davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18
A Relic Of the Kansas War.

Mr.. Lewis n. Tappan, recently arrived
in Boston from Kansas, has brought with
him and deposited in the counting room
of the Traveller, for few days, the verita-
Bile candle boz, which was hidden under
the wood pile, adjacent to the Surveyor
Generals Office, and in which was secreted
sundry important documents necessary to
the legitimate organization of the Gov
eminent of Kansas. This candle box was
an important affair at the time, and win
figure largely in the history of the Terri
tory. Its history We copy, as it is written
on the box itself, as follows =
"This box was found buried under a
wood pile, adjoining the Surveyor Gene
RAILS (Calhoun's) Office, at Lecompton,
Feb. I'd, 1858. 1t contained the returns
of the election of Dec. 21st, 1857, for the
Lecompton Constitution also, the result
of the election Of Jan. 4th, 1858, undel
said Constitution, as sworn to by General
Samuel Walker, (Sheriff of Douglas
county, by Gov. Denver; G. W. Deitz
Ter, Speaker Of the House of Representa-
tiyes, and C. W. Babcock, President of tn,
Council of the Territorial Legislature o.
Kansas.
This discovery is but one Of the many
important objects gained through the ex
ertions of the Board of Commissioners 70
the investigation of election frauds Tit
board consisted of Messrs. II. ]. Adams
]. B. Abbott, T. Ewing. D. Pickering AMI
Il. T. Green. Information had been re
ceived that the returns were under woo'
pile, instead Of having been sent to Johl
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18
Poetry.
The Far, Far west.
BY MRS. J. B. BARRETT.

Star Of the twilight, thy roseate beam
Is tinting the silver OF yon cold stream,
And wave, and tree. and the flowers of night
Are layed in the flood, from thine urn Of light;
While the very breeze, with its wooings blest,
Is whispering soft from the far, far West.
From nearer duties and ties apart,
Till gazing thus, on that radiant sky,
The breath CT the prairies seems floating by;
And crowding my hour of pensive rest,
Come the friends beloved from the far. far
West.
Oh! eyesof affection, your tender light
Shines not, alas, in my own tonight;
Nor lips, whose gentleness fam would tell,
vi the mind O'erfraught, Of the hearts mute
swell
No, they come not here-'tis the souls unrest,
Bring its phantom host from the far, far West.
Oh. they are there, meath this starry blue
Friends of long years-the treasured few,
Inhaling balm from this holy hour,
szDrinking the odor of leaf and flower
Angels about them with wings at rest,
In that beautiful land OF the far, far West.
Yes. they are there. though a scattered band.
Like graves of our loved ones, that dot the
land
They that have plucked with me youths fresh
flowers,
They that have lightennd my LIES dark hours
Soothing and cheering with counsel blest,
Friends that loye-in the far, far West.
There, and aJrr. and the whispered sigh,
Aud the tear that will fill the dreamy eye,
And the midnight thought of the past and gone
And the struggling smile that would still cheer
on;
All, these and more to the soul attest,
How dear those friends in the far, far West.
| Yet ! JOY TO know, (for such knowledge brings
An untold rapture upon its wings.l
| That the same kind care which enfods my sleeI
| Shall beside their pillows His vigils keep
| Shall lead our steps to a better rest
Than the hearts or the homes in the far, fal
West.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Nov. 1s5s.
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18
DisceIiaQecps.
Our Changing Climate,

