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    72 views199 pages

    Duden

    Uploaded by

    Carson Eshenroder
    Book from the 1800s

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America and a Stay of Several Years Along the Missouri (During the Years 1824, '25, '26, and 1827) Gottfried Duden ‘An English Translation James W. Goodrich, General Editor George H. Kellner, Elsa Nagel, Adolf E. Schroeder, and W. M. Senner dios and Translators “The Stare Historical Society of Missouri ‘aad University of Missouri Press Columbia & London, 1980 opr © 1980 “The Cum he Universo Misous ary of Gngren Cog Card Naber 79-3333 "ined pou she Unie Sees of Ania ney f Mar ress, Cam, sou 3211 “teehee! Uber of Congres Caton in Pablicton Dt le, oni etre aJourtey the Wester en et ny of sr ean ne eset Tan eas tee “son of Bu Ser Ree ch Sen Tones Saace Nosineria rt Secrest and el 2. Bacon ol te 13 5 Bene Goctit Gosh Janes Hignbons 977905 79-3335 Bavlori-0as- Foreword For more than sixty years The State Historical Society of Missouri thas ad an incotest in publishing an edited English translation of Gonteied Dusen Report On a Journey to tbe Weitrn Stats af North America, « work of great historical sgnfcance 9 Missouri. Ia 1917~ 1918, a rather inauspicious time, The Mivouri Historical Review pub lished partof Duden’ famous book translated by Prof, Wiliam G. Bek, ‘This unedited portion renewed interes in Duden’ observations of Missouri and its society in the 1820s and 1830s, but futher investign- tion we delayed In 1964, lime His, President ofthe University of Missouri, Trustee ‘ofthe Socew, an a member ofits Finance Commitee, proposed that the Sociegy translate, edit and publish Duden’ complete Report. As a distinguished westera historian and a stent and fiend of Professor Bek atthe Universiy of North Dakota, resident Fis believed in he ‘value of making such an edition avalable tothe public The Finance Commitee ofthe Society accepcd his proposal ‘Berween 1964 andthe fill of 1979, when the University of Missouri Press agreed co publish the book forthe Society, many persons have ‘engaged ia tansating and editing Report On a Journey tte Western Stata of Novts Amerie. Professor George Kellner of the University of Rhode Islnd has writen portions of the induction and assisted with the editing and annotation of che frst nineteen letters ofthis volume, (Other generous contributors are identified in the Acknowledgments and on the tide page. The Society i indeheed to each of these persons ‘whose work has mace possible this edion of a book indispensable 0 san understanding of early Missouri and its pioneer seers Richard 8. Bromalee Director and Scr ‘The See Fora Scie of Miss reise 1980 Editors’ Introduction I ‘Many ofthe ninetcenth-cencury European notions ofthe promises of ‘American life owed heir origin and longevity to a hore of American promotes! Agents representing land companies, stexmship lines, rai Fonds, state governments, and manufacturing interests flooded Europe, Aiseibuced enticing lnerature, and influenced many Europeans « ‘emigrate the New World. However, even though American served ss their country's bese promoters, foreigners contributed immeasurably {othe prevaling image of Americe asa land of opporcunry. A dceade before the rise of mass immigration ia the 18306, a succes: sion of wavelers crossed che Adanic, made their observations, and ‘wrote of cheit experiences. For the most part these foreigners came ‘fom England and France, bt it was the German people wh seemed ‘most susceptible « promocional iteraure. For this reason German sccounts attracted a larger readership and exerted a greater ialuence Upon their writers’ countrymen * Between 1827 and 1836 over a hhundeed aad ify ides tha could be considered emigration literature ‘were published in Germany. Although some of these volumes pre ‘sented dhe atracons of astern Europe and South Ameria, the major ity dale with the United States Evidence stony suggests that the concentration of Germnan setdement in midwestern sates i the first half ofthe ainereenth ceneury tended to follow and was party a = sponse to promotional Inerature relating t tis region ‘Although some of these German authors wrote excellea accouas, ‘many emulated and all were overshadosted bythe promodional activ" ites of Rhinelander named Gotefied Duden, From 1829 to 1840 Duden wrote and published several editions of Bert ibr cine Rese nach don seiicen Stoaton Nordameribas (Report