The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-03-27

KEwAUsEE, ALLEN Co.,l
March 5th. 1853.

Ms. Baowx.-I am much obliged for
the courtesy you extend the proprietors of
the town Of Minnsela. As the location
of the Seat of Government at this place
has caused much animadversion and un-
Just criticism. Wizh TO make the following
statement:
1st. The remosaI of ths Seat Of Gov
eminent ffss Lseonapton did not origin
ate with the Legislature. but with the
people. Petitionswers circulated in some
of the southern counties, asking that it
might be removed to some point farther
south, and central to the present and pros
pectiye population of the Territory.
I'd. The town company was made OUT
side of the Legislature, and the subject
was opened TO them as to other individu-
ais, to join or not as they might think
proper, without, in any manner, iniuenc-
ing their Judgment on their vote on the
question as legislators.
Sd. The effort of the company was TO
make a thorough, democratic peoples
town; and in this respect it is unlike any
other town in Kansas There are nearly
one hundred original proprietors, which
prevents any one man, or set of men, from
makinga great speculation out of it. The
proprietors of the town are distributed in
every part of the Territory, so that it can
not be charged that one locality has a
preference over another.
4th. All men agreed to move the Seat
of Government, but how to do SO, and
not burthen the people with extra taxes
was a question to be solved. To meet
this difficulty, the company sold shares
sufficient, in addition to their personal
| assessments, to raise fund of $4,000.
With this they are now erecting buildings
| for the accommodation of the Constitu-
t:onal Convention, and if that body ap-
proves of the location, the company will
erect other buildings suitable for the ac-
commodation of future Legislative As
semblies.
5th. There were various other motives
which entered into this question, not
enumerated above. Many people, par
ticularly the representatives, feel annoyed
by the constant local pressure exerted
upon them by the people of Lawrence
Impartial legislation can hardly be attain
ed in this place because of the constant
outside pressure, and this became SO an
noying that members were glad to devise
some way by which they should escape
from it in future. Many had objection
| to Topeka for similar reasons, and the
one idea of all Topeka men-the Topeka
Government.
9Th. Besides. these places were not GEN.
trail. Three -fourths of the present popn.
lation of Kansas is in the three eastern
tier of counties. and will probably remain
so for the next twenty years. Mime
ola is in the center of these. which vii
make it the center of population till the
Pacific Rail Road is completed, when the
capital viii probably be moved to some
town on that road. The broad and un.
timbered prairies which lie west of the
| Neosho viii prevent them from populat-
ing for many years. The same may bt
said of greater part of the country wesi
of the Soldier creek, with the exception
of the streams.
! 7th. It is well known to many persons
that rivalry. has existed for some time
between Topeka and Lawrence as to which
should be greatest. Lawrence at frs
expected to have the State Capitol. and
named one of the prominences overlook.
| ing that city, capitol Hilln But Tope
ka ont bid her, and by liberal distribu,
ton of town shares among the member
of the first Topeka Legislature, succeeded
! in securing it to that place. This wa
quietly submitted to till Topeka startet
the proiecs of Rail Road to DoniphaD
to connect with the Hannibal and ST
i Joseph Rail Road, in order that all tn,
4 eastern travel might reach the center 0
the Territory at Topeka. without passinI
through Leayenworth OF Lawrence.
! Il was this move more than any othe
that consolidated Leayenworth and Doug
las counties to select place that must o
necessity cause the travel TO pass through
them in order TO reach the Seat of Gov
eminent. Yours respectfully, a.