The following beautiful passage by
Washington Irving, might almost make a
March day cheerful:
"Here let us say word in favor of those
vicissi.udes of our climate, which are too
often made the subject of exclusive re-
pining. If they annoy us occasionally by
changes from hot to cold, from wet to dry,
they give us one of the most beautiful
climates in the world. They give us the
beautiful sunshine of the South of Eu-
rope, with the fresh verdure of the North.
They float our summer sky with gorgeous
tints of fleecy whiteness, and send down
cooling showers to refresh the painting
earth and keep it green. Our seasons are
full of sublimity and beauty.
Winter with us hath none of its proven
bal gloom. 1t may have its bowling
winds and chilling frosts, and whirling
snow storms but it has also its long in
tervals of cloudless sunshine, when the
snow-clad earth gives redoubled bright
ness to the day, when at night the stars
beam with intensest lustre, or the moon
floods the whole landscape with her most
limpid radiance. And the joyous out
breaks of Spring, bursting at once into
leaf and blossom, redundant with vegeta-
ton, and vocifcrous with life and splendor
of summer-its morning voluptuousness
and evening ,,glory-its airy palaces of
sunlit clouds piled up in deep azure
sky; and its gusts of tempests of almost
tropical grandeur, when the forked light
ming and believing thunder-volley from
the battlements of heaven shake the sui
try atmosphere; and the sublime melan-
cholly of our Autumn, magnificent in its
decay, whitening down the pomp Of q
woodland country, yet rejecting back from
its yellow forest the golden serenity Of
the sky. Truly we may say that in our
climate, The heavens declare the glory Of
God, and the armament showeth his han
diwork. Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night showeth knowl-
edge.'"
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18

OF Sheriff BULL. has arrested Ben
RICE, who was indicted BY the last Grand
Jury, for being connected with the MUIR
der Of Travis, on the little Usage, last
winter. Rice is also indicted for attempt
ing TO kill the Wassons, one of whom was
the Postmaster at Csrbondale, in this
county. He seems to be bold, dsshing
chap-talks largely Of being with Mont
gomery in his depredations last spring
speaks unblushingly Of the robberiss COM
mitted by them at that time, and seems
to justify it by saying that they were led
IN by christian spirit.
Report says that an attempt will be
made to rescue him from the hands Of the
officers. Should this report prove true,
and such an attempt be made, We can
assure those engaged in it, that 4there will
be blows to receive as well as givep.n-
The people in this portion Of the county
have submitted to violence long enough.
The false cry Of "Pro-slavery" can no
longer be raised. A Grand Jury Of FREQ
State men found the indictments against
the prisoner, and he Is held in Custody By
Free State officers, who viii do their duty
manfully on all occasions.-F6n Srot
| Democrat,
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18
Meeting Al Rarsyille.

At meeting of portion Of the citi-
zens of Bourbon county. held at Rays
Mill, on Wednesday, Dec. ], 1858, to set
tie the difficulties that seem to threaten
the peace of the county, W. r. Griffith
was called to the chair, j. G. Burnett and
Rev. N. Brockman appointed Vice Presi-
dents, and j. E. Jones, Secretary.
On taking the chair, the President stated
the object of the meeting, urging the peo-
pie to stand by the laws as their only Sc
curity.
The Secretary was called upon to read
the Compromise between Gov. Denver
and the people, in June last The read
ing of the Resolutions gave rise to con-
siderable debate, which was participated
in by Mr.. Griffith, Mr.. Brockman, Capt.
Montgomery, Mr.. Jones, Mr.. johnson,
Dr. Kimberlin, Mr.. Glen and MI. McCord.
On motion, the chair appointed the fol-
lowing Committee on Resolutions: N. E.
Hudson, Mr.. Campbell, Horatio Knowles,
Gov. Ransom and Bryant Borgus. The
committee unanimously reported the fol-
lowing -
Resolved, That, as ours is emphatically
a government of law, we are unquali6edly
in favor Of sustaining the laws of the
country, and will put forth our united
efforts to maintain and enforce them.
RESOLVED, That we will, with one accord,
set our faces as steel against the commits
sion of crime in all its forms and grades,
and will exert every influence in our pow
er to suppress it, and when committed, to
bring its perpetrators to legal punishment.
Resolved, That we repudiate the prac-
tice of attempting 10 drive from their
claims and homes the settlers, by robbing
them Of their property, or threatening
them with personal violence.
Resolved, That we individually pledge
ourselves to do all in our power to arrest
and subject to merited punishment all
persons legally charged with the commits
sion of crime, alleged to have been per-
petrated since the 18th Of June last.
And all offences committed prior to
that time, should be referred to the Grand
Juries of the proper counties.
A motion was made to strike out the
final clause in the last resolution, which
was done by vote of 100 to "a, after
considerable debate. As soon as the re-
suit was announced, those voting in the
negative withdrew.
The Rev. Ar. Brockman moved that
we now go to Fort Scott and release Benz.
Rice. This motion was opposed by the
Rev. II. II. johnson, and finally with
drawn.
On motion of Rev. Fl. II. johnson, the
proceedings were ordered published in the
Fort Scott Democrat and Herald of Free
dom. The meeting then adjourned.
w. r. GRIFFITH, Pres't.
4 Rev. :. R a'f Baoctx.r. Vice rrsssa
J. E. JONES, Sec'y.
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18
JoHNsToWN MEETING.

