The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-10
Letter from a Pioneer,

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Letter from q Pioneer.
We recommend the following letter,
to the careful consideration of our
readers. The writer is one of our earl
lest pioneers; gentleman of culture,
education and talent, and a Free State
man, against whom not shade of
aspersion has ever been thrown. He
is devoted friend of Freedom in Kan
sas, and we'll acquainted with the mi
nutest details of this whole controyer-
sy, having been elected to a seat in the
first Territorial Legislature, and being
the only Free State member of that
body, whom the bogus Legislators
could not dispossess, as his seat was
not contested. The opinion of such a
man, is worthy of candid and Impair
tial attention.
MANHATTAN, K. T.. Dec. 26, '56.
Ed. HERALD OF FREEDoM-DEAR
SIR:-If it is not too late. allow me, in
behalf of this portion ofKansas. to con-
gratulate you on the temperance of
your welcome paper. 1t comes rich in
thought, buoysnt with hope, and bur-
dened with the thrilling incidents of
the past. =
We trust the friends of freedom in
the States will swell its circulation.
Efficient newspapers will, in my opin-
ion, do far more to extend freedom, than
all the physical munitions of war. The
friends of freedom in the North cannot
make better investments than to plant
and sustain few good presses in the
Territory. We need one at Manhat-
tan. We need it to marshall the
hosts of freedom: we need it to encour-
age our friends, and press TO the wall
our enemies; we need it to answer the
least and last argument of the slave
holders blighting. deadly curse of the
land --...--------
Slavery cannot bear the light. Just
in proportion as the atmosphere becomes
luminous, it retlres. Give us we'll con-
Quoted presses, and how long will it be
before the masses in our river towns
will perceive that free labor towns can
easily be made to compete with the
Missouri ones? Missouri politicians
know, well, that slaves cannot finger
the numerous wheels, nor keep pace
with the multitudinous improvements
of the age and they would greatly
prefer to seek their supplies East,
rather than see their people tributary
to the numerous machine shops which
would speedily fill tn: Free State
towns along our borders. Give our
people light and We have nothing to
fear. Our interest, as well as religion,
is at war with all kinds of oppression.
If the North wish to see freedom here,
then let them aid our presses to throw
the arrows of light all over the Terri
tory and it will accomplish much.
People in this locality, know but
little how to sympathise with the per-
secuted portions of the Territory
Our distance from the border and the
absence of disturbing elements in our
midst, have screened us from the
dreadful scenes of other portions of the
Territory.
Missouri people and superficial ex-
plorers have labored to create the i'm
preston that west of the Big Blue
the country Is mostly desert. The
precipitous nature of the country,
in and about Fort Riley. is well cal
culated to foster this impression. This
mistake, however. is gradually being
rectifed, and people are now discov-
ering that the country is still west.
Recent explorations on the Republic
can fork ofthe Kansas, show that that
stream alone, is capable of sustaining
large emigration. Rich bottoms,
from one to four miles wide, cut at
right angles with beautiful creeks, and
we'll supplied with wood. are found to
extend some $50 miles west Of Fort
Riley. Settlements, the past. fall,
have been commenced on Snloman' S
and the Saline forks of the Kansas
Travellers tell us that this country is
equal ifnot superior to any portion of
the Territory. Hope it viii be filed
up at once this coming spring. :
Tell our friends to come on. Let
no mau in the North give up Kansas to
the slave power till the friends of free
dom here falter. VIII they desert us.
before we submit / cannot believe
it.
True, the Democracy have triumph
ed, but one more such victory viii
..ruin them." My opinion is that
their leaders feel that il is jiastiee to
Kansas. or a sfare for Democracy
They cannot. they dare not, do less
than is promised in the Organic Act.
The crisis is at hand /; and Buchanan
viii exert his whole power to clear the
rocks. Democracy has bnt one redeem
ing track left, viii they not pursue it ?
Hereafter the people here will be
.slef perfectly free to form their own
domestic institutions in their own
way" we ask for no more. Even
handed Justice is all we ask. We ask
forne special legislation. We ask for
our rights and believe that Gov. GeaTy
will do all he can to secure to every
man in the Territory, ell the rights
guaranteed him in the Constitution Of
she q. S. and in the Organic Act.--