out any restriction or limitation as to slavery, on the express condition that slavery should be forever prohibited in all territory of the United States north of 36° 30'. ORGANIZATION. The bill organizing the Territories of Kanzas and Nebraska was the greatest and most absorbing topic of the first session of the 33d Congress. The following are its most important features: 1. It repeals the Missouri restriction, declaring it to be inconsistent with the acts of 1850, known as the compromise measures. The governor and judges of each territory are to be appointed by the president and Senate. 3. The bill is declared not to revive the old French laws regarding slavery. This bill, after an ever-memorable contest, passed the Senate on the 4th of March, 1854, by a vote of 37 to 14. A similar bill passed the House of Representatives on the morning of Tuesday, May 23, 1854, by a vote of 113 to 100. The House bill passed the Senate on the morning of Tuesday, May 27, 1854, without the yeas and nays being taken. The act was immediately approved by the president. SQUATTER LAWS. On the 12th of August, 1854, there was a meeting of settlers held at the house of Mr. Miller, at Millersburg, when the Mutual Settlers' Association of Kan zas Territory was formed, and laws for the mutual recognition of land claims under due restrictions were agreed to, embracing the following features: 1. Recognizing the right of every citizen to a claim of 240 acres, 80 of timber and 160 of prairie land; the claim to be secured by improvement and residence, which must commence within sixty days from the entry of the claim, on either the prairie or timber land, which is to secure the claim to both. 2. Single persons and females allowed to secure their claims by residing in the territory, without residing on their claims. Persons allowed a day additional to the time provided above for every five miles they may have to travel to reach their families. 3. No person to hold, directly or indirectly, more than one claim. 4. No person allowed to enter any previously marked claim. 5. Persons neglecting to improve within the specified time to forfeit their claims, which can then be taken up by any other citizen. 6. Any person to point out the extent of his claim whenever another may wish to ascertain it. 7. Claimant to make oath that his claim does not infringe on that of any other person. 8. Form of application for registry to describe the claim and date of its selection. 9. On the survey of the territory, the settlers to deed and re-deed to each other, so as to secure to each the amount of land specified as the amount of claim. 10 to 13, inclusive, provide for the appointment of a chief justice, a register and marshal, and a treasurer, and define their duties. 14. The limits of the association to be the waters of the Wakarusa and Kanzas Rivers, and the territory between the same, from the mouth of the Wakarusa up to the Shawnee Purchase. 15 to 21 provide for the election and removal of officers by a majority of members, and other incidental regulations. The first officers elected were, chief justice, John A. Wakefield; register, J. W. Hayes; marshal, William Lykins; treasurer, William Lyon. POPULATION. The population of Kanzas, in March, 1855, was but a little over 8000. In March, 1856, the number of inhabitants amounted to something over 45,000. The never-ceasing tide of human beings, men with wives and families as well as adventurers, who are pouring into this territory, warrant the belief that the census of another year will show an astonishing advance upon the above figures. LEAVENWORTH CITY (39° 20′′ N. latitude) is three miles below Fort Leavenworth, on lands which formerly belonged to the Delaware tribe of Indians. The location was surveyed in the fall of 1854. The first building was put up in October, and the first shingles laid the 9th day of the same month. It has grown more rapidly than any city in the territory. It has now a population of 1600 inhabitants. There are 37 stores, 4 churches, 4 schools, and 2 weekly journals. It is destined to become the commercial metropolis of Kanzas. 2000 wagons have been loaded with army stores and sent from Leavenworth to different points in the interior. Many have gone beyond the Rocky Mountains. Limestone and bituminous stone coal are found in inexhaustible abundance near Leavenworth. It has a good location, and good steamboat landing. Pilot Knob, one of the most beautiful portions of the natural scenery, is 1 mile back from the city. It is said to be 400 feet above the Missouri River, and it can be seen at a distance of 12 miles from the city. The cemetery for Leavenworth is on the top of this hill. It is ascended by a circuitous route ascending a ravine. LAWRENCE is about 35 miles from the mouth of Kanzas River. It has a beautiful location, and will be the second city of importance in the territory. It has now 800 inhabit ants, 3 presses, 9 stores, 2 churches, and 3 saw mills. The country surrounding it is mostly prairie of a gradually undulating surface, and extremely rich and fertile soil. Stone coal and limestone are abundant.. An extensive bed of gypsum exists near Lawrence. It is famous for being the seat of war in the late Kanzas war. FORT LEAVENWORTH Iwas built in 1827. The first steamboat ascended to this point in 1829, to the great surprise of the Indians, who had never seen any thing of the kind before. Prior to that time the army stores were conveyed in wagons through Missouri, or poled up the Missouri River in flat boats. It took its name from General Leavenworth, of the U. S. Army. Major Ogden was the next commander at Leavenworth, and principally through his exertions the large warehouse, steamboat landing, and most of the important improvements were made. He died of cholera at Fort Riley in the summer of 1855, at a time when his active mind was maturing plans for building new military roads, and improving old ones by building bridges, &c. In him the army as well as the territory lost one of its most enterprising men. His remains were taken to Unadilla, N. Y., where his friends will raise a monument sacred to his memory. A monument has been raised at Fort Riley. The government farm at Leavenworth contains about 1800. acres, mostly enclosed and under a good state of cultivation. Colonel E. V. Sumner is the present commander. The number of soldiers now stationed at Leavenworth is about 900. The quarterly disbursements for 1855 were about $34,000. |