The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-02-26
wAsHrsaros, Feb. 4th, $50.


Of your favor of 25th ult., with copy
Ct the resolutions of the Chamber of Com
merce, adopted Jan. 18th. Will the Cham
Der please accept my thanks for this evi-
dence Of their confidence in my integrity,
and accept my assurances that ! shall at all
times use my best endeavors to serve them
and the true interests of Lawrence.
In the Lawrence Daily Republican, of
Jan. 9th, noticed bitter personal attack
upon me directly, and upon the Chamber
of Commerce indirectly, by NJ. F. Con-
way. For myself personally, I have no
defence to make, but as an agent of your
honorable and very useful board, as citi-
zen of Lawrence and of Kansas, 1 desire
to say word in relation to my course in
Washington and elsewhere, touching rail-
roads, &c. gaI s2Eo11'maE1e
b There appears to be a misapprehension
among some people of the effect of grant
ing lands for railroads ''to companies" as
it is termed. No one has ever proposed
to give the land to any company, but to
the Territory for the purpose of aiding
certain companies to construct roads,
The only difference between granting it
to the Territory or to companies, as it is
termed, is simply this: In one case Con-
gress names the company already incor-
porated, that shall be aided, aud in the
other, the Legislature names it, or incorpo-
rates new one, as it may elect. In neither
case can the land be used by the company,
only as the road progresses. If Congress
names the company, all the land granted
can be used for the construction of the
road, and good first class road, with first
class depots and bridges. can be built at
once; while if the Legislature names the
companies, the history of the new States
shows that the company win receive not
more than half the land, enabling it to
construct but an inferior road, if any, and
after a long time, if ever. The Territory
having the same control Of the land,
granted in either case, except in the name
ing of the companies to be aided, every
person, except member or an expectant
member of Legislature, can see that
the roads would be built earlier and better,
should the companies be named by Con-
gress and have all the lands gtanted, than
if the companies have one half of the
control, and the other half disappear in
some unaccountable manner, while the
Legislature is deciding upon names for
the companies that shall build the roads.
Moreover, I am glad to learn by the re-
ported proceedings of our Kansas Legis-
lature, that that body is pure, at least in
its own estimation. I was somewhat sur
prised to learn from the seine source that
everybody else is corrupt and unfit to be
trusted. 1t is astonishing what facilities
a member the Of Legislature has for acquir-
ing knowledge ofthe public. They can tell
better what other people are doing thou
sand miles distant, and by what motives
they are actuated, than the persons them
selves. Practically, they seem to have a
wonderful penchan: to scent out corup-
ton. But am depressing.
/ desire to say 20 the very much troubled
Conway, and to the frightened members
of the Legislature, that the Kansas men
here, although they believe it would, be
far better for Kansas to have the compa-
MES named in the grant, have, from the
first, without exception, SO far as ! know,
only endeavored to ascertain which
method would be most acceptable to Con-
gress. The Republican members, so far
as l could learn, generally favor naming
the companies, while the southern mem
bers are opposed to it The conclusion
to which we arrived, or q majority of the
Kansas men, was that bill would be most
likely to pass without naming the compa-
mics, and we have been acting upon this
conclusion for several weeks, long before
Mr.. Conway or the Legislature took fright
No proposition is before Congress, or has
been this session, OF is likely TO be, TO
grant an inch of land to the terrible mo.
River and Rocky Mt. Railroad Company.
But suppose there should be- wha. has
Lawrence to fear ? Three-fourths of the
subscribed stock Of that company is held
by members of the Lawrence Association,
and persons doing business In Lawrence,
and large majority of the stock is held
by the members Of the Lawrence Cham
Der Of Commerce. Not single Border
Rufian, named in the charter, has share
Of stock in the company. i have not q
doubt but majority of the stockholders
would be guided in their action, by the
Wishes of the business men Of the town
IS they might be indicated by the CHAM
Der. Can Lawrence hope for anything
better than this, from the present or any
future Legislature7 Yet, Mr.. Conway
desires to be put on record that he has
done all in his power 70 defeat the efforts
Of the company. both BY Efforts ct home
and abroad. and that he win continue to
do 50 while he has strength for the task.
he has my pernaisiion Tnost fally, but
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