6 
KANSAS. 
here until the old year has given place to the new; and the last 
of December has the genial breath, the pleasant sun, and glad 
look of early autumn. But the changes of weather come sud¬ 
denly. One may be dreaming all the morning, influenced by the 
pleasant temperature around him, of the fair Italian land; and, 
ere the sun finds its setting, may fancy himself nearing the pole. 
Yet in all these changes no one takes cold. There is something 
so invigorating in the atmosphere, so bracing, and the lungs have 
such play and action in it, that vigor is increased where health 
was before enjoyed ; and in many a case, where the pulse was 
faint and low, and the invalid looked out upon life with little 
purpose and few aims, feeling that its limits were nearly reached, 
the roses of health have again bloomed, and the life-blood coursed 
joyously. For consumptives there can be no better country than 
this. In many instances, most material has been the change, and 
permanent the cure. 
This country, covering an extent of surface larger than the thir¬ 
teen Atlantic States, was, by an act of Congress approved March 
6, 1820, forever sealed to freedom. This prohibition to slavery is 
most definitely expressed in these words : 
“ Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That in all that territory ceded 
by France to the United States, under the name of Louisiana, 
which lies north 36° 30' of north latitude, not included within 
the limits of the state contemplated by this act, slavery and 
involuntary servitude, otherwise than as the punishment of crimes, 
shall be, and is hereby, forever prohibited.” 
This country, than which the sun shines upon no fairer, with 
its mountains, prairies and valleys, lying midway between the 
north and south, east and west, in the very heart of the United 
States, was never to be cursed with the blackest of all villanies, 
the bitterest of all evils — human slavery. The clanking of 
chains was never to create a discord in that harmony, where the 
wild bird sent forth its gushing lay for freedom, where the whis¬ 
pering breezes through the leafy wood caught up the music, echo¬ 
ing it amid the quivering leaves, and where all nature sang a 
continual song for freedom. But what has been the sequel ? 
How has this act, entered into as a solemn compact before God 