on Journey tothe Wosrrn Svae of North America), ro editions of Ueber dhe wsetlichen Voschtdenbeten de Staaten und die Strange der memiclichen Natur (Concerning the Significant Difference ofthe Stats and tbe Ambition of Human Natur), 2 two-rolume work on Eurype und Daxtchland von rdameriba aus bsrachis (Europe and Germany as Viwwd fom Nor “America, a, analyse of Die nondemeridanische Denabratie und da “Tecqevlcche Werk (The North Amercen Demasracy and de Torque Worl) aad several addicional articles and pamphlets on both emigration and jurisprudence ® Togecher, these works signifcandy influenced German emigration before 1860 and represented an outstanding ‘cramp of one German's attempt heighten his countrymen’ aware= bess of American opportunites ‘Despite the importance of Daden’s collective works, his Repr! ona Journ tthe Western States of Noth America mort artrscted the atention iit REPORT ON A JOURNEY of the German public and pulled Duden into che center of German Shngsaton circles. The book's iming, format, comprehensiveness lic cer Natiies, and idle descriptions of pioneet farming in Missouri Sit cdebined to make i an instant success, Dscontented individuals in ‘Germany and Switeriand enthusiastically read it organized emigration Seiler in accordance with Duden’ advice, and beyan their preparse ‘ns for an Adhancc crossing After they sete in she Uniced States, Tce people's letwers and reports mailed home to relatives and friends, ‘Bough not alvays supporave of Duden’ findings, coaeibured (othe popularity of his book and helped broaden is circulation "When the first wave of the mass immigration of the nineteenth century reached the shores of America inthe carly 18305 thousands of spesbled Germans headed forthe Midwest The arcval ofthese Ger fans in Missouri marked the origin and cFeated the aucleus of chat ates German element, By 1860, Mfissouris population ronald $5182,012, The steady influx of Geran seers had pushed Missouri {sixth postion among the states the sizeof foreign-born German population with 88,487. The city of Se Louis had atracted 50,510 of, eo German immigrants, and che rest had scattered along the Missouri River and i enbueaies ‘The success of Duslens book and she resulting concentration of ‘Gcemans in Missouri have brought Gotried Duden to he artenion of fistoriany of American inumigration. Echoing the sentiments of other AiStans, O.G. Libby noted that Dudens accoune had a “enormous aaeeat” to German emigration, and Marcus I. Hansen, in his classic Stuy The Allume Migration, 1607-1860, called i the “most impor. tine piece of literature in the history of German emigration.” ‘Lafortunaely for historians and for other persons interested in -Missoutss German heritage, an indepth biography of Duden docs not BSC Tikewter none of his works has ever been translated and pub: Thed in English, Alice Hl Finckh has cranlated a small sarent of Duldenseworvolume work Exrape and Germany as Viewed from Nort ‘era, publishing it a8 "Gortried Duden Views Missouri 1824— 1827 William Bek the historian most acive inthe study of Missouri Gecmans, has wanslated and edited portions of Duden's Reput on Journey tothe Western States of Neth America 26 "Goriried Duden's Report, 1824-1827." Although boch authors have recognized Dir dexleimporance, their accounts fl to cast Duden intoa proper histor Si perspecive, omit much of his advice vo prospective emigancs, and ‘Ste lnecessarly ited in scope- The present volume is the firs com- sic 'Enpith weanslaion of Dudens original work. As such, i fils & Fistocca void and provides both the professional historian and the Able wich a significant dacoment on the origins of Missouri rich German heritage Editor’ Intraduction ix " Gotiied Dut was born in 1785 jn the town of Remscheid, Duchy of Berg, in what is now Germany." His parents belonged to Rem- Schelde profsonal cae and hus enjoyed an sured stars and Social prestige. His lather, Leonard, owned the cowals government Stoctioned apshecarybusacre Leoabard Disden'ssecond marrige to Mara Katherine Harcop, daughter of wealthy icon foundry own, further eakanced the familys economic wn social position. I chit dren born ito soch ¢ social envionment declined to follow thet inthers calling, they either envered elated profession or sought mploymencin goverment, Guid Duden preferred hela ad, sha omy, reeves he anal cleo td th sccesary prepartion for government service. Although Dusen guid Iowa ever professional dcpines ining