A mass meeting of the citizens OF
YOUNGSTOWN and vicinity, was held on the
25th inst; and on motion, Eli Hargus,
ESQ.,, was called to the Chair, and DIR. d.
B. Warren appointed Secretary.
The meeting was addressed by Messrs.
Army, Wattles and Tut.
The books for obtaining stock were then
opened, and some forty shares were TAX
en-; after which, the following preamble
and resolutions were unanimously adopt
ed:
Whereas, The recent acquisition of Ter
ritory by the United States, calls for new
and more speedy means of access, trans
portation and conveyance, both for civil
and military purposes.
And trhereds, The great value of this
country in its immense resources of gold,
silver, lead, iron and other minerals, in
forests of pine, in fertility of soil, and in
mildness of climate, is now attracting to
it the enterprising emigrants and capital
lists from all points of the Union.
And ,chereds, The Jefferson City and
Neosho VALLEY Railroad is in the direct
line from st. Louis to Pixies Peak, and
the company has organized and secured
the right of way over their whole route.
And uhereas, 1t is represented and be-
lieved that this road passes through the
largest coal fields in the world, as is sus.
tanned by the report of Prof Swallow
State Geologist, of Missouri and is also
supplied with good oak timber on the
line, and the best of sand and limestone
and water at convenient distances.
And ,ohereas, The iron for the road car
all be made in Missours, the iron noun
tain being accessible to the eastern end
while its western terminus will rest or
the gold and silver fields of San JuaI
mountains.
And ,rhereas, This road passes through
the best climate, for railroad purposes, II
the world, it never being so hot as to DIR,
up the water, nor so cold as to obstruc
the running of cars by snow or ice.
And tohereas, 1t passes through the mos
extensive and naturally productive agrl
cultural country in the world, a countr..
destined to support dense population
and which is already inhabited by an &C
tive, intelligent and enterprising people:
Under these circumstances, and for tn
reasons above alluded to, we CONFIDENT.
approach the Congress of the Unite'
States for that assistance which will cos
| the Government nothing, and will pu
this railroad into active and immediat
operation. Therefore,
RESOLVED, That we fully concur in th
preamble and resolutions adopted at gu
county convention, held at Butler, an
request,our Senators and Members of Con
gress, a grant of land for the constitution
Of this road through the Territory of Kan
sas.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
ELI HARGUS, Chairman
i D. B. wARRES, Ssc'y.
CLINTON CONVENTION.
i At a mass meeting Of the citizens
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18

