the Missouri
An hour only in Alton, has given me
favorable impression of the city and
its INHABITANTS I am assured. by gen.
tlemen of intelligence, thst very large
majority of her citizens sympathize deep
" with the Free State aettlers in Kansas,
and that they are all alive to the propos.
ed steamboat connection direct with that
city. The Alton Daily Courier. edited
by our name sake, almost, GEo. 7 BRowN.
Esq. has been doing good service in our
behalf, as the following article. Clipped
from its last Saturdays issue, in response
70 our Kansas movement, will abundant
ly attest. The editor copies the call for
our meeting of the 9Sth ult., also letter
from some citizen of Lawrence, to the
Chicago Tribune, and then remarks map
probation:
"This plan is tie legitimate offspring
of the suicidal policy of the people OF
Missouri in disPutins and resisting by
villainous frauds and outrages, the right
of the enterprising people of the United
States 10 emigrate TO and COLOMBO IN the
free Territories OF the Union. Our in
stituLions are the result of colonization,
and the history Of the colonization and
enterprise OF their ancestors, rouses the
people of the United States to emulate
their example. This emigrating dispo-
sition has been OF necessity the wing OF
liberty in the past, and present aspects
indicate that it will continue to be such
in the future until the oppressed Of ali
nations shall lavc found a home on the
Western continent, or the DEGREES shall
be established by the occupancy of all
it's broad acres that there is no longer
room for more. The language of the
orators of '76 could never be more ap-
propriately quoted since that by our
countrymen than now. Particularly ap-
propriate to tho subject now under con-
sideration is the eloquent language Of
Otis. in the days Of British oppression:
"England might as we'll attempt to dam
up the waters OF the Nile with bulrushes,
as to fetter the step of freedom, more
proud and firm in this youthful land than
where she treads the sequestered glens
of Scotland, or couches herself among
the magnificent mountains of Switzer-
land" The people of the Northen
States have become SO Injured to the arts
OF peace, that for years they have known
no strife but such as is incident to moral
and intellectual Improvements, and iu-
provement in agriculture and mechanics.
Our undeveloped commerce and unex-
plored territories have furnished induce
ments which have aided to keep alive
the spirit of adventure inherited from
our ancestors. The settlement of Kan
sag opened new field for enterprise
The short sighted cupidity of the peo-
pls of Western Missouri attempted TO
Check this enterprise by measures re-
pugnant to the right of freeman. Their
violence undoubtedly restrained the TIM
id, but reused and invited those of firm
and bold purposes, and to the violence oI
the border ruffians may we attribute the
unexampled growth, circumstances con-
sidered, of the youn. Territory of Kan
sas. The colonlsts in that Territory seem
determined to conquer by peaceful strife
the violence of those who would invade
their rights. When obstructed in one
peaceful plan of operations they mark
out tanother and better. When assault.
ed by violence, they arm only in self
defense and TO preserve the peace. Now
when their trade is obstructed by those
who should encourage it, they seek out
policy to avoid those distractions
First they appealed to the merchants o
St. Louis. That appeal was disregsrded
not even promise of indirect influence
to protect them being gwen.
s.Personal insult, violence, and tn,
confscation OF property would provoke
the effusion of blood with brave mel
who had not learned the lesson that for
bearance gives moral strength, and tha
discretion is the better part Of valor. A
peaceful conquest of this difficulty is t.
be attempted, and the plan proposed i.
feasible, Tor there is money in it, and the
spirit of the age will I'LL every such chan
mel which enterprise may open. Thi,
plan may be carried into effect imme.
diately, it being only necessary to pur.
chase steamers, and sufficient money fol
that purpose, We believe, is already sub
lect TO The order of the men who called
that meeting above noticed. The pas
sengers and the freight are sure, and the
proposed line will at once have monop-
oily OF an extensive and valuable trade.
"The construction of railroad thro'
Iowa TO Kansas is suggested in some
quarters. but that may be, it must be if
at all, a plan for the future. The present
requires plan for immediate operations,
had line OF steamers up the Missouri
Is the only plan that can be carried into
Immediate effect. =
Alton, as terminus for a line of
packets to Kansas, possesses advantages
second to no other point, from the tact
That II ls only three miles from the mouth
OF the Missouri river, while ST. Louis is
twenty miles below. Alton is the ter
minus OF two railroads, having direct
communication with the East. Ii is the
head OF navigation for New Orleans
boats, and is accessible at all times by
water when 81. Louis is. 1t is one oil the
Best markets Tor pine lumber on the Mis-
s,ssiPPi river. aud lis wholesale business
la all otter articles necessary for sup
plying new country il aIre. Il ! Ia ..e.. 80