Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-12-20
For tie Tribune & Telegraph.
Kenosha Il Beloit Rail Road--The Past
and the Preaant


its interests, when the Company call.
ed upon the County to aid in the construction of
the K. X. by loaning its credit. gave the meaa.
ure my heartiest support, and in the midst of
broils and contentious, and in perils of broken
head and severe lynching warmly espoused the
cause as one of duty and right. did so, because
/ considered the best interests of the County at
large and the farmers in particular demanded it,
and was aware of no better way to aid this inn
than the one then suggested.
However, was almost alone, many men of
public spirit, enterprise and manly sense differ
ed with me not upon the necessity and impor-
lance of the enterprise, but upon the plan pro-
posed by the Company to build it. Many of
these men publicly declared their interest in the
work, and their readiness to aid it under other
circumstances. Thousands of dollars were will
ingly proffered toward the loan, which it was
contended, would be much more cheerfully CIV
en- the work, was the loan project abandoned,
and the plan of individual subscriptions adopt
ed.
remember well (and SO will the individ ual
hereinafter referred to, upon reading this) during
a spirited discussion on that question, farmer
of wealth and prominence in this County warm
ly exclaimed 81 am good any day for five
hundred dollars to the support of the road if the
loan project is abandoned, or one thousand dol
lars against it if the loan is insisted upon" Ex
pressions in substance of this character were
Company were talked of, if the dreaded plan
was given up.
All this, and much more of the same sort, forced
me to the belief, that my Anti Loan friends and
ncighbors were quite d. public spirited. quite as
warm friends to the r. r. rs was, and in fact
more so, as their promises were far more liberal
than had ever thought of.
Their zeal and candor impressed me with their
sincerity, and soon settled firmly into the be-
lief that their opposition to the loan was one of
principle such as men of honor and sense feel
bound at all hazards to sustain: and that they
would be as warm in the support of the Road
when matters were adjusted as they wished, as
they were before in opposition.
The Course of human events, has produced
precisely this change. The loan bill is repealed
the project abandoned--the road needs aid--the
Company has adopted tho plan of individual
subscription, and that too under the most favor
able terms possible. The messengers have gone
forth into the Country to solicit. All this is pre-
ciseiy what was demanded, and have watched
with intense interest the operation.
believe my subscription was among the first
solicited With the precedent OF my Anti Loan
friends, I might have replied:-'I am in favor
of the r. r., consider it grand scheme, no
one is better aware Of its importante, nor feels
its necessity more, but, am opposed to this plan
of building it. regard it rs unfair and unjust
and as matter of principle must oppose it even
10 war. L0IkuL WIFI rs iuuCU CUHolSteUSF bVU
have reiterated the language ofmy friend before
quoted. l am certainly none the less entitled
to my views and opinions in this matter because
in the minority, cannot make as much buster
ing noise.
But, inasmuch as / feel the necessity of the
road now as much ever and am aware, with
out aid from the farmers it's construction is very
doubtful, / waved my feelings and views as
to the plan, and cheerfully conformed to one that
had every reason to believe would meet with
general approval, by subscribing thirty per cent
of the assessed value of my real estate, which
is five per cent more than / was asked to. Nor
am l alone in this transaction, am told by I'M
questioned authority that most of those who ia
vored the loan have done likewise.
1t will be conceded, l think, that fine oppor-
tunity now presents itself for those who opposed
the loan to exhibit their interest in the project,
and prove to the country their opposition was
what they assured il to be lone of principle, on
ly. in regard to the plan"
Have they done sol am pleased to be able
here to record, that many have and thus proved
themselves honest and true men. But those
who were the most boisterous, the bit
terest in their anathemas, the loudeat in their
denunciatiOns. the most rancorOus in
their suggestions--the most violent and
theatrical in their gestures, the most lavish in
their promises, have mot, Notwithstanding the
most earnest and repeated solicitations. Even
the gentleman, whose language have quoted
shrinks back and shelters himself behind some
paltry frivolous excuse How now do these men
stand before the country How do they, must
they, seem to themselves and 10 their fellow
men7 Were they honest in their Anti Loan
rantingsl then they are wofully dishonest now.
Are they honest now? then they were most
shamefuly dishonest then and say to the world
that all their efforts and their zeal was only froth,
bubble. bombast, knavery, shuttle for popular
Fly, to float into power and crafty personal am
ybition.
pity the man thus crcumstanced, and envy
him not his clutched dollars nor the respect he
will receive, the satisfaction be will have in
enjoying the benefits of an enterprise at his neigh
bors' expense nor the pleasure of the emotions his
Railroad "reminiscences must prompt:
Within the last year public opinion has revo-
lutionized in regard to our Western H. r. Old and
long established prejudices have worn away, the
want of the enterprise is deeply felt, and and a
laudable effort is now making on the part of the
citizens of the county to complete it. Under
these conditions it is natural and reasonable we
should look to these warm Anti-Loan men to
engage earnestly in the matter, and redeem their
oft repeated pledges.
can mention several, who try to excuse
themselves from engaging in the project by de-
clarng their want of confidence in its managers;
their hostility to certain individuals lafgely in
terested: their unfortunate circumstances; by
giving their promise to subscribe their proper
ton, if, after thorough canvassiug Of the Co.
"just that muchis wanting to complete the road,
and many other such frivolous school-boy excu-
ses, that those very men would be ashamed to
advance under any other circumstances with the
recent increased effort the part the city and
the handsome subscription of $6d,0O0 in the Co.
together with the assurance that the work can
not nor win not be again sta rted until the sums
required ($l00 0UO) is obtained and all that has
been done be lost; it strikes me that duty, pat
riotism, public spirit, and self interest should
prompt every man to lay hold of the work and
help it to speedy completion; and not with a
niggardness amounting to meanness; and self
ism resulting in sullenness, throw themselves
under the wheels Of this much needed enterprise |
and thus retard the progress, if not altogether
check the prosecution of the work.
A COUNTRY SUBSCRIBER.
Bristol, Dec. Is 1855.
THE STATE CANyAss.-Thc Canvassers met
on Saturday, read over all the counties but La
Crosse, La Ponte, Kewaunee and s. Croix, |
which they say were not in They read what /
purported to be affidavits from persons in sever
~ counties, in relation to votes which it was
said Barstow received some where, in some towns
overlooked, or discarded by the county canvass
ers: In this way they added to Barstow's vote,
rs in Chippeway, some CD in Dunn, % in Jack
son, IS in ManitowOc, 80 in Monroe ID in Ocon-
II II.