medicine, dr inghisunversity sais, he concentrate on jrspragence. At the tt trenty-one he began his legal studies a Disseldor andar shor Sc in Htdelberg he transferred to Gotingen, where be received his In degree in 1810. Tn T811 Duden obtained «royal appointment as an atorney sa the rusian civ service, Asa bureaucrat he acems to have been moble in 1s profession, serving in sever important postion in town gover: ‘ment: all, however, were losted only afew miles om hs place of Ih, His fre appoincment war ax air forthe courts of Duseldort Dacen interrupted his jadical cate ftom 1813 1814 and enlisted as lieutenant i the Fist Bavalion of the Second Bergian Talsey Regimens which Incr became the Tweney-ighth Pron Infonty Regiment With the cod of the Napoleon War, Duden zeturned to Gil serce. He sereed as 4 justice of the peace for Malheim and Richrah Langenfld for shee years and then resumed his dis as 4 Jansein Cologne Inthe ll of 1825, IU heals and his decision to vt [America to lnvestane the prospects for German selement there ‘pompred Disden to sek royal relate fom his el servce dies” a Dudens decision o vise America and tosttempr ro locte afsvorable sco for German eri wa ncn three main fctors: is tative repomssocul and economic problems followin the Napeleonie ‘ia, te excon of cerain Rhineland sates o these problems, and Duden ofc and personal sees por to 1823, In Duden’ youth the season of his bith was a moi of duchies ed princely domain Remsches sell bad been aquiertown nested inthe Foeests slog the western bls of the Bergin Land few mls (0 the wrestHlowed the Rhine, Germanys main norte-south artery of rae and x REPORT ON A JOURNEY ‘communication. To the north, sandwiched berween che Ruhr end Lippe Fivers, were the cites of Essen, Bochum, and Dortmund, To the south, the towas of Solingen, Bonn, aad Cologne, ad tothe west Disseldort lind occasional vilage marked Remcheid surroundings. Even though the area had noe yet displayed signs of the economic boom that woul later transform ie into the heart of Germany’ industrial region, its ‘entra lation on the rade arteries of Germany gave it und would Continue © give i miliary importance and would offer its resideas ‘opportunites for travel, plus provide an awareness of distant places In the fist half ofthe ninetcendh cenrury the area was severely Mlccced by the rapid changes brought about by the Napoleonic Was, Napoleonic codes, Prussian rule, an unprecedented populaion growth, snd a corresponding decline in economic opportunites. Distressed by their immediae lot and fearfl ofthe future, chousands of Germans fisd 0 the Netherlands to board ships for distane lands. Thousands ‘more flocked fo towns and cities along the Rhine in search of employ- ‘ment in an economy plagued by a postwar depression and crop failures {in I816 and 1817, Forced into already overcrowded housing, unem- ployed Germans swelled che ranks of those already in poverey and bvetburdened exisingrelicfagencies, Asacossequence, cobberiesand bother crimes increased signeanly.® “This exodus of Germans 10 other nations, their emigration 10 the towns and cities, and the socal disorders in the Rhineland influenced many states to investigate the causes of such problems and co seek potential solutions to them. Hlampered by a rsid delineation of aux thority among the Prusia, state, and local government, some states simply issued decrees prohibiting people without visas and adequate Financial resources ffom emigrating. A fow staves created courts of inquest and took depositions from emigraats aso the reasons for thelr departure, Othe states, such as Werwtemberg, tooka more imaginative and resourceful approach and established bureaus of emigragion."* ‘Despite these efforts only a handfl of Germans gave senious nen tion 1 the emigration movement, Friedrich List, head of Wurttem- henge bureau of emigration aftis, dd investigate the subject and * The Suppiger-Kiplt party and the Palin Bares group Employed agents to check on Diaden's relly. One sich agent reported that he saw everything" leer fr leer” sx Den had we ten" Noval, however, wrote such glowing report. Joseph SuRPiE 5 caution was evidear when he reported, "What Ia was good and Seauaul Duet saw oni m passing Ls the fowerand the Bd, but ave eet fel the thorn Duin’ book had an immense appeal ro he foes of German reac- tioism of the 1830s, who had long admired the government ofthe United Sete. Some of them hal demonstrated deep interes in the future