The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-08
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, MAY 8, 1858.
hinneola.

Siderable discussion, and wholesale cnar-
ges are being made by certain class of
persons of fraud and corruption, 1 have
thought that few observations and sug-
gestions relative to the question in contro-
versy, might not at this time be inappro-
pirate.
1t has ever been the stated policy of the
Free-State men of the Territory, to re-
move the seat of Government from Le-
compton, "a location which every one
conceded was unfit for the capital,) to
some other point, whenever they should
obtain the consent of the Legislature; con-
sequently change was expected during
the last session of that body. Among
the towns that was already established,
there were none with the exception OF
Topeka that persistently urged their
claims for the seat of Government, and
it soon became evident that some new
point must be selected. With this view
company was organized comprising
many of the best men of means and in
fuence in Douglas and Leavenworth
counties, and also representing nearly
every county in the Territory and the
present site of Minneola was selected,
not only with view to the natural beau
ty of the location itself, and the abun-
dance of water and building materials.
such as lumber, stone, sand, and lime ;
but also with view to its central position
and adaptation to the main railroad
thoroughfares, connecting with Law
renee, Leavenworth City, and other i'm
portant points in the Territory, and which
roads will ultimately be constructed.
With the character and extent Of such an
organization, it was not unreasonable that
they should have succeeded in securing
the location of the capital. As regards
the nineteen counties in the Southern
part of the Territory, who are greatly ben-
Gifted by this change, and who were al
most wholly unrepresented in the Legis-
lature, it was but simple act of JUS
tice.
But no sooner was the change made,
than howl was setu up by certain class
of persons, of fraud and corruption, with
out the slightest evidence whatever to
sustain their assertions. And by whom
are these charges made ? BY some 9TH
ers than those who are interested in the
location of the capital at Topeka, and
from whom above all others such charges
come with ill-grace, as it is awell known
fact that when the Free State capitol was
located at Topeka, the members voting
for the same, received from the Topeka
town company from one to four shares of
Topeka town stock, in consideration of
such vote leave your readers to judge
whether such conduct is, or is not liable
to the charge of corruption.
l.
ch argos of fraud and corruption upon the
Legislature, have been made without
any evidence Of the truth of these alle-
cations, and I now challenge any man or
set of men to the proof, that any mem
Der of the Territorial Legislature last
winter, who voted for the location OF the
capitol at Minneola, ever received in mon
ey, town stock, or promises of future re-
ward, to the value of one cent, in consid-
Grafton of their vote. But on the con-
trary it can easily be shown that every
member of the last Legislature, who has
now any interest in the Minneola Town
Company, purchased such interest with
Gold from their own pockets, and that
every one SO purchasing an interest paid
into the treasury of the association, in a
bonus, and assessments nearly treble the
amount of the original members of the
association. Does any one dispute their
right to make such investment of their
money as they choose, simply because
they are legislators.
Another great bug bear is the charge of
secrecy with which the matter was con-
Quoted; this may be readily disposed of
By simply remarking that up to the very
eve of taking the vote, the company was
engaged in negotiating for tract of land
for the town site, and which could not
have been secured without an exorbiant
price had the parties from whom the
purchase was made, known to what use
the land was to be appropriated.
Another objection which has been urged
was that Minneola was nothing but a
peice of bald paririe; Notwithstanding
this objection might have been applicable
at one time, yet it is so no longer, fol
Minneoia can now boast of hotel (risen
as if by magic second to none in the
Territory, except the Eldridge House al
Lawrence also large and commodlous
hall, well-furnisbed, and suitable for the
accommodation of a legislature or any
other body. These Improvements are OF
the property of the association, which has
already expended s21 coo in the enter
prise. In addition to this, several substan.
tial improvements of individual enterprise
are rapidly progressing. The Minneola
company comprises eighty-one as good
men as there are in the Territory, and who
are determined to make it one of the
LIVE TowNs.
I hardly think that the settlers
south of the Sante Fs road, as well as the
citizens of Douglas, Leavenworth and
johnson counties, who will soon be called