Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-02-23
TOpEKA, KANSAS, Feb. II, 1866.

DEAR PHOENIX:
The Legislature of Kansas has now been in
session thirty-;hree days, doing good deal of
local legislation, but passing very few bills of
any great utility to the State at large. The
proposition TO strike the word "white" from
our constitution has been before both branches
CT the Legislature and pas, ed the Senate BY
vote of II to but was defeated in the House
by vote of 26 for TO 80 against. With the
people of the State negro suffrage is a most
unpopular measure and would fail at the polls
by an immense popular majority Amendments
have also been proposed for female suffrage,
biennial sessions of the Legislature, and for
DISTINGUISHING all Southern sympathizers, but
none of them have met with much favor. A
bill providing for the erection of one wing of
the State Capitol passed the House on Thurs
day last and will without much doubt pass the
Senate. 1t provides for the erection of build
ing 100 #. front by rs deep two stories high
with basement. AS the records Of the State
are at present in buildings much exposed to
hre, the erection of such building seems alb
solutely necessary. Bills for the sale of the
lands OF OH, educational institutions are before
the Legislature and will doubtless pass, throw
ing into market some one hundred and seven.
ty-ive thousand acres.
A bill dividing up the five hundred thousand
acres of land given by Congress TO the State
Tor internal improvements, between three or
four Railroads is making more noise than any
bill that has yet been before the Legislature.
For my part doubt the constitutionaity of the
bill, as our State constitution provides that
these lands shall be involably set apart for
purposes OF popular education, and also doubt
the policy OF dividing them up between paper
railroads as there is more chance of their being
stolen than there is of the building of the
roads. think however that the bill will pass.
The people of Topeka are looking forward
to very prosperous season, as the completion
OF the railroad to this point makes i. the most
western point to which goods can be shipped
10y rail, and it is expected that great share of
the goods for Sante Fe will be Skinned here
and thus become the Quitting point for the
New Mexican trade. / think this is likely to
be true; but as the road is pushed west, the
Quitting for that trade will go to some point
farther westward, either at Manhattan or june.
ton City.
Our Congressional delegation have been me-
morla!lzed by the Legislature to procure the
changing of the route of the Pacific Railroad
from the valley of the Republican to that of the
Smoky Hill, SO as to give US direct communi-
cation with Colorado, and give St. Louis the
control OF the mountain trads, and then have
the road connect with the main line either
above Denver or the other side of the noun
talns near Salt Lake City. Such a road would
be OF the utmost benefit to the State as it would
develop one of the best valleys of the State. |
Whether the project will succeed is problemat
ica but with the natural strength in Congress
favorable to the central route with the new del. |
egation from Colorado there may be some
chance for success.
There is considerable figuring in reference to
the next United States Senator, who will next
winter be elected to Pomeroy's seat. Ex-Gov.
Carney and Pomeroy will probably be the rival
candidates. 1t is much too early to count the
but the combination in favor of Car
ney seems very strong.
Yours, very truly, WIRE.