of the German people and ike Duden, ha predicted the un of German cvtizion, Dudens proposals for planned colonization and the exablshmene of curl eying communities steactel thei aten- toon. Consequently when the early setiement societies such asthe ‘Giessen Emigration Soceey drafted cei organization plas 1833 ‘hye ebtinga evened Geran n Noh Tromialy, che well-educated Germans ofthe eatly emigration x pertnced hos officals establishing thee setlements and within 2 ew yeas abandoned most oftheir orginal intentions. Those Ger ‘aos tho remained on the lind snd sragled with pioneer em toon Became known as "Latin Farmers” Their education, thir leadership, and ther achievement made them s small but sgnicane soup ofthe German-American population and the vanard of Mis Souris sizable German element * Although the Duden-implaned and the Folenias Munch-Bromme-peojcted idea of « New Germany in Misiouris wilemnes filed to materialize, i stonalyinuenced the German Philadelphia Seiement Society to locate» Missouri, Wile Ficrmann, Misoun, never became a new Germany, i id become known at “Litle Germany” and prowl consnued German caltare wll ino che tenet conrry vl “The German romantic movement exerced an important influence on Duden and he in earn served as an inspiration «0 one of is schools. Romanticism in Germany, asin 90 other county, influenced the na- tions socal and polieal thought. While mose Geeman romantics be- Tieved that che German people had stayed from the tue course oF their cultural development, not all of them agreed on how best ¢o restore aproper sense of direction. One school drifted from admiration (of the liberal Wese into the camp of politcal nationalism where they ‘advocated greater national power trough unfeation. A second group, preoccupied withthe German peoples common history, descent, and language, sought ro glorify che past especially the spitic ofthe Teutonic = REPORT ON A JOURNEY forests and he legends ofthe epic poem Nielengelied. A shit group, inspired by aprevaling beliinnarorer evaliing qualities, called for eden the agrarian, simpler way of le. The later group red Daven, quoted hr descriptions of Msous pd even in Some cases terete fo America in serch of hit paradiac “Two German poet, Nicolaus Lena and Ferdaand Fregrath, be: came infucntal saan romances, Both were under the spel of ‘Buen’ book, ang both ha committed themselves tothe idea ofa {onan aaa bed Vand They and the ke he, Inred Daven’ fina in imaginative German Inerature that Proved especialy attract fo Geemans disaifed with dete home- tins cultural and economic coiions After reading Duden, Lenau became obsessed withthe ken of rising Missour, and his itrary production showed signs ofhisewoundcapiation. "My poe ives in thrives on notre he wrore, and in America nature 8 m0re iesotifl and powerfil chan io Europe” His utery romantic view of Hicand ane seers to have eluded hia in acu. His vis ro “America undertaken wth great expectations ended in loneliness and tcsioment an he returned tm Geman without ctez Fain Mistout*” Freligath, on the ocr hand, was in poiseal exe in England, when he fist rea Duden and the novels of Paedrch CGursticker. He boerowed much fom Dada shi early wrsings and ther coninued co celebrate nate in Ameria andthe saga of Geta ‘emigrants, His pocm “Die Auswanderer ("The Emigrant fst pob- fhe in {892, coked in oman terms the new fea Mssou butt tls anticipated the homesickness many emigrants would experience “The enthusiast recepaon of Dudens work by sme ofthe German romantics only incessed the lead too optimistic expectations of Crmirans. Before departing tom tet native and many emigrams had tmgined themeclver worthy Inherors of the land of promise and lute bencicasce of is tevabizing quaies*® Instead of a {reamed-about Bien, however, they dicovered a dense forest instead Sftan illic if, they found temscves involved ia exhaustive work Frustrated snd dacontened, the focused on Gortied Davin, making him theisepegoat Some snbappy German immigrancs now alle his book "Dudens Een and others refered o is Massour farm ss the nile in the sky" These and other derogatory accouns circulated ‘wielychroughoue Germany “Theta ofthe erin scsi ah es tie report snowed Germans sympathy for thet departed country ince and led to denuncaion of Dien’ dea as unease. In 1833, Das Hannoroiche Magesin (The Magazine of Hane) cated fmoayinous aorney’ caustic account ofthe German emietion &0 Mavouri in which the author blamed. Duden" directly for the Irisforunes of 30 many innocent peoples! The following year the Baitors' Intraduction oxi JenaisbeLiteaver-Zinung (Liter Journal of Jona) published a series of ‘articles condemning Duden and his book, One of these articles cast tated the Report as “shallow, fanasic, and exaggerated."