The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-02
From The 81. Louis Democrat.
KANSAS - ITS PRESENT BUSINESS
AND POLITICAL CONDITION..
LEAvENwoRTH. K. T., Mayl2, 1859.

LEAvENwoRTH, K. T., Nay II, 1859.
Having passed the last month in tour
through eastern Kansas, it has occurred to me
that it may not be uninterestiag to your readers
to learn the result of my nye stigations into the
present business and political condition of the
Territory. Her commercial condition Is certain.
ly of Immediate Importance TO st. Louis, the
source whence she derives all her supplies and
until she shall have been fully admitted into
the Union, her political state and prospects will
possess a national interest.
la business matters her condition is decided.
ly good, both present and prospective. Al
though, as in all the Western country, specula-
ton rife to an illegitimate extent in 1855,
lsj6, and 1851, yet the fear of an instability OF
affairs, induced by its political troubles, kept IT
within bounds, which were decidedly limited
when compared with the gigantic operations
carried on in Wisconsin, Minnesota, aud Iowa.
alike them, too, its real estate operations were
uniformly conducted on a cash basis so that
when the crisis overlook them with its western
SWELL their Indebtedness comparatively
slight and they were In danger of being wreck
ed on the breakers of mortgages and trust
deeds. Kansas, indeed, became poor, but other
Western States and Territories became poor
debtors. The distinction is wide and manifest.
AT present, business is reviving, emigration is
flowing in. in a stream, small but constant
real estate is slowly but surely appreciating in
value, aud the general aspect of the Territory
Is cheering. The emigration to the Pixies Peak
region Is causing transit through the country
otthousands, each of whom purchases some part
OF hls outfit or provisions within its borders, Of
course for cash. The disbursements Of the
Government to its troops at Forts Leaven-
worth and Riley, and to the Indians under its
tn aSt in bo
gregate, which sooner or later finds its way
into the hands OF Kansas traders and producers.
The same Is true OF the immense payments to
and by the contractors for Government supplies
Tor Utah and the Kansas forts and In addition
TO all these sources of stimulation to business,
we may add that various points in the Territory
are reaping benefit from the Santa Fe trade
No one can doubt that all this trade and all
these sources Of wealth should egitimately ac-
crue to st. Louis and yet no one who has been
over the ground can fail 10 see that Chicago is
making a strenuous effort to draw to herself the
business of northern Missouri and northern Kan
sas. By the aid Of the Hannibal and St Joseph
railroad she is to some extent succeeding; and
If st. Louis would not yield the palm to the
g Lake City," she must hasten to put herself in
direct railroad communication with this large
and growing region. Missouri, too, must give her
do something to improve the navigation of our
Western waters.
Politically, the present state of Kansas may
be best expressed by the Western term, :" mix
ed Its politics decidedly mired, and just
at present it is most difficult matter for a
Kansas politician to tell whether he is a Repub-
ican proper, or a Free State Republican, a
Douglas squatter sovereign, or a squatter SOW
ereign on higher-law grounds, national Dem
ocrat, or Douglas Democrat. We may ex-
pect, however, that these affairs will become
less chaotic in few days. On the 10th inst,
a Territorial Convention was holden at Tecum
sch, to organize the Democratic party. The
news Of its proceedings have not yet reached
US, but as eight out of every ten of the Demo
Gratis in Kansas are Douglas men, we hazard
little an predicting that they have fully endorsed
the Little Giant" and declared for the doc
irne Of squatter sovereignty in all its breadth.
Ii this has been done ia terms offensive to the
Adm,nstratiou, there may yet be bolt and
buchanan army. Whatever may happen among