Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-18
EpnM HsaQURI,
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.
KANSAS CRY, Missouri,
Jan. 1st, 1859.

amuscments passing around. ! shall enjoy my
New Years day by inditing 4 few items for
the benefit of your numerous readers.
Kansas city is in Missouri. and not in Kan
sas Territory, as many Eastern people imagine:
1t is situated on the South side of the Missouri
River. about one mile and 4 half or two miles
below the mouth of the kaw, or Kansas RIVER
It's site does not present a very lnvltinS aP-
pearancc, to one unaccuStomcd to this country.
by reason of the high bluffs, deep hollows and
cuts, and its generally billy character. but
when the established system of Improvements
shall have been carried out land vigorous cf-
forts are now being put forth to that purpose
| there will be no more beautiful city in the
West. own no real estate in Kansas city,
nor do I expect to do 50, until ] shall have
made the "w~hercwhithal' here to make 4 pur-
chase. That this is destined to be the great
commercial centre OF the Missouri River Val
ley. is beyond the shadow of 4 doubt, ut least
TO YOUR humble servant. Take down your
map and study the position Of this point
II is at the great elbow Of the Missouri;
| South of the Raw River; in the heart of a large
| extent of magnificent country. the soil OF when
has been declared to be as fertile as the valley
of the Nile; the depot Of the trade of New Men
leo, Southern Kansas, South-W estern Missouri.
and Pixies Peak. beside the trade on the North
side Of the Missouri; the first AMI only point AT
| which the OliSSouri) Pacific Railroad Will come
/ TO the river above Jefferson city. and that road
is now completed about forty miles west Of
Jefferson CITY. Besides these, this city is very
healthy, high and away from swalnpS. and has
| rs good, if not the best. landing for steamboats,.
upon the upper Missouri. The population OF
this Young CITY has already reached seven
thousand. and is rapidly increasing. The gra.
ding of streets and lots, and the erection of
buildings, both dwellings and business houses,
Nhc latter mostly Of brick have been carried
on during the past year with an energy seldom
| witnessed. even in the West. and preparations
I are being made for Il greater work in the Spring.
The of the city for the past year has
been about eight millions of dollars in value,
and will be much more the present year, by
reason of the immense tide OF emigration that
will make this the starting point from which
to cross the plains, by the Santc re road to
the gold digcings at Pixies Peak. Indeed, al
ready has the tide set in, in that direction
There is gold there, unque>tionably, or
else all the former residents Of this city,
who are, and have been there, and many OF
whom are considered very reliable men. have
PLAYED a gross deception upon their most mt
mate friends-for they all, without exception,
have reported (ay0rably Of the mines. From
what | can gather, | think the miners are
making from $3.50 to Sl5 per day, without
the aid of improved implements. Many more
arc going from this place. The number OF
miners is vet small. there not being over four
hundred. The Territory Of Kansas has been
generally quiet until lately. That highway
robber. Montgomery, and his banditti, have
been disturbing the peace Of the people of
Southern Kansas. but | think he has been
Quoted for the present. But another villain,
named Brown, Of Lykins county, Kansas Ter
ritory, with a gang Of men, passed over into
Vernon county. in this State, and helped them
selves to thirteen negroes and twentv-slx
horses. Of course the citizens Of Vernon
county are very much ~incensed at this out
rage, but do not think it will create any
great trouble. as such things thanks to the
good sense Of the people y have ceased to be
viewed in Il political light. All good men,
both in Kansas and Missouri, denounce such
acts in the most bitter terms. regardless OF
the party to which the ~ruffians may belong
Thicving has no political party in Kansas now
to bolster it up and shelter it from punishment.
\ special messenger from Gov. Mcdary passed
down the river, yesterday, will. dispatches for
the President and for Gov. Stewart. The dis
patch to Gov. Stewart was to request him to
have the Missouri militia organized along that
portion Of the border where these disturbances
occur. 10 aS to cooperate with the Federal
troops in the territory to put down these pre-
datorv bands; and the dispatch to the Prcsi.
den, was to ask Tor Il small detachment OF
troops for the above purpose. This was q
very sensible course for Gov. Mcdary TO pursue,
and is the very thing needed to crush out these
disturbances. Have a guard on both sides,
and these men will soon be caught.
The Democracy Of the upper Missouri are q
very conservative class; and although they
were generally Lecomptonites, they did not
consider that it DESTROYED a mans Democracy
to te anti -L.ecomp,on. Hence they heartily
! disapprove Of Mr.. Bucianan's course towarc
Senator Douglas during the late campaign IL
Illinois. They $50 far as | have been able t.
ascertain, consider it childish. wholly unca'leo
for and savoring very strongly of 4 dccp.scatec
personal prejudice on the part of Mr.. Buchanan
The latest strike at Senator Douglas, his re-
nova, from the chairmauShip of the committee
on Territories. and that. too, in his absence, is
deemed a very small business for statesmen Il
be engaged in. Such a system Of persecution
is gaining Douglas friends every day in the
West; and already he is the choice Of the great
West for PrcSident-and the voice of this conn
try will be heard in tones Of thunder at the
Charleston Convention. demanding theirrightS
| think | am not mistaken. The whole West
is fast uniting upon Douglas, and the West is
entitled to the nomination, above every Other
section. and they do not intend to be thrust aside
without 4 good reason, and they think no good
-. :.s. ,,I,- ,ko,. .hnntl Tho na
mocracy of the West feel satisfied that the great
issue in the next campaign will he, whether the
States shall regulate their own affairs to suit
themselves: and whether the Territories shall
come into the Union as States, with or without
slavery, as to them shall seem proper, or whe
ther that %rliinouS, ccntraliSing hereSy, that the
Federal Government shall decide for the States
and Territories in regard to these matters. shall
be adopted by the people. On such questions
Douglas has been the fearless champion Of the
Statcs-Rights Democracy. and stands upon con
sentative and Constitutional grounds. Tho
name of no statesman, East. West, North OF
South. will carry more power with it upon such
an issue than that Of Senator Douglas; for he
has been conspicuous in It's discussion. and ne
man has s~courgcd that abolitioniSt, sectional
party, the Black Republicans, with a more un
sparing hand than ne. As the issue of the
next campaign is intimately connected with
Western interests, the West will be a unit, oil
nearly so, at the Charleston Convention. They
claim that the nominee should be n Western
man.
Our winter has been very mild, and without
much wind. but an abundance Of rain. Coco
old IS departed. last night, to his long home
We babe him farewell with almost tears in oul
eyes; for when he began his happy %journe,
We were in the East at our home in the Ole
Dominion, amidst the joyous friends of earl,
youth-and. at his expiration, We are far away
in the midst of comparative strangers. Blu
he has