Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-12-13
FROM KANSAS,
The Land Sales Another Southern JiURder--Hou
tic Free-State Settlers came to get Mcir CLAIMS.
of the Cincinnati Gazette.
Fr. LrAvENwoRrn, Thu sday, Nov. %.

Fl. LEAvENwoRrn, Thursday, Nov. 27.
Shortly after the day Of sale Of the Delaware
trust lands was announced, Gov, Robinson o
Kansas, started east. These Delaware lands were
to be sold to the highest bidder-had never been
opened to settlers-nO prescriptions were allowed,
and though men had squatted on them, yet they
had notice from government that they were tres.
passers, aud could acquire no title by settling there.
The reason for tLis, was chat the government had
made u treaty with the Delaware Indians to sell
this LAND in an open market, to the highest bidder.
The Oe!awares had refused the usual government
price for this land, and made the treaty with the
expectation that if thus sold, it would bring much
more.
Many of the settlers did not expect protection
for their claims. They supposed strangers would
come in and bid against them, but they wanted
the land-it suited them, and they said they could
afford to bid as high for it as any body else. They
supposed, to ;hat being on the claims they would
have an advantage over strangers, in being fully
acquainted with the land.
The pro-slayory party had warned the Free
State settlers otf-telling them that if they did not
leave there the Missourians would come over at
the sale and bid their claims up out Of their reach,
The Free State settlers were really alarmed at
this, and applied to Gov. Robinson, and others in
the Territory, to use their influence to induce east
ern capitalists TO come to their aid.
When Gov. Robinson went east it was reported
among the pro-slavery men and in the southern
papers, that a scheme was on foot to raise money
in Boston Ia place which many southern men
think it is paved with silver dciIars) TO buy out the
entire tract, giving to the Free State men their
claims at cost, and refusing them to pro-slayery
men at any price.
The south was alarmed for most of the capital
south was invested, and a sufficient amount Of
money to compete with the north could not be
raised without a good deal of trouble. They had,
however, the government on their side. They APP.
piled to President Pierce for help. lie assured
them that the pro.slayery settlers should be pro-
tected. That if necessary he would even violate
the treaty with the Indians to secure their claims
And President Pierce kept his word.
One purpose of Gov. Robinson in going cast
was to raise money to protect these settlers, but
he foiled partly because of the excitement Of the
Presidential election, and partly because every
body in Boston felt that it was not necessary, for
Fremont would surely be elected. The Governor
felt that the Leavenworth and the Delaware lands
must be given up to the pro-slavery men. lie
then ceased invoking the patriotism Of the Yam
KEGS, but appealed to their pockets. He knew well
the Importance of II Free State town on the river,
and told them what heaps" Of money they could
make by buying q suitable tract of land, and lay
ing out and building up a Free State city. He
had a capital site in view, explained his plan of
operations, and the thing took wonderfully. The
Governor returned to Kansas with letters of credit
tor any amount, to purchase a site for the new
city, but with no gold to purchase Delaware trust
lands. The MlsSourians said, DIR. Robinson has
got back with LOIS of gold, but we've fixed it.
They were in high glee, but the FREQ State men
felt gloomy enough.
On Monday morning, the Eth, the sales opened,
when 10 the surprise of all the Free State men, the
Commissioner announced that the Government
desired that all settlers should have their claims
at the appraised value" and that no bids would be
received for such hand unless the settler declined
70 purchase.
Loud cheers and wild shouting followed this an
nouncement. The Free State settlers cheereG be-
cause their homes were saved. The Pro- slavery
men shouted because they supposed they had
ioiled the great Yankee scheme.
This is the way the settlers on the Della ware
lands came to be protected in their claims. They
had buta mall amount of means, and the Mis-
sourians could easily have bid above their pile"
The result is that more than half of this important
tract falls into the hands Of Free State men.