Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-03-08
communication,
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
LAWRENCE, X. T., Feb. Is, 1856.

LAwRENCE, N. l., feu. lOi lc0O.
DEAR MARIus: I see by your paper that quite
an interest is felt in Kansas affairs, by my good
friends in Ohio. | hope many of them will come
out here in the spring and help settle this vexed
question by the plowshare rather than by the
sword. 1t is already settled, SO far as the actual
residents can settle it, that there is to be no slavery
In Kansas. tits almost true that there is no pro-
slavery party in the Territory. The pr1-slavery
party is in Missouri. The voters, last spring Jeanne
from there and returned again after the election.
Some members of the Legislature resided there
when elected, and reside there yet. Most of the
important officers who were appointed by the Leg
~islature, resided in Missouri when appointed, and
have since returned there because the people
will not employ them. In the late attempt to col
lect q Sheria's possee for the purpose of arresting
half a dozen Free State men, in Lawrence they
came from Missouri to the number of about two
thousand. If there was q pro-slavery party in
Kansas equal to the Free State party, why did they
make such an cutlery for help from Missouri, and
why do they now make such supplication to the
whole South for men, money, and arms?
send you David Il. Atchison's appeal. Per-
haps you have seen it before. Now to match this,
! propose that one hundred Free State peace men
come from Ohio, and as many from other STATES as
can come, and while border fends are going on let
these peaceful men 60 into the interior, open farms,
and occupy the land.
1 have travelled through the Territory on both
sides of the Kaw river about l76 miles west. The
south side is the most level and fertile. The
creeks have very high banks, say 20 and 80 feet
or more and muddy bottoms and generally muddy
49, nv. IL r.--1 ..1- 49, H.
border of streams. The land is extremely fertile
You frequently see coal cropping out in creeks and
ravines. | have never seen or heard of any mine
that would pay for working. As a stock growing
country | have mover seen its equal. On the north
side of the river, the land is differant. The streams
are clear with rocky bottoms. You can see the
pebbly bottom where the water is ten feet deep or
more. The land is q sandy ]oam, quite fertile.
growing grass nealy as good as timothy, often two
tons to the acre. Corn grows luxuriantly-with
good cultivation, a hundred bushels and more to
the acre,-in soil fifteen feet deep. The country
is divided into table land and bottom land. As
you rise from the creek or river bottom you ascend
q bluff from forty to a hundred feet in height. AZ
ter you are once fairly up on the top Of this table
land, you have a very level road till you come to
luz CICGhs IL yOu travel vi thC lNllC z
tween two streams, you may often go hundreds of
miles with n loaded wagon withoutlocking awheel.
This table lard is not likely to be settled soon, at
least, not till the river and creek bottoms are occu-
pied. There are the most enchanting lands for
farmers that have ever been seen. Cupidity can
not desire them more fertile. Always stock water
upon them, frequently a good spring. Stone
enough in the bluff for all building and fencing
purposes, and timber for lumber and fuel, with an
assurance that it will increase instead Of diminish,
as soon rs the fire is kept out. There is no wet
land or swamps in the Territory. So as soon as
the prairie breaking is over, the prospect is, it will
be remarkably healthy. The best locations for
settlement now open and unincumbered, according
to my taste and judgement, are to be found north
of the Kaw river, on its tril utaries and their
braches. There is now a large settlement of Ohio
people from Belmont county, on the head waters
of the Vermilion Friver. They find a delightful
country with plenty of timber. Travellers had
supposed there was no timber here. You may
travel along the highway within a nalf a mile of a
hundred acres of good timber and not cit because
it is all below you and hidden by the bluffs. There
nre hundreds and thousands of good farm-claims
lying on the waters of the Vermillion river. Rock
Creek, Big Blue and Republican fork present
openings as enchanting as can be found in Amer
lea. And to the practical man nothing can exceed
them in utility. We want good substantial farm.
ers to come out and take possession of them. Men
Of nerve, men of means and men of intelligence.
If the best part of the Territory does not remain
open for settlement now, it is at least as good as
any. If people get here by the first of June, and
have a team, they can raise corn and truck enough
10 do them a year. Good hay can be had for the
cutting. as much MS is needed.
If any considerable number come to farm a new
settlement, they must bring a saw-mill with them
if possible. A. w.