The union Democrat., 1871-02-25

hiHeES. W Ill ID6 aiAUn
me to ask him a question?
Mr.. Washburn. of Wisconsin. Certainly.
"Mr. Rogers. Are these pine lands entire
y worthless except for timber?
"Mr. Washburn, of Wisconsin. They are
generally worthless for any other purpose. |
am perfectly familiar with that subject.
These lands are not valuable for purposes OF
settlement.
"Mr. Framework. They will be after the
timber is taken off,
Mr.. Washburn, of Wisconsin. No, sir.
"Mr. Rogers. | want to know the eharac-
ter of these pine lands.
" Mr.. Washhurn. of Wisconsin. They are
generally sandy. barren lands. NV friend
from the Green Bay district Mr.. SAWYER. is
himself perfectly familiar with this question,
and he will bear me out in what | say, that
these pine timber lands gre not adapted to
settlement.
"Mr. Rogers. The pine lands to which l
am accustomed are generally very good.
What want to know is what is the differ
ence between our pine lands and your pine
lands.
"Mr. Washburn, of Wisconsin. The pine
timber of Wisconsin generally grows upon
barren, sandy land. The gentlemen from
Maine, Mr.. Peters, who is familiar with
pine lands, will have no doubt say that pine
timber grows generally upon the most barren
lands.
"Mr. Peters. As a general thing pine
lands are not worth much for cultivation"
And further on find this pregnant ques-
ton, the ilint production of the two gentle.
men from Wisconsin
"Mr. Paine. Does my friend from Indi-
ana suppose that in any event settlers will
occupy and cultivate the nine lands?
"Mr. Washburn, of Wisconsin. Particu-
larry without railroad ~
Yes, sir, particularly without railroad"
1t will be asked after awhile. am afraid, if
settlers will 90 anywhere unless the Govern
ment builds railroad for them to go on
Laughter.
desire TO call attention TO only one more
statement, which | think sufficient to settle
the question. 1t is made by the gentle
man from Wisconsin, Mr.. Paine. who says:
"These lands will he abandoned for the
present. 1t may be that ut some remote pc
riod there will spring up in that region new
kind of agriculture which will cause de-
mand for these particular lands; and they
may then come into use and he valuable for
agricultural purposes. But | know, and |
cannot help thinking that my friend from In
diana understands, that for the present, and
for many years to come, these pine lands can
have no possible value other than thet aris-
ing from the pine timber which stands on
them"
Now, sir, who, after listening to this en-
phatic and uuequivocal testimony of these ID
telligent. competent and able-bodied witness
es. laughter; who that is not as incredulGus
as St. Thomas himself, will doubt for mo-
ment that the Goshen of America is to he found
in the sandy valleys and upon the pne-clad
hills of the St. Croix? Laughter Who will
have the hardihood to rise in his seat on this
floor and assert that, excepting the pine bush
es. the entire region would not produce vege-
tation enough in ten years to fatten a grass
hopper? Great laughter.) Where is the
patriot vho is willing that his country shall
incur the peril of remaining another day
without the amplest railroad connection with
such an inexhaustble mine of agricultural
wealth +? (Laushter.) Who will answer for
the consequences of abandoning great and
war,ike people, in possession of country
like that, to brood over the indifference ana
neglect Of their Government? daughter J
How long would it be before they would take
to Studying the Declaration of Independence
and Matching out the damnable heresy of Sc
ces~ion? How long before the grim demon
of civil disc"rd would rear again his horrid
head in our midst, "gnash loud his iron fangs
and shake his crest of bristling bayonets ?"
daughter
Then, sir, think of the long and painful
process of reconstruction that must follow
with its cnncomtant amendments to the Con.
stituton the seventeenth, eighteenth, and
nineteenth articles. The sixteenth, it is of
course understood. is to he appropriated to
those hlushing damsels who are, day after
day, heseeching us to let them vote, bold Of
fee. drink cocktails, ride as,raddle, and do
every thing else the men do. Roars oflaugh-
tee. But above all. sir, let me implore you
20 reflect for single moment on the deplora-
bic condition of our country in case of for
eign war, with all our ports blockaded, all
our cities in state of siege, the gaunt spec
ter of famine hrooding like hungry vulture
over cur starving land /; our commssary stores
all exhausted, and our furnishing armies
whitening away in the field. helpless prey
to the insatiate demon of hunger; our Nary
rotting In the docks for want of provisions for
our gallant seamen. and we without any
railroad communication whatever with the
prolific pine thickets of the St. Croix.
lUfeat laughter.
All, sir, / conld very we'll understand why
my amiahle friends from PENNSYLVANIA Mr..
Myers. Mr.. Kelly, and Mr.. ONeil should
be so earnest in their support of this bill the
other day, and if their honorable colleague,
my friend, Mr.. Randall, will pardon the re-
mark. will say considered his criticism of
their action on that occasion as not only un-
Just but ungenerous. / knew they were
looking forward with The far reaching ken of
enlighted craftsmanship to the pitiable con-
dition in which Philadelphia will be left ur-
less speedily supplied with railroad ccnnec-
ton in some way or other with this garden
spot of the universe. Laughter. And be-
sides. sir, this discussion has relieved my
mind of mystery that has weighed upon it
like an incubus for years. / could meyer
understand before why there was so much
excitement during the last Congress over the
acquisition of Alta Vela. could never IN
derstand why it was that some of our ahlest
statesmen and most disinterested patriots
should entertain such dark forebodings of the
untold calamities that were to hefall our be-
loved country unless We should take im,sedr
ate possession of that desirable island. But
see now that they were laboring under the