The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-01-16
Emigration 10 the southwest.

/ Emigration to the Southwest. /
Among decisive and prominent events,
making new points of departure to the
course of human affairs, is the (now) as
| sured appropriation of Kansas to the oc-
eupation and development of free labor.
This is great fact accomplished, which
will be felt in the History of the Ameri-
can continent, during a period of many
generations. Indeed, it will not be until
the heat of the passions, which have been
excited by the controversy over the fate
of Kansas, shall have subsidized, that men
will distinctly perceive the real magni-
tude of the stake which has been at
ISSUE
A glance at the map will show that
slaveholding Missouri, jutting far north to
between the fortieth and forty-frst paral-
lels of latitude, has heretofore forced free
emigration from its normal direction,
which was and is toward the Southwest,
towards the extreme Northwest. It was
10 maintain Slavery in Missouri, as a
breaHwater to the natural movement of
free labor to the Southwest, that Slavery
was attempt to be established in Kansas.
The sagacious men who manage the for
tunes of that institution, understood well
the volume and force of that vast human
current which is setting towards the inte-
nor of the continent, and are deeply con-
corded to give it direction in harmony
with their own peculiar interests.
1t is significant circumstance that the
bill which passed the late Congress max
ing large and even magnificent land grants
for railroads in the Territory of Minneso-
ia, should have been offered by the able
and distinguished Senator from Georgia,
Mr.. ToombS. That such a bill should
!, have been offered from such a quarter,
was not in the ordinary or natural course
, of things.
With whatever political offences Mr..
Toombs may be chargeable, he is untaint-
, ed with any accusation of iobbing. How
. did he happen tointerest himself so much
, in the development of region so remote
) and foreign to his constituents Is not
the answer found readily in his political
, motive to stimulate that Northwestern
movement of the population of the Free
, States which should still longer postpone
, its pressure upon the institution of slave
y? Can any one, who has watched the
vigilant, sleepless, and exclusive devotion
tof Nj. Toombs to that institution, doubt
! for a moment that its interests were up
permost in his mind when he presented
his Minnesota bill in the Senate?
We repeat that the normal direction of
emigration from the Free States is to the
Southwest. The experience of mankind
Z is uniform, that the migration of North
, ern races defect Southwark, not North
! ward, from parallels of latitude. 1t was
the barrier of Slavery in Missouri, now
crumbliag away, which has arrested this
, natural movement during the past gene
. ration.
1t is most clear that, in the present con-
, dition Of things, the chief current CT free
|, emigration will flow upon Missouri and
, Kansas, and soon upon the Indian Terrific
~. That this is now true as matter of
fact, is attested by all the information re-
ceived from the West; and that it will
continue to be so, is rendered certain by
many circumstances.
I Prominent among them, is the fact of
the adoption of the climate and soil of
Missouri and Kansas to the production of
, the rich staples of hemp aud tobacco
, This advantage is specially important
when wheat and corn are at low prices.
OF hemp, it has long been said, by those
| who understand such matters, that slave
labor has been worth more in producing
! it, than. in producing cotton or sugar. In
proof of this, it has been observed that
! the price and annual hire of slaves have
+ been as high, and generally higher, in
. Western Missouri, than in any part of the
: United States. OF course, where the
: most profit can be made out of the labor
of slaves, white men can obtain the laEg-
est remuneration for their own labor
, And there are even more acres in Kansas
/ than in Missouri, adapted to the cultiva-
+ ttion of hemp.
, Next in order of time to the appropri-
alton BY free lsksFof the staples of hemp
and tobacco. WI come the appropriation
of that other staple, of such mysterious
{ signifcancy with politicians-cotton.
e 1t is sometimes said, that without ne
I groes, there would be no cotton. 1t
could be much more truly said, that with
, out cotton there would be no negroes. 1t
| 10 Hot " tHC ESs,iOSS tAias " 2 diC iHutDScu
| for cotton, but it is to cotton thst we are
5 indebted for the negroes. Whatever the
negro can do at all, the white man do
, more efficiently, with more economy, and
with more profit. This viii be shown in
cotton, as in other things, when the white
man reaches the cotton latitude, as he
soon will, in the Indian Territory.
The conquest, by the free labofers of
this country, of Kansas, and of the vast
! regions whose fate it viii control, is an
! | event of immeasurable importance. It
|; will affect the social condition of not
only themselves. but of their remote pos
terity.
J Profitable staples, rich soils, and be-
nignant skies, are directing emigration to
the Southwest. Politicians have not Civ
en- the impulse to this current and it is
) beyond their power to restrain it.-Rash.
Rep.
The Banner Precinct.