At meeting of the Board of Directors
of the Usage Valley and Southern Kansas
Railroad, held at Clinton on Friday, the
25th of November, 1858, the following
business was done:
On motion, Col. Joseph Davis was called
to the Chair, and VIM. D. Street was ap-
pointed Secretary.
On motion, the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, That two commissioners be
appointed in each of the several counties
in Missouri interested in this road, to re-
ceive subscriptions in money and lands,
and that said commissioners be authorized
to fix the value of the lands per acre, sub
ject to the approval of this Board.
Resolved, That commissioners who dis
pose of Stock to be paid in lands, be au-
thorized to take the necessary measures to
have the deeds of conveyance or mort
gage recorded, in accordance with the
law. .-. ..
Whereas, The requisite amount of stock
required by the Sd section of the charter
of our road has been subscribed. There
fore,
Resolved, That the President and Sec
rotary be, and are hereby authorized to
call a meeting of the Stockholders at
Clinton, on the first Monday of April,
1853, to elect Board of Directors, in con-
formity with the Sd and 4th sections OF
our act of incorporation, and that said no.
tice be published in the South West DEM
ocrat, at Warsaw, and other portions oil
Missouri.
ResolUed, That DR.. J. A. Rogers be ap-
pointed agent of this company, to procure
the necessary blank bonds, deeds, &c.
certificates of stock, and supply the com
missioners with the same.
RESOLVED, That D. G. Stone, ESQ.,, and
Judge Samuel Parks, representatives from
Henry and Benton counties, be requested
to obtain from the Legislature OF Missouri
an amendment of the Charter of the Usage
Valley and Southern Kansas Railroad Co.
so as to authorize the stockholders to eiec
thirteen directors, instead of .fUe directors
as now provided in sections Sd and 4th o
said act of incorporation.
Resolved, That this company desire nj
other amendments of said Charter, excep
the one specified in the resolution jus
adopted.
RESOLVED, That W. +. II. Army, j. h
Hollingsworth, Joseph Davis, A. NJ. Tut
and Thomas NJ. Monroe, be appointed
Committee to prepare Code Of Bylaw
for the government of this Board, ant
that they report the same for the adoption
of the Board at its next session.
Resolved, That the commissioners unde
the first resolution be as follows:
Col Cogswell, j. H. Hollingsworth, o
Bates county; L. Cruce, DR.. Rogers, o
Henry; A. W. H. Cook, w. Blakey, o
Benton; W. J. Tut, Sidney Robinson
of Morgan; DR.. R. T. Miller, j. F. Tay
lor, of Moniteau; Z. N. Warfeld, Maj
w. 7. Seely, of Cooper; Allen P. Rich
ardson, w. S Freshour, of Cole.
On motion, the Board adjourned to NEE
at Clinton, on the Friday before the frs
Monday of April next,
JOSEPH DAVIS, Chairman.
WIN. D. STREET, Sec'y.
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18
NUMBER 2O.--vOLUME A.
VIVA, Becomes of III. Gold,

A correspondent wishes 10 know il the
accounts he sees in the papers,
of the large quantities of gold brought in
from pike,s Peak. are true: and IL so.
what becomes of it? And mentioning,
BY the way, that he has not noticed the
arrival of any at the mint, or at st. Louis,
or any other point except Western Miss
ouri.
We confess our inability to give the in
ouirer any information on the subject.
We have published. from time to time,
reports of gold coming in, vet we have
seen but one small sample-probably fifty
cents worth.
The mines have been discovered and
worked now for over four months, and re-
uuu11wlwais1reuuurra,u,e-,,-uz=f.a,n-s36
to 1000 men at work there, averaging
from So to $40 per day. This, at the
least calculation, would Weld, in two
months, from $4,000 to 100000; yet
none of this gold. so far as we are adj
vised has vet found its way as far as st.
Louis even.
One Mr. johnson brought in A large
opantitv IN Wvandott some time since.
and it is said spent over $1,000 at this
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18
me rr... Aalel.d b pe.a H..a.:

Railroads occasionally complain Of dead
heading, but no institution suffers so much
from it as the Press. A sensible writer
says:
The press endures the affection Of
deadhesdism from the pulpit, the bar and
the s.age-from corporations, societies and
individuals. 1t is expected to yield its
interests; tt is required to give strength
to weak institutions eyes TO the blind,
clothes to the naked, and bread to the
hungry it is asked to cover up infrmi-
ties, hide weaknesses, and wink ct impro-
prieties: it is expected to herald quacks
bolster up dull authors, and fatter tn.
vain; it is, in short, to be all things TO al
men; and If it looks for pay or reward, j
lis denonnced as mean and sordid- Their
8 no interest under the whole heaven
thst ;eIcetted to give 30 much to soci
IS fEout pay or thanks as the Press.
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18

