The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-09-27
SPEECH OF
CHARLES r. BUCKALEW.
Delivered at Kingston, Luzerne County, Friday
Eueninp, Sent 14th, 1855


County upon several subjects of local ant
general interest. And, in particular, have
desired to submit 10 them some words o.
personal explanation upon the New Count,
question, in vindication of the course pur
sued by me at the last Session, which hat
been made the subject of criticism and com.
plant. Having an invncible repugnance Il
newspaper disputes and believing in the
good sense of DR.. Johnson's saying, tina, "ne
man was ever written down except BY him.
self,"I have paid no attention 10 editona
abuse upon this subject, (Which am it,
formed has been abundant and pertinaciout
in a particular quarter,) and have willingly
awaited the vindication of time and OF suci
an opportunity as the present. But, as the
good opinion of just men is valuable above
wealth or office, Ii is right that The explana.
tions necessary to fair judgment of public
conduct should at some proper time be fu:n,
ished The public.
The occasion also invites remark on Other
| questions that have arisen in the Legislature
or been connected with its proceedings. AL
though some years of service 10 the Senate
have been rendered pleasant to me by evi.
dences OF approval aud confidence from the
district have represented; there have been
many OCCASIONS when il would have been
highly gratifying that the reasons for my ac-
'ion could have been fully and generally
known among you. Mutual explanations
are occasionally indispensable to The main.
tenance of just relations between constituent
and Representative for The absent are liable
to be misunderstood, and the expression OF
your approval or disapprobation in particular
cases, is valuable 10 your Representative as
| the reward or corrective OF his public con.
duet
Genlleuihn:-A man enlis:ing in tbe pub.
Tic service, takes his life in his hand. The
chances are against his surviving the con-
tests of many years; if he escape many dam
| gers, he is still liable 10 sudden and fatal
overthrow. The system of rapid rotation es-
| tablished amongst US; the constant rush OF
new questions upon the scene, and the fire..
quent changes of partes,-are rocks of de-
s,ruction which very few are fortunate
enough long TO escape Look over tho ills
tory of elections which you have observed,
and how much of reputation and influence
| have worn out, or been otherwise destroyed;
how rapid the changes of actors, and how
certain the adverse fortunes of the honored
| and powerful! A rejecting man may well
assume the duties of political office with
fear and trembling, rather than with that
boasllul exultation and unhesitaling conf
dence, which we often see. His voyage is
among rocks and shoals that render courage
and sagacity continually necessary 10 his
safety, and these are not always sufficient
I owe the people of Luzerne gratitude for
generous and continued support and coEfi-
dence, constituting as they do the delightful
aud abundant reward of all exerlions and
sacrifices involved in Legislative service
That this support and confidence have moi
been misplaced or mistaken, sincerely hope
may be your future as we'll as present con-
viclion.
Gentlemen since 1850 great changes have
taken place in your local affairs, intimately
connected with the Legislation of The Com
nonwealth. 4 railroad has been completed
and brought into use from Scranton north
ward, in the direction OF central New York.
Another, Gan extension of the former), is be-
| ing thrown from the same point TO the Della
ware, IN the direction of the sea.board. And
still, another has been projected extending
through the centre OF this county, and finding
lis western connections in the iron region,
| with improvements to go 10 Baltimore, Phil.
adelpha and Buffalo. Many mining COM
panies have been organized, and plank roads
built. Your population, meantime, has great
| ly Increased capital from abroad has sought
investment in your borders, and the organi.
zation OF city, and of boroughs and town
ships, has been found necessary to the wants
and convenience of The people. Villages
have grown into towns, lands gone up in price
and an impetus given in all directions 10 a
! spirit OF industry and enterprise. In short,
the passing years constitute for Luzerne pc
y
pied in her history, and cheering TO her in.
| habitants and to all interested in her well
| fare.
Legislation, when required, has come in
aid Of your efforts 10 carrying on this career
OF improvement: Without being prostituled,
| it has been thehandmaid of your advance.
menl. But win net dwell upon this topic,
but pass 10 others more particularly embra-
cad in the purpose of this discourse, and up
on which | have thought that explanation
would be timely commencing with the wa
ter highway from your valley toward western
New York and The Lakes.
CTHE NORTH BRANCH cANAL1
In 1850, when an appropriation was made
TO the North Branch Extension, the condi-
tion was imposed that coal carried upon it,
sfer its completion, should be charged with
a toll OF one cent per ion per mile, which
would athount 10 ninety five cents for the
whole distance from Pittston TO the New