The Kanzas news., 1858-01-23

Mr.. Olmstead adds:
"The principal increase in negroes has ta-
ken place in Gonzales, Guadalupe, Caldwell,
and Fayette counties. The number of ac-
tual Shareholders is about seven hundred -
The counties named are east and north
east of San Antonio of Bexan; and if the
reader finds it convenient to consult map,
he will see that all united form but an in
significant portion of the Territory of West
ern Texas.
Nevertheless, il seems that the ratio of the
increase of slaves in Western Texas has
been greater, since 1850, than in any other
division of the State; and that, in the pro-
portion of slaves to the other classes of pop
ulation, Slavery has made decidedly more
space occupied by the shareholders in Wes-
tern Texas is not large, neither is it in Mis-
souri,. or Virginia, or even in South Carroll
ma. If things take the same course in Wes-
tern Texas as they have elsewhere, it may
be set down as certain that an institution
which embraces the fulk of its wealth even
if in fact confined to much less than half of
its area, will control its legislation. We
shall believe so, at any rate, until we see
the contrary.
The second question, of the probable char
acter of the population which will occupy
the region towards the Rio Grande is inter
esting in many aspects, and especially in its
relation to the feasibility of extending Slave
~ into what has been Mexican territory,
and is so now unless our enterprising Min
lister to Mexico, Mr.. Forsyth, has seen fit to
make new purchase in that quarter.
Upon this second question, the following
extract from Mr.. Olmstead's S book will throw
useful light:
'.The pressure of this incongruous foreign
element of mexicans and Germans tends,
as may be conceived, to hinder any rapid
and extensive settlement of Western Texas
by planters. There are other circumstances
contributing to the same effect. The pIox-
unity of the frontier, suggesting and making
easy the escape of slaves, is chief Difficult
ty. Then there are the border disquiets
from Indians, who regard slaves as fair booty
when placed in their way. Besides which,
the profit of cotton planting far from mar
ket is small, the distance for large emigrant
trains fatiguing, and the long travel expen-
siEe.
"Planters have hitherto consequently set
tied In messes, almost exclusively upon the
Colorado and Lower Guadalupe bottoms,
leaving the great remaining western pasture
regions to their more natural occupation of
herdsmen and small farmers.
''The herdsmen have no use for slaves,
which are only adapted for working in gangs
under constant supervision, and cannot be
trusted in an employment requiring isola-
ton and discretion. And both herdsmen
and farmers find in the proximity of plant
ers mutual incompatibility.
tThe result has been, the formation of a
social condition differing from that of the
rest of the State, which, if its Development
be not interfered with, viii probably assim-
iIate in general aspect to that of the western
portions of the Atlantic slave States, with
such advantages as viii accrue from more
fertile soil and greater wealth.
"It viii only be by forced and uneco-
nomicd change, that this prairie soil can
ever be devoted to large plantations, and
cotton as their staple production. Beef and
wool must, for long time. yield far more
profitable return. Water, however, Is abun-
dant, and an intelligent population is already
on the spot, perfectly adapted to become
manufacturing. if cap al be furnished it.
These considerations render ii probable that
Western Texas viii have ultimately posi-
ton similar TO that of Western Virginia and
Georgia
That part of Western Texas lying near