The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-08
Scratters in Convention.

Sqratiers in Convention.
At Convention of the settlers of Kan
sas, at Topeka, April 2Sth, in which near
ly the whole Territory was represented,
held for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the subject of the land sales
and other matters appertaining thereunto,
Col. c. K. Holiday was chosen Chair
man, and s. c. Smith, Secretary.
Gov. Robinson, Gen. Lane, Mr.. Nor
row, Mr. Army, and others addressed the
meeting. A Committee to prepare busi-
ness for the Consideration of the Con-
vention, consisting of Messrs. Winchell
Morrow, Adams. Army, and Holiday was
appointed.
The Convention then adjourned till z
O'Clock Pm.
conEention assenAled at7P. NJ. The
Committee submitted the following Reso-
lutions and remonstrances, which, aftel
due consideration, were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas, The public lands of Eastern
Kansas are rapidly being appropriated by
settlement and purchse,
And, Whereas, the material interests oi
the Territory demand the construction oil
system of Railroads, which cannot be
built without an appropriation of said
lands by Congress for the purpose of ac-
cording to the precedents heretofore es-
tablished. Therefore,
ResolUed, That this Convention heartily
endorse the efforts of Marcus j. Parrott,
our Representative in Congress, in this di-
rection, and respectfully urge upon Con-
greSs the appropriation of said lands dur
ing the present session.
Resolved, That the thanks of this Con-
vention are due, and are hereby rendered,
to Hon. Henry Wilson, Senator from
Massachusetts,, for his prompt and wise
efforts to protect the bona .tfdc settlers OF
Kansas in endeavoring to postpone the
land sales of July, ordered by proclama-
ton.
REMONSTRANCE AND PETITION.
10 the President and Congress of the United
States:
The people of Kansas, in Convention
assembled, respectfully represent:
That we were induced to emigrate to
this Territory for the purpose of securing
to our families homesteads under the pro-
visions of the pre-emption law.
The expense attendant upon the open
ing of farms in new country like Kansas,
and the troubles to which our Territory
has been subjected for the past three years,
have deprived many of the settlers of the
funds requisite to pay for their claims.
The result must necessarily be, that if the
public sales, advertised to take place on
the fifth and nineteenth DAYS of July next,
respectively, in the land Districts of Le-
compton and Kickapoo, shall be persisted
in, that many-very many-of the actual,
bona fide settlers upon the public lands
within said districts will unayoidably be
deprived of their homes, together with
the valuable Improvements which liberal
expenditure of money, labor, and time has
enabled them to place upon their claims,
during the past one, two and three years.
We would further represent That the
opening of the public lands to sale, at this
early day, will be to subject large districts
of the most fertile portions of this Terri
tory to the leprous and blasting touch of
the Spectator, instead of which a year or
two Of delay will find upon each quarter
section, the thrifty and enterprising family;
thus giving value to the soil, and contrib
uting largely to the resources of the future
State. We would further represent that
the stringency of the money market, as is
well known to the President, is such that
hnn iol Al
means to which that labor is justly enti-
tied.
In view, then, of the above facts, that the
sale of lands at the present time will
greatly embarrass the Settler-deprive
many honest, honorable and industrious
men of their long anticipated and well
earned homes-and prevent the rapid set
tlement and development of this beauti-
full Territory, by throwing into the hands
of the speculator large tracts of lands
which would soon be peopled by the indus
trious husbandman, we earnestly remons-
trate against the sale of lands. advertised
to take place at Kickapoo and Lecompton,
on the 5th and 10Th of July next, and re-
spectfully petition your Excellency to
postpone said sales, for one or more years,
or until such times as the settlers shall be
better prepared to pay for their homes.
The following Preamble and Resolu-
tons were also introduced and adopted.
Whereas, The sales of the public lands
as advertised by the President will result
disastrously to the actual settlers of Kan
sas, therefore,
Resogved, That this Convention nomi-
nate and appoint the following gentlemen,
Robt. Morrow, Chas. II. Branscombe, j.
M. WinchelI, G. K. Holiday and C. b.
Lines, and authorize and empower them,
for, and on behalf of the settlers of Kan
sas, to visit Washington City and urge
upon the President and Congress the ne
cessity and justice of postponing said
sales, and in case said application should
be refused, that they take all necessary
steps to procure five thousand land war
rants, to be sold to the settlers upon rea-
sonable terms, and to be secured by mort
cages upon the lands purchased, and that
we recommend said committee to the war
ant holders as reliable and responsible
agents to transact said business.
Resotuea, That the people of Kansas, in
convention assembled, recommend TO the
business men of the States our fellow cit
izens Robt Morrow, Chas, II. Branscombe
J. 81. Winehell, C. K. Holiday and G. b
Lines, as responsible business men, and
do earnestly request that they, having
been appointed agents for the people oi
Kansas bs seieefed by the holders al
land warrants as their agents to sell fol
them and in their name 500 warrants &c
the settlers of. Kansas, upon reasonable
terms and time, the payment for the same
to- be secured by mortgage upon tbs
land purchased with said warrants.
On motion the convention was then ad.
journed sine die.
C. Z. HOLIDAY. President.
SAMUEL G. SMITH, Secretary
Hang Him.
John Calhoun is on his way back Il
rUYa n