* The re spected magazine Didaskaia also focusedon the debates and ciicins throughout 1836." A few critics denounced the influence of Dudens book bur stil recognized its achievements in certain ways, H. Leo, « professor of history atthe University of Halle, thoughe that Duden seo0d on slid _zround when he confined himself a narrative of his personal exper fence and descriptions of terrain, Buc whi he passed! moral judgment on his owa country and philosophized about the people's eed for loser contact with nature, his conchsions were irational and damaging fp Germany JH. Rate wed Amer an afer hs retum to jermaay in 1836 published bis personal observations. Russe agreed vith Duden a 10 Missouris abundance of fertile land and its potential for economic prosperity. However, he severely criticized Dusden lor his colonization scheme. Rausse sa colonization in tems of human losses father chan as a revitalization of man. "Every creature loses there [in “Americal” he wrote, "is mose becoming aspects. che woman her shame and beauty, the man his courage. ‘Ac first Duden consoled himself by believing that such artacks were hutmiess and too ridiculous to deserve an answer Ax the qumber of ‘tities grew, however, he fle compelled w refute them. He was (00 Seep involved in the entire German exodus and too desperately ‘commited to his dream of German colonization to stand accused without a defense. Coasequenty from 1832 ta the end ofthe decade, Duden immersed himself inthe problems of German emignstion, the state of the German people, and changes in. American conditions iccting setdement. He skilfully answered hie cris in the 1834 ‘edition ofhis Report Gee Appendix) inhisTacqneills Wer, aoa more ‘nencrlly in his two-volume study Europe and German? Duden’ reburtals were ccary designed wo retain hie credbiiy and, as such, hada twofold purpose: co silence inressingly vocal critics and to clarify some fequendy misineerpreted portions of his work. He replied fo one anoajmous critic who had castigated his colonization scheme: “I'do nor fel like playiag che philanthropist with such a Sneerer and cannot force myself to overlook compassionate the faults “which he reveals in his sdiculous igolence:* Duden characterized & lwyer critic in an equally harsh manner, stating the man was "without talenc and pracice” and had criticize hie work without having read it ‘He showed even less tolerance for H. Leo and others whom he sum ‘marily dismissed as nincompoops:" J. H. Reuste, who ha the widac iy to lken himself ;o Dudes, was rebufled insane, and his account of emigration was pased off as icioie. In is assessment of why some emigrants had become disillusioned ii REPORT ON A JOURNEY ‘Daden was hesrant to fale his own overly optimistic attnde. “Truth: filly, confess my tule wore Dusen, but he added chat che emigrants Fefutal to heed his advice was the main cause for their roubled condi- tion, He repeated his earlier statements in which he hal cautioned his eavders tha sucessful emigration Fequied preparation, money, and 3 Select group of people. Unfortunately, concluded Duden, only che incapable of incapables” seemed co have emigrated ro’ Missour Duden also believed chat many of the early emigrants had lacked Common sense, and even if they had realized chee limitations, “who ‘would admit to such » lure?" These and other personal flings Ide many vaft for emigration and even les fic to cope witha new and ‘rw environment Unfortanaiely, according ro Duulen, chose who set ted in Missouri unprepared were forever destined to become “offer {ngs of misunderstanding"? ‘Although Duden unguestonabiy fle insulted and deeply hure bythe mounting crteism, he sill continued to beliew dhat a “Garden of Eden’ endowed with unlimited opporeunites existed in Missouri. Pare ‘of Duden continued optimism stemmed from his commitment ro ‘German colonization, but a major portion of ic came from repors of ‘German imotigrante who sobstandated his earlier ndings and from his fom obsessive readingofall the new iceature on American conditions. is writings also exhibited a wide range of knowledge on a numberof, Subjects direct or indirectly eelated to his experience in