State Kansas Aid Committee Rooms,
Boston, Dec. 20, 1856.
Dear Sir, —
Your letter of the 16th has been received, and we are glad to find that the
importance of State action in regard to Kansas is appreciated in Iowa as well
as here. The first question seems to be, Is such action really needed? And I
will state what I believe to be substantially the views of this committee, who
are now laboring to obtain an appropriation from our legislature.
There can be no doubt that the measures of which you speak
(the purchase of land, erection of mills, etc.) could not well be engaged in by
a State; and certainly no grant for that purpose could be obtained here. But
although present destitution may be relieved in Kansas, it is by no means
certain that there will not be great suffering there in the spring, before any
crops can be raised, — especially if for any cause business should not be
active. Then who can be sure that the scenes of last summer will not be acted
again? True, things look better; but the experience of the past ought to teach
us to prepare for the future. But even if things go on prosperously there,
money may still be needed. Men have been subjected to unjust punishments, or at
least threatened with them, under the unconstitutional laws of the Territory.
It is desirable that these cases should be brought before a higher tribunal;
while the accused person may be a poor man unable to bear the expense of such a
suit. The State appropriations could then be drawn upon for this purpose, and
used to retain counsel, furnish evidence, and in other ways to forward the suit
of the injured man.
Would it not therefore be well for each State to make an
appropriation, which should remain in the hands of the Governor, as in Vermont,
or of a committee, until it should be needed in Kansas? It would thus be a
contingent fund, to be drawn on only in cases of necessity, and it would be
ready against any emergency. It might never be called for, or only a portion of
it might be used; but should occasion arise, it would save our citizens in
Kansas from many of the horrors which have afflicted them the past year. A bill
embodying these ideas will be introduced into our legislature; and from the
tone of our people we have good hope that it will pass. If a similar bill could
pass your legislature I have no doubt the example would be followed by New
York, Maine, Michigan, Connecticut, and perhaps by Ohio, New Hampshire, and
Rhode Island. A general movement of this kind would give us all we want; and we
might make Kansas free, I think, without expending a dollar of the money voted.
The moral effect of such action on emigration from the North, and on the
employment of capital, would be very important. Security would be given that
the rights of emigrants would be supported; and the first result would be the
emigration of thousands as soon as spring opens; so that by July we should have
a force of Northern settlers there, enough to sustain any form of law which
might be set up. Without this, 1 fear that next year, in spite of the
flattering promises of the present, will only see the last year's history
repeated. There will be no confidence in the tranquillity of the Territory;
capital will shun it; emigration be almost stopped; and a year hence we may be
no better off than now, — and perhaps worse. With these opinions, we look on
State appropriations as the salvation of Kansas, and hope that the whole North
may be led to the same view.
With much respect,
F. B. Sanborn,
Corresponding
Secretary of State Committee.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of
John Brown, p. 355-6
