Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-05-06
AFFAIRS IN KANSAS.
From the Correspondence of the Boston Traveller
LAWRENCE, Kansas, April 10, 1857.

From the Correspondence of the Boston Traveller.
LAWRENCE, Kansas, April 10, 1857.
As rode into town on Saturday last, Oh my
return from Exporia, was forcibly struck by
the vivid contrast of the scene to that which
met my eyes when / entered Lawrence last
September for the first time.
Stores are filled to overfowing; our merch-
ants wear smiling countenances every room
in town is occupied at exorbitant rates; the
advertisements and signs of the land sharks,
in the shape of agents and spectators, are
seen on every building holders of real estate
growing rich fast land old settlers look with
delight upon an influx unparalleled except in
California, which is not only filling their pock-
cts, but shows to them how deep hold the
principles for which they have fought have up
on the heart-strings of the Free States. Pros
perity is smiling on every face and smiling in
every eye. Massachusetts, street is filled eve-'
ry day with one confused mass of men and an
imals-horses, mules, oxen and wagons-emi
grants from all parts of the Union.
Amid all this prosperity, speculation and
enterprise, the critical position of Kansas is
not lost sight of at all. The policy of Bucha-
nan, as shown in his late appointments, has at
least answered good purpose, by uniting the
Free State men more firmly, and showing some
of our good, easy friends how little depend
ence is to be placed upon the forbearance of
the slave power. Let them come-Governor,
Marshalls, Judges, and all the official array we
have had SO long to contend with, backed by
all the Federal authority-and Kansas cannot.
and will not be enslaved. We are better pre-
pared, understand our position better, and
more determined to defend it, than We have
ever been before.
Our people generally are not disappointed
in the late appointments made by Buchanan.
The appointment of DR.. James Garvin to the
post Office at Lawrence is certainly the gross
est insult to which we have yet been subjected.
This DR.. Garvin is peculiarly obnoxious to our
citizens by variety of mean acts. He is
thorough going Border Ruffian, and, to crown
all, is not even resident of Lawrence.
l saw Mr.. Babcock, our late worthy Post
master, and asked him the result of his visit
to Washington. He replied that he could
have held the office if he had only proved that
he had killed two Abolitionists! He describes
the capital as being completely overi un with
the representative men of the Pro-Slavery
stamp, and the worst border ruffians are the
pets of the Administration. As you aware
by this time, Col. Woodson, Gen. Whitfield,
and Capt. Emory have each been appointed to
berths in the Land offices. Murderers are at
premium in Washington, and rillainy, rob
berry and ruffianism of the darkest dye, seem
to be necessary to secure office in Kansas
Murphy, the late Mayor of Leavenworth, one
of the vilest men unhung, has received the
Potawatamie Indian Agency, in reward, L sup
pose, for aiding and abetting in the dastardly
murder of the martyr Phillips, last fall. As
Slavery rules the national councils, it is but
fitting that its tools and agents should receive
their reward. s'Verily, the laborer is worthy
of his hire How long will these things be
suffered in our free (O land 2 How long are
we to be under the taskmastcr's rod 2 Not for
many days longer, rest assured, if we have II
cut the bonds asunder ourselves"
The Lancaster Wing contains letters from a
Mr.. Bentz, recently of Columbia, who is now
in Kansas, in which he states that emigrants
are arriving at the rate of 800 to 500 day at
Leavenworth; land adjoining the town is sell
ing at from $50 to 5000 per acre, and town lots
at from $500 to $500, the advance since last
December being about 300 per centum. Lea
venworth has population of over 5000.
Lawrence contains about 1900 inhabitants, and
town lots have advanced within six weeks 100
to 200 per cent. Mr.. Bentz thinks Kansas viii
be Free State. Living is very expensive.