the state. For fxample. Dudens comment concerning the climate illustrated his [Seareness of some ofthe more sophisticated chinking on the subject at ‘hat tie, Similarly, he wrote on archacology, and he demonstrated that fhe had examined the works ofthe leaiag contemporary authorities, ich as Caleb Atwater and John Heckeweller. His comments about Sverpopulation were enlightened forthe period and even for late ‘Granted on occasion he exaggerated Missour's potential. And some of hisiscussions. in articular hose about slavery, are jumbled, confused, fad difelt to comprehend, Nevertheless his weitngs suggest that he possessed an enormous range of interests and that he hal explored these by consulting some of the best authorities. ‘The thrust of ante Duden literature cut deeply into Duden’ effec: tiveness a9 an objective promoter of Geeman emigration. He did ‘manage to regain some of his former satus dhrough his defease and. through the favorable reports of others, In 1837, Duden prepared bis Jaxt known written defense. which one scholie characterized as 3 “biter, dslusioned statement” in which he Blames himself for assum ing that his countrymen would follow his advice Dusen abandoned this original idea of converting Germans to colonization in the 1840s, fd returned to the study of jurisprudence Ia 1855 he died in Fetiremene at Remachei, hs place of birth Even though Duden idea of a new Vaterland had gone awry, he had Eaktors'Insraduction sit exer profound inpsc on the nature of German emigration for bveradecale, The ype of emigrate, thei expectation, thet routes of trl a thi cholo lean or settee al ected Dens ishucoce. And some ofthe mon act Gerars woh followed Bulent il sch rch neh a Gee bee er sp the pen to promote emipston fo Misout, The ire names ‘Gechane mhosctelin he Mibestinresponsete Dates ep ant thir incaeconeibuon the economi, poke, socal and Cull Sevdlopmentaf tess conlin atte vemos port piece oferta the history of Geman emation Editorial Policy Duet te man neopterin Det i is necessary wo expan the sist and fatal changes incorporated in thi wanldon. Fist of aly some consistency has been empted feyaring the use of abbreviations, epitaizaton, ant number To iat eer eng egy and svar Geran tence have ‘occasionally een tasted nto more than one complete thought. In ‘lion, sundard American punctuation has boen eed thoughout sient or Linnaean names ae thore use by Duden le many cases suse of scenic terms was mistaken or doesnot coreopond ‘ih resent day usage. These ers have been connate ep, bre no atempe hasbeen made inthe teat to indicate the, ope? ‘ceminology The annotations, however do reer o sources tat cat be Saluabe ia comparing Duden nage with tac current today. sins mon tht alos oe 1829, oy en of he 7 Tere were nalisonthre other edo La 1832 a apn 1835 a spec eto was printed in St Gallen, Switzerland, under te spemopip of he Sn Eaton Sos: ce for poh “The 1834 dion, printed in Bonn, was revised at length by Duden, ‘Tue reysions maby Du vere pay torebur heres ano exyund or covrect certain pastas stitements, or phases. nation, Baden sere ee senencetracure, ote making two comple thous ou of orginally lengthier statements. Prom astral com text, Duden changes eepresent his rethinking of his orignal work, partculelyin response othe cris The editors recognize the inpor. tance of these revisions, consequently al the changes Duden male in the 1834 edition, except sentence srt, ae iachuded in en appeny {is to this eranlson. Ar every pot i the cext where a cevion was ipiby Dudes mabe apenas, These mbes eo 3 isings in Append, which wil inicate the nature ofthe chan made by Duden. ae acl, there are two other sts of tes that appear inthis volume. The notes that appear atthe botomsof the pages adcated by xi REPORT ON A JOURNEY ascersks in dhe text, are Duden’ as they appeared in che rs edicion of his Report. The numbered footote indxators refer #0 the editors explanatory notes, contoured by all of che individuals mentioned on the de poge and in the Acknowledgment, which appear in Appendix TI These notes provide annoesions for works and men mentioned by Duden, cite resources for reader interested in finding moceinfor- imation on 4 subject discussed by Duden, and indicace when Jnformation given by Duden is mistaken. An effort has been made, hhowever, to keep these notes to a minim; hey ate meant to guide the reader to other sources and toindicste poins of interest rather than to clucidae every detail meationed