Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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14 SENATOR LINNS LETTER. SENATOR LINNS LETTER. Washington, January 23, 1835. Sir.It has long been desired by the people of Missouri to have annexed to the State that portion of territory lying between the Western boundary of the great river Missouri, for the pur- pose of preventing the location upon it of an annoying Indian population; and for the purpose of having points to receive their supplies. and to ship their produce, within a moderate distance from their homes. upon the frontier. The location of the Potta- watomies, by the treaty of Chicago, on this territory, interposes a barrier to the attainment of these objects so important to the welfare and tranquillity of the inhabitants of the Western coun- ties. Yi1l you be so good as to furnish me your opinion of the propriety of ratifying that treaty. and the dangers of a collision between the two races, from placing the Indians between the white population and the Missouri River? Very respectfully, L. F. Li-mi. Mr. Ellsworth. January 27. 1835. replied favorably to Senator Linns suggestions. and advised the rejection of the Chicago treaty. and thus prevent the occupancy of the Platte Country by the Indians. Other correspondence on this topic will be found in }atewoods History of Platte. pages 545-9. GEN. HUGHES AND ANNEXATION. In the summer of 1835. at a militia muster on Weel;ly Dales farm. three miles north of Liberty. Gen. Andrew Hughes. agent of the Iowas. presented the matter of annexation to those present, and a committee consisting of D. R. Atchison, A. IV. Doniphan. V. T. Vood. Peter H. Burnett. and Ed. M. Samuel. was appointed to prepare a memorial to Congress, in favor of extending the limits of the State to the Missouri. so as to embrace the Platte Country. The memorial was written by Judge Wood. and was numerously signed. 1 But action had already been commenced by our Legislature. In 1924 and 1935, Article 2- of the State Constitution was so amended as to embrace the Platte Country. with a proviso that it should not take eeet until the assent of Congress is given. This assent was given by act of Congress. approved June 7. 1836. con- dltioned upon the extinguishment of the Indian title. and the at-t-epl.Inr~e of the terms by the State. This acceptance was given by the Legislat ure December 16, 1926. FIRSl SEl"lI.ERS. In 1.92:5 and 19:11:. many of the people of Clay crossed the line and made imprm~r-in:-nts in Platte. Though Senator Linn esti- mates their number at three hundred. I have been able to get only the following: names: Robert and William Asher. Felix Beau- :-hamp. Nat P.oy(lstnn. William Brown. . . and Robt Chance,