Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-22
Starvation in KansaS-Letter from Judge
Mcdowell. of LeaVenVRorth.

Starvation in KansaS-Letter from Judge
Mcdowell, of LeavenwOrth.
The Cincinnati Commercial publishes the follow
ing letter in contradiction of the pathetic appeals
for aid CT the suffering in Kansas, .sent over the
telegraph wires by THADDEUs HYATT and others.
| We conversed with gentleman direct from Kansas
few weeks ago, who had spent nearly year in
that Territory and he assured that the stories in
regard to the suffering there outrageously ex-
aggerated. We are glad to find the brand put upon
them by Judge MCDOWELL in the following letter:
LEAvESwoRTH CRY, Kansas, Feb. I3, 1861.
Editors Commercial: Within the past ten days the
telegraph at Atchson, and the ready pens of Hyatt
Pomeroy and Army have sent to the East the most
startling pictures of famine and starvation, which
they say brood over our devoted people, Naturally
such pictures and such appeals besesching the
charitable, in the name Of Christ" to send imme-
diate aid, or death will decinate our population,
will receive most liberal contributions. As citizen
of Kansas. and former resident of your city,
feel called upon to admonish your readers that
these recent dispatches and letters of Hyatt and
POmeroy are terribly exaggerated.
1t is generally known that during last spring and
summer our country suffered an unprecedented
drouth, that as consequence of it. in many poP-
tions of the Territory, no crops scarcely any,
were raised. In many of the counties comparative
ly large crops of corn, potatoes, Hungarian grass,
ETC., were secured. Where the droutL greatest,
those farmers who had but recently come here, and
invested their little all In the opening and improving
of their farms, were, by fall left comparatively
destitute Stock suffered and is suffering, and ab-
solute destituten, IN good many instances, has
been reported. say, frankly, that there are good
many families in the State, who poorly provided
for-some doubtless, lacking the necessaries of life
There not, however $4,000 paupers in the State,
nor 10000 Much aid has been donated to Pome-
roy's Relief Committee-both in money, clothing
and provisions. How it has been disbursed we are
left to conjecture. He has only favored US with
long table of pounds distrlbuted-we ask pounds of
what?
The impression in this locality is that perhaps
over S250,OOO has been given in money provisions,
clothing, &C., &C., by our generous neighbors
throughout the United States TO aid the suffering
people of Kansas. Most men would say surely that
ought to suffice. Those who are disposed to give.
to aid those still in want, should send their dona-
tons to men whom they know, and whose character
would be guaranty that their charitable offerings
would reach the sad objects upon the plea OF whose
sufferings the gifts were rendered. Here, we are
in possession of some information that gives an
easy explanation of the late telegraphc dispatches
from Atchison. Poneroy and Army par mobile fra
tT1Ja are candidates for United States Senatorial
honors. The Legislature that elects Senator's meets
in March next Many candidates are IN the field,
and it is supposed by many that the power of
money will be tried by certain asprants. The tel
egrsph from the East but few days since told the
world that Thaddeus Hyatt had started to Kansas
to take part in the election Of United States Sena-
tors,1 and that Messrs. Pomeroy, Army and Gra-
ham were the most prominent candidatesn-
Hardly bad Hyatt reached Atehison until quiv-
cred over the lines his late heartrendng dispatch
calling for 100000 Immediately in the name Of
Christ" to save so 600 people who had but some
ten days between them and death from Starvation
This was countersigned by Pomercy. There is q
strange inconsistency in that telegram which you
doubtless noticed. After Ecaling for money at once
to save famishing thousands, he says he wants to
buy seed wheat with it. VIII seed wheat save
them? 1t ia all nonsense and beSh The suferingi
not greater as he represents now, than heretofore
II is not great have just talked with two of our
wholesale grocers who have within few days re-
turned from collecting tours through the Territory,
and they say they found no suffering except that Of
stock; they heard of some families scattered here
and there who need aid. They, however, brand
Hyatts appeal as infamous exsggeration One
feels like exelaming, "Oh drouth, how many frauds
and impositions are praeticed in thy name.'
All the counties in the State bordering upon the
Missouri River, and those bordering on the State OF
Missouri comprising the Oldest settled and BY far
the most populous, had sufficient crops to enable
them TO take care of themselves Douglas county, |
in which Lawrence is situated, has ability 10 loOA
after itself. So Riley county. Our whole Popnl-
ton as shown by the census, IS fracuon - 80
109 O00 After the census was taken, many isrlneI9
of small means who had recently ef1igratea ners,
and located in the newsWestern and Southern eou"-
ties find their crops failure lett the ler51s 1S;r
some temporarily, others permanently. OS tIa
odus will include fully 10000 people. oe ts s-iS
remaining 100 900 then, about 10 Ooo arJ - ~
in the counties that raised enough 70 zxs =.
themselves. This leaves 80 OVO 70 IS counties
These are found scattered in the remaining countes
Wbere Is occasional 1negbOrhoOs needed and now
need, relief. 1t is easily deniO'is' - -0'o
p1sr nrospects for good crops the coming season
ore most nromisinC. deep snow that remained
on the four weeks s has sSanssnt SuI sons 1 IN ns
81! anu n fertile praries WILL doubtless, the
coming con season furnish untold wealth Of agricultural
products We are not a community oi paapers;
nsars who know how to work, and are willing to |
do il. Unprecedented drouth brought suffering to |
many. and many will look to the sister States for
corn, potatoes and wheat, for the coming crops. /
Our sufferers are not beggars Hyatt Co. libel |
them.
have said thus much a protest in behalf Of
our sandered pespe, and in yindlcation Of the re-
sources and wealth Of our new State.
". G. MCDOWELL