by Duden in his lees. Acknowledgments Since 1975 anumber of people have offered assistance to che general editor. Without their advice and comment tis annotated translation ‘would not have been possible. Pardons of the manuscript were read fn commented upon by Richard S. Brownlee, Director and Secretary ‘of The State Historical Sociecy of Missouri; Lewis E. Atherton, Profes- {or Emeciis of History, Noble E. Cunningham, Professor of History; William M. Wiecek, Profesor of History; Robert J. Rowland, Profes- sor of History James D. McQuigg, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Grane L Darkow, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences; Richard C Smith, Assistant Director of Fisheries Wildlife; William H. Elder, Pro. fessor of Fisheries Wildife; and Walter A. Schroeder, Insructor of Geography, all members of the fculy and staff of the University of Missouri~ Columbia. Chatles Dew, Professor of History, Willi Col lege and James M. Cope, MLD., aso offered advice and suggestions ‘concerning specific porsons of this book. The staff of anumber of state historical socieies and. public libraries sene valuable information ‘ceded for she completion of the book. They have been thanked personally for thei effors. Staff members of The State Historical Society of Missouri who asisted on mare than one occasion ae Caro! Van Tine, Karen Duree, and Priscila Evans. Rebecca Schroeder a. Ssted Adolf Schroeder, Professor of German at the Universicy of ‘Missouri~ Columbia, with the reinemene of dhe tansaton. W. M. Senner, Peofesor of German at Arizona Stare University, Tempe also proved valuable suguestions pertaining wo the clarity ofthe trash toa. Hizoko Somers graciously typed the translation and annotations. “Aay ertors or omissions are solely the responsibilty of he general editor iwc Comba, Minos 3 Pla 580 Contents Foreword by Richard S, Brownlee,» uicor’ Introduction, sii ‘Translation of Gorttied Duden’s Report, 3 Preface, 5 Contents, 12 Leteers One through Thirty-six, 17 Concerning the Nacure of the "North American United States, 207 AA Postscript for Emigrating Farmers, 245, “Appendix I: Textual Emendations Made in the dition of 1834, 262 Appendix II: Editors’ Annotations, 329 Index, 367 Report on a Journey ro the Western States of North America Gortfried Duden Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America and a Stay of Several Years along the Missouri (during the Years 1824, '25, '26, and 1827) Concerning Emigration and Overpopulation or Life in the Interior of the United Scares and its Significance for the Domestic and Political Sieuation of the Europeans, Presented (@ in a collection of letters (b)in a special treatment of the political situation in the North American Free States and (©) in an advisory supplement for emigrating German farmers and those who are planning t0 engage in trade by Gottfried Duden Printed at Etberfeld in 1829 by Sam Lucas at the expense of the author Preface herewith present o my ftherland a report on my sojourn of several years inthe interior of North Americ ‘Whatever motivates people t emigrate en masse can be regarded ‘with indifference only by unthinking people. Some public speeches have already been made on the subject co the Germans. Well considered advice and passionate bombast have alternately appealed co the sympathies of the fiends ofthe German people and a humanity in ‘genera, However, unt now the mater has by no means been seed Sd inthis respect I, at dhe very leas, must aot be afraid that I have ‘undertaken something spertuous! ‘Even the tte ofthe publication justifies the reader in expecting this not t be a collection of notes gleaned fom European or American books. These are persoaal experiences to which I should like ro diect the atcation of my councry for the bench of innumerable fellow- men experiences that will seem new in various respects even to those ‘sho have readall the works about North America tharhave appeared in Europe up © the preseat TI experiences in general bear che characteristics of che individual ‘who as a them, this i particularly erve of those experiences that ‘ouch so closely upoa human inclinations and disinclinations and al the ‘wishes based upon them. Who wil expect unbiased evidence from = prejudiced person? And who may call himself uaprejudied in similar ‘Stuatioa? Who can coasdee himself to be completly impartial when he judges distant lands in order to answer the question of whether migration is