How the Kansas-Nebraska Line was Established

When I received a letter from the President of your society, the Honorable Robert W. Furnas, asking me to so time a contemplated visit to Nebraska as to meet you on this occasion, although the visit had only been spoken of as likely to occur, but not positively decided on, my thoughts naturally reverted to the past; and indeed I have proved the saying to be true, at least in my own case, that in youth we are always looking forward to the future, while in old age our thoughts are more intent upon a review of the past. I recalled to mind early days in Nebraska, and many of the incidents occurring in the struggles of her earlier settlers to build up a new state appeared fresh in my memory; there came trooping up before the gaze of my mind\u27s eye the men who were my friends and co-laborers in the work of rescuing this beautiful land from the possession of the wild animals infesting it, and to build upon its broad bosom a commonwealth of which we could feel proud, and one which would add to the material wealth, comfort, awl happiness of unborn generations as well as of the people then in existence