Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-10
New England and the Northwest.


New England is like beehive, in more re-
spects than one. That she deserves credit for
thrift and industry none can deny; that she is
offieious, meddleSome, aggressive and intole-
rant, everybody knows and that when any in
terest Of hers is threatened, the whole swarm
crowds upon the asSailant to sting him, has
been repeatedly shown. An instance Of this
occurred last Tuesday in the House of Repre-
Ssutatives. The Reciprocity Treaty being
under consideration, the subject Of fishing
bounties was touched upon. Mr.. WASHBURSE,
Of Illinois, in the course of some remarks, said
that one provision met ibis hearty appreciation
hat abolishng fishing bounties. The Commit
zee Of Commerce had reported precisely
similar provision. "He desired 10 put on
,.record, for the benefit of all future ages, some
thing in relation to these fishing bounties, to
show how, when particular interest once
{" gets thrust upon the country, 1t holds on to
ait. He had statement from the Secretary
" of the treasury showing that the total
" amount paid for fishing bounties since the
L" year 1898 was 1854, 1884" He further said
that he never could appreciate all this talk
about a nursery Of Seamen any more than he
could understand paying a bounty on beef and
pork as a nursery for soldiers on the prairies of
Illinois.
These remarks soon drew upon Mr.. WASH
BURSE whole swarm of New England menu
bers-Mr. PIKE, Mr.. ELIOT, Mr.. HOOPER, Mr..
BLAINE, Mr.. BANKS, Mr.. ALLEY, sc.
Mr.. BANKS chided him for haunting New
England with the receipt of the fishing bounty,
and attributed to. that bounty the commerce
and prosperity of the whole country, and OF
Illinois particularly. He went so far as to say
that without it there would hardly be to-day
constituency in Illinois. Mr.. ALLEY accused
Mr.. WAsHBURNE Of asSailing "eyery interest
that favored New England on every occasion.
Every opportunity was seized by him with
avidity to eenSure the action Of New England,
and 60 against her interests"
The New Englanders stick together, and that
is the true source of their strength. Touch
the interest of one portion Of these clannish
people, and in 4 moment they are all up in
arms. They combine against every aggressor.
This habit Of combination, coupled with their
energy, perseverance and shrewdness, has
given them the controlling influence they have
so long enjoyed in the business legislation Of
Congress. In such legislation these combina-
tions cannot be counted upon in respect to the
members from any other section.
Unfortunately, however, FOR New England
,g ,a.,1 NJ - |
springing up in the great and growing North |
west, that will, ere long, organize against the
most vital interests 'or New England. Mr..
WAsHBCRNE is but the pioneer in this future
movement. The opinion is rapidly gaining
ground among the people Of the Northwest
that New England influence is, in every way,
welded to their disadvantage. The evidences
multiply that they contemplate revolt against
New England ascendaney. They only wait
until they gain a little more strength, and then
we may look for a powerful combination that
will carry diSmay into the land Of the Puri-
tanS.
Many of the settlers Of the Northwestern
States were from New England. Most of the
leading politicians came from there, and car
ried with them to their new homes New Eng
land principles, sentiments and sympathies.
Meanwhile, thousands and hundreds Of thou
sands poured in from other cumbersome
from European countries, and some from other
sections of the United States. In process Of /
time, children have grown up to be young men,
natives of the Northwest, and a distinctive
Northwestern sentiment, feeling and interest |
have been developed. 1t begins to be |
demanded that the representatives chosen to |
Congress shall be representatives Of this senti-
ment, this feeling, this interest," and not Of the |
sentiments, feelings and interests Of New Eng |
land. Plymouth Rock will not be able much |
longer to lord it over the vast prairie region OF |
the Northwest. The people there are burn
ing their corn for fuel because they cannot sell /
it, and they say, with one voice, that New Eng !
land SeliShneSs is the cause oft.