advisable? Hle would have to bea stranger on the whole arth and yet also beable to mal decisions concerning interests that ‘levelop only by residence in definite places on the earth 1, therefore, a complete lack of bss inconceivable, «reporter who wishes his judgment to produce an effect commensurate wich its base ‘ale is obligated eo acquaine che reader with the nature of his citeion. He must indicate the characteristics of che ianer eye by which he his measured before he presents the conclusions he has reached. This is Whar T propose to doin this preface “The decision 10 depart fom one’s home country and to choose a diseane part of the earth as ones new home is except in cases of most turgene need and passionate frenzy) among educated people arsule of manifold thoughts and emotions. tis clear enough that in order co give advice in such «ris ie not suficien thar one has seen the country where the new home is located Fare Pace 1 he Sand ton, sce Appt Teta mendations Male ie ‘Bao o 1834 5 6 REPORT ON A JOURNEY _Abowe all he adviser matte capable of understanding the ssation of Shard-presed man and to judge acurtly in what way the home ouney iar faulin det odeee the important preliainaryquesion {Sito whether anyeing i acealy tobe gained by the change “This requires the ably to understand the vious Gacamstances in thei ltmate basi ae well a in thee dependence on edeston and sane of ving, which create an intrest in exience here on earth. ‘Tus certainly a requeerent tat roughly evaluated, would is Courage many fom writing sboatemignton Formunaely, the author had to meet the same requirement in an ‘invention, ce results of mich be pubabed afew year ago under thea Concerning he Fnduncnl Dates the Ste * At that ime, scan be pathered fom the publieaion alluded t,he spent, sich sime and effort on t and fle he satisfaction, Tong before he Srareed on his journey, of Being juste ia conslering hse pre- ed inthis respect ewe remember that | am trying to suggest to the reader the charcerisis of the inner eye that recorded the experiences [of the New Wor) my carr thinking had become convinced that mos the evil fiom which the inhabitants of Europe, and paral those of Ger many, suffer te dite to overpopulation, and ae sich tha they cannot ‘Hiecvely be alevined without ft achicving a decease in populae ‘lon I welzed thar wie a cern density of popslson is absolely ‘Scent forthe succesful development ofthe indvilal and the sate, ‘verpopelaion wl iatore socal conditions i an unforrnate manner Regardless ofa the rertance of ntelscua! powers, overpopulation can only end by changing the sate into Univeral intution of SPS an oh mnie macs an cans ps ol through mechanial and chemical impulses, animals flow hei in Sng ont ie people xeble tea very cely On hat ‘ich ha dec, salutary eee on thee pays eed can have any Jnlueace on them, It's event enough thar when such people ae Jnluenced to emigrate aothing i less tesporsibe chan che results of Calculer. The of sees of A A and Erp e- our emiazaion before hunger forced incvaas to At that Lime, nature flected i eternal purposes through reason. Ie aot difcalt o guess why ie has made ise of other meane smo0g the Ma ouney to diane councies, co diferent ciate, scoss wide oceans, was Dever excluled from my lie plan. But s more urgent ‘trees was asocned with simfar considerations. myself sit he nist of the evs of overpopulation Stmularel by the proces of ‘slucston andthe events ofthe times, hamade the condiionsofmen Priface 7 and che characterises ofthe states the subject of many years of invest ‘gion. Lewns aot n my power, whea I could underssad the station ‘leans, co vei an offensive reality with ction. Anda Ihave sai, since 1 had realized tha the reason for most of che evils was overpopulation, nothings easier to understand than my interest in teams latin ve «migration of many aroups, whereby the eternal powers themselves inate the cause ofthe sickness. The main direction taken by these ‘oppressed people was toward the sates of North America I pursoed them from a distance, In my home I read the various reports and ‘evaluations of such undertakings. I read a apodly numberof older and more recent publications about Norch Amerie tell about the topos saphy of the country che climate, the vegetation, and the animale ab wel as about the inhabitants and thee piel iestscions* 1 proceeded on the basis of the idea that « European in the new

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