Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-07-20


that to their own want of industry, and
prudence, and enterprise, is to be attributed
most of the evils under which they suffer-
They neglected to sow in the spring time,
and yet fooIishly expect to reap in the har-
vest. The thousands upon thousands of
iollars disbursed among them, until within
he past year or two, by the government,
n the shape Of Indian annuties, in pay
nent Of balf-breed and other claims, and
or the support of military post, instead
IF being in any way turned to profitable
nccount, were uselessly squandered. In
stead of using the means they were liber-
ally furnished with, to build up back
country, by opening and improving roads,
and making farms, or in any public enter
orize which would. have tended to their
permanent advantage, they did nothing but
speculate in paper towns, in banks, and
hydraulics, and in various other modes-
They produced nothing, and the funds
which were not spent in the manner above
indicated, or in building up a fine town
without any substantial dependence, were
sent abroad for the purchase of necessary
articles OF consumption, which might have
been raised at home. Matters Of general
interest were left to take care Of them
selves, under the supposition, doubtless,
that the same liberal hand which then fed
them would always sustain and provide for
them.
1t is true, that so far as mere talk was
concerned, very few people appeared to
be more solicitous with reference to sun
dry important public improvements in
which they were directly interested than
the citizens Of Green Bay. Meeting after
meeting was called, and resolution after
resolution adopted, that this and that i'm
provement were highly essential, and mast,
and woun, and SHOULD be accomplished
But here it all ended Instead of apply
ing their shoulders to the wheel, and urg-
ing along such enterprises as were called
for, with the energy, zeal, and public spi-
rit that characterized the inhabitants of
towns far less favored in point Of means,
and which would have induced the settle
ment and Improvement of their country,
and secured to their town a steady and heal
thy growth, they spent their time in calling
upon Jupiter for help, without exhibiting
any disposition to help themselves; and not
until now, when the hour of adversely has
arrived, when the resource they heretofore
depended upon has nearly failed, and their
unoccupied houses, and partially deserted
town. give painful admoniton of the
they committed in paying 50 little attention,
at the proper time, to matters Of substan-
tlal and general interest, have they thought
of bestirring themselves to Industrious and
energetic action. "Sanguinc homes ire
now entertained (says the Republican, that
individual enterprise and exertions will &C.
complish, in some degree, what we have SO
long anxiously sought to obtain from the
government" Measures have at last been
adopted, which it is thought will have the
effect to secure, at no very distant day, the
accomplishment of the grand de@deratum,
they have SO long talked about, viz: the
Improvement of the navigation of the Fox
and Wisconsin rivers, and the opening
thereby of an uninterrupted water commu-
nication from the Lakes to the Mississippi
Notwithstanding we are slSeptical upon this
point and fear that the IS bright speck on
their horizon which has already appeared"
may prove as illusory as the thousand other
bright specks which have hitherto, at diff
ferent times, been discovered in the same
quarter, yet we wish them success, even
beyond their expectations. Their country
is pleasant and desirable one in almost eve
ry point of view-as much so as any part of
Wisconsin-and cannot fail, sooner or la
ter, from the attractions it presents, to Sc
cure Respectable snare or the immigration
to our territory. lis want Of success here
toFore must be attributed, in great mea-
sure, to causes we have enumerated, rather
than to any malign influence exerted
against it, as is alleged, by other sections:
and instead of harboring groundless suspi-
cions against or hea2ing uncalled for abuse
upon their neghbors, who wish them well,
we advise the citizens of that RECON to &c
manfully and zealously to work to improve
the advantages nature has favored them
with, which they will find to be much the
better way of reviving and promoting their
dropping interests.
The steamboat Columbus plies regularly