The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-09
FROM KANSAS.
LEAvENwORTH, May "a, l85

LEA TN"onin, 4u0J ~ 1919.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
The Republican Territorial Convention came
off at Ossawatomie last Wednesday. The meet
ing was rather thin one, compared with what
was anticipated. This, however, was owing to
unprecedented rains and swollen streams, which
rendered it impossible for many of the delegates
to reach there in time.
Greeley was there and made them speech.
was not at the Convention, as l was not in
the Territory upon that errand, and my bust
ness at that time called me in a different d.
rection. From what have learned, however,
from some who we've in attendance, think the
Convention made an egregious blunder. In
stead of coming up squarely and manfully to
the issue, and planting themselves upon the
Republican platform, they whitfield down Re-
publicanism to popular sovereignty" True,
the Administration party has abandoned that
ground, but what consistency is there in men
who few years since battlcd the Democracy
upon this very ground now taking position on
the same platform which they then repudiated ?
Should the land sales come off in accordance
with the proclamation of the President; land
there is but little hope here that they will be
again postponed it will ruin many honest set
tiers, fear. The same causes which rendered
the postponement of the sales necessary before,
have not been removed. The times have been
so hard that many will not be prepared to meet
their pre-emptions. The consequence must be,
that their claims, many of which have been i'm
proved, will be sold over their heads, and fall
into the hands of spectators. Many, to meet
this contingency have been induced to leave
their claims and go to Pixies Peak, with the
hope of there "raising the wind,' and have
thus doubled the certainty of their ruin.
The Pixies Peak bubble has at last bursted
and hundreds are now returning to the States in
desperate mood, threatening vengeance to some
of the principal river Cities such as St. Joseph
Leavenworth, and Kansas City, through the
agents of which they have been deceived. There
is, indeed, some reason to think that this feel
ing is not without good foundation. That the
Pixies Peakers have been vctimized by spec
ulators is perhaps beyond question; and when
they come to ascertain the fact, it is not won
derful that they should be exasperated beyond
measure. Many of them are to be pitied, but
for those who have rushed to the "gold region >
to amass a fortune, which they were not con
tent to work out by patient industry there is
little cause for commiseration. They may be
made wiser, if not better, by the operation.
! But you will ask, "Is there no gold at Pixies
| Peak Has this whole thing been a fabrica
tion of spectators, for the purpose of fleeing
innocent and deceived victms?" | suppose
not. The general opinion here is, that there j,
! some gold there, but nothing to justify the re
| ports that have been put In circulation. 1t may
be. also, that future explorations may result in
| richer and more abundant discoveries.
| But Kansas needs no gold mines. There is
gold in almost every foot of her soil, if mer
would be content to dig it out by honest, patient
industry. In point of agricultural resources
she is SECOND to no State or Territory in the
Union. Let these be fairly developed, and she
will be, at no distant day, a mighty State in tn,
! Confederation.
| Yours &c, WICK