New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-11
kiESAS.

n 1NSAS.
II has been already announced that there IL
bill before the Assembly Of this State appro-
oratinp 800, 900 for the relief Of the starving
peopIe Of Kansas. This bill would have passed
the Assembly on Tuesday Of last week, but for
the persistent opposition of Democratic members,
prominent among whom was Dir. herman Oh
Oneida, the Acknowledged leader OF the Derloc-
racy in the House. Mr.. KEENAN, came TO Albany
with the reputation Of a man 81 marked aolnV
and comprehensive views; but IN opposing an
appropriation for people who are now actually
starving and freezing to death simply because
that people had sturdily refused to establish
Slavery in Kansas, he exhibits narrowness
widely at variance with the heralds OF his iaine'
OF The Albany AdaS, which at moments no.
tce, aud for a mess of p"ttagc, could desert us
"corner stone which the builders rejected, such
things were expected but not Of Mr.. Herman
the simple facts are that last year, owing to
the Withholding of rain, the prolific soil OF Kan
sas became parched, and refused to yield ITS
fruits. As consequence, forty and perhaps
fifty, thousand (One.halO of tn population OF
that young State will require assistance until
new crops can be grown, to protect them from
death by starvation. Already we have we'll
authenticated cases of wtule families having per-
ished from want of food and clothing; and yet,
incredible as it may seem, the question OF giving
aid TO cave from the most terrible fate which 1t
is possible to conceive, tue men, women, and
children who have herocaliy gone forth, encoun-
tering all the hardships incident to frontier
life, to found a Free State, is made one of party
by Democratic leaders, who sneeringly recon-
mead these furnishing people to the New'En-
81 gland Aid Society"
Private contributions have been made and are
still made with a liberal hand, but they are by
no means equal 70 the emergency; and unless
the States come to The reseIe through legislative
appropriations, the suieriugs of these unfortunate
people must be very great indeed. 1t is estl-
mated by intelligent gentlemen, who have care
fully investigated the facts in the case, that one
half million of dollars will be insufficient to fur
nish seed aud to feed and cothe the sufferers till
the next harvest
There are 80 counties in Kansas, of which
are so thinly settled that we will throw them
out of the calculation, leaving 80 equities, with
FARMS averaging cay 80 acres each under i'm
provement, making in all 45o 900 acres To fur
nish seed for all these acres say to each farm
for acres of wheat, 3 acres of sor-
ghum, 10 acres of corn, half an acre OF
potatoes, and half an acre of garden,
at moderate calculation, viii cost $4,000, at
present prices in the Western States. The bags
and sacks in which to transport this seed viii
cost SIS, 600, and the transportation, estimating
the freiphts at the reduced rates procured by
Mr.. Army, the Shipping Agent, will cost at At
chisen S31 500 more, making Sl795A, or in
round numbers $4,000. But say that one
fourth of these farmers will be able to furnish
their own seed, and we still have an outlay OF
Sl35 900 for seed alone. Taking the ratons OF
the United States Army as a basis for what Is
necessary for provisioning the people, and calcu-
Iating food and transportation at the lowest fig
ures, it will cost in round numbers 100000 to
support fifty thousand people till the next har-
vest. We have made no estimate for clothing in
these calculations.
We hear that it is in contemplation to cut
down the proposed appropriation to $4,000.
This would be much better than nothing, but, in
view of the foregoing figures, which show the
necessities of the case, would 1t be Wise There
are about 1000 900 OF inhabitants in this State,
aud an appropriation of 100000 would involve
a tax Of two and One-half celts on each person.
Are they not willing to pay that tax for the sake
Of those who are ready t. perish