We have received the subjoined COM
munication from Mr.. Bait Jones, whose
name appeared as one of the judges of
the celebrated Oxford precinct in 1857.
It shows how forgery was added to other
crimes to force slavery upon free Terri
tory. Our readers will scarcely DO sur
prised that the Republican should refuse
to insert publication that exposes the
criminality of business in which it had
so great hand directly and indirectly.
Were it to chronicle its own infamy in
connection with Kansas affairs, its COL
umns, large as they are, would have room
for little else. The Republican has here
tofore made boast that it published on
both sides. Readers will see, from the
statement of Mr.. Jones, how false that
impression is, and how utterly alien to
truth its management is demonstrated to
be. But we detain our readers from the
letter in question. Here it is =
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Nov. %, 1853.
To THE EDITOR OF THE DEMocRAT -
Upon the returns of an election held at
tho Oxford precinct, in johnson county,
Kansas, in October, 1857, my name APP
peared as one Of the judges. never put
it there, nor. consented that any one else
should do SO. The first I knew of it, was
from the Lawrence Herald Of Fsedom.-
might have made this statement sooner
and probably should, but for the persua-
sion of friends, and the excitement which
prevailed at the time of the transaction
I did not choose to expose the affair vol
unfairly at that time; though / should
not have hesitated to have done so, if
had been called on by any tribunal having
jurisdiction Of the matter. In September
last, l communicated the above state
ment, in substance, to the St Louis Re.
publican, from Westport, Missouri.
came here to ascertain whetherit had beer
received, bu. was unable TO do so. Upor
calling on one of the editors of that pa
per, this morning, he declined to publish
any statement in the premises. l there
fore submit this statement to the Demo
Graf, and trust it will receive a place in it
columns. do this in justice not only t,
myself, but to the country. / am awar,
that my conduct is blamable, but would
nevertheless, have the case properly un
derstood. What the threats and curse
Of my enemies IN Kansas failed to obtain
in times of great excitement, I now vol
unfairly give. l am not disposed to i'm
plicate Others, and will not do SO excep
it be in self-defenee
By publishing the above, you will d.
me great favor Respectfully,
BAIT JONES.
The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18

Lana OulCe Will save VAST zeal Vi lHQul-
~ about the advantages and disadvan-
tages of the different sized land warrants.
All sizes of land warrants can be used in
proving up -emptions, and also in en-
tering railroad lands:
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
Washington, D. c., Nov. 18. '5S.}
Messrs. Thompson d Bros, Ne,0 York:
GENTLEMEN I'm reply to the ques-
tons propounded in your letter of the 18th
inst, have to state
1st That pre-emptor can locate two
warrants for 80 acres each on a quarter
section of land, containing 160 acres, to
which he has valid presumption claim,
but the application for the location must,
in the case of each warrant, describe the
precise half quarter section on which the
land warrant is to be located.
I'd. A pre-emptor can use one warrant
for so acres and 500 in money in salts
faction for his pre- emption claim to a
quarter section containing 100 acres, but
the warrant must be surrendered in salts
faction for one-half quarter section, and
the money must be applied to the pur-
chase of the other half quarter section.
Sd. He can locate one warrant for 120
acres on three-quarter quarter sections,
and one 40 acre warrant on the remaining
quarter quarter section embraced in his
presumption claim.
4th. He can locate warrant for 120
acres on three quarter sections embraced
in his claim, and pay for the remaining
quarter-quarter section with $50 in
money.
9th. A locator upon lands held at 50 so
per acre (railroad lands) can locate his
warrant for 120 acres on three 40 acre
tracts by paying the excess price of 81 25
per acre with cash, and he can then locate
his warrant for 40 acres on the remaining
40 acre tract in like manner.
That is, each warrant location must dis
tinctly describe the tract containing the
number of acres called for by its face. and
no more, but if the locator finds it to his
interest to surrender his warrant for 80
12o or .160 acres for tract or tracts Of
land containing fraction less than the
quantity called for by the face of the war
rant, he can do so, but he must take the
land in full satisfaction for his warrant.
1t is believed that the foregoing con-
tains full answer to all the questions pre-
scented in your letter above alluded to.
Very respectfully,
THOS. A. HENDRICKS,
Com. of the General Land Office.