The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-10-19
Uhe &enusha 0Dets9raph,
KEN OSHA, WIS, OCTOBER 10, 1871
CONCLUDED from second paae.l

duick that the country had no time to
think before it was announced that it
was confirmed Mr.. Sumner made a verv
long speech in favor Of the acquisition,
which speech showed conclusivnly that
his knowledge of the country was of the
most meagre and unreliable character,
and such rs to put any reasonable man on
his guard. Among the Senators who
joined in confirming this treaty was my
honorable friend. On the assembling Of
Congress in December, it became neces.
sary to obtain an appropriation to pay
for this purchase, and failure to apprO
pirate the money would have rendered
the treaty null and void. A bill making
the appropriation was early introduced,
and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. Gen. Banks was chairman of the
committee, and had the fortune to be
member of it. General Banks was
strongly in favor of the treaty, and of the
appropriation, and l as strongly against
it. I opposed the committee to the best
of my ability, taking the ground that the
Senate had no right to control the action
OF The Hous IN any case requiring an APP
preparation of money. | made a lengthy
report against the acquisition. Ishowed
conclusively, and from a thorough exam
nation Of authorities, that the country
was wholly without resources, barren dis.
NAL, worthless, and instead of its posses
sions being a source of strength. it would
be source of weakness, a source of pow
erty instead If wealth. When the bill
was reported and brought before the
House for discussion, [ made two speeches,
In 10
testing against any more robbery Of the
people AS an appropriation to pay for
that JOB would be.
l tailed in my effort in defence Of the
people, and can tell you why failed.
No sooner had the Senate confirmed the
treaty, and before the House had sane
toned it by appropriating the money,
than Seward sent Gen. Rousseau up to
Alaska with body of soldiers to take
possession, and the Russian authorities
retired from the country. This was a
trick to place the House III false posi-
ton, and coerce It's action. 1t had the
desired effect. Members who agreed
with me, that the treaty was fraud
and the country utterly worthless, said
1--WE are now placed in that position
effend our friend the Gar of Russia"
and upon that constraint they voted for
the appropriation. Subsequent events
have demonstrated the truth of all said
against the acquisition. The country is
a source of no revenue, but on the CON
traiy it costs US about 100000 a year
to keep it. In Il word, it is one of the
biggest elephants that ever any ration
had on its hands, and II Russia would
take it back on the payment of $1,000,
900 more, it would be wise to give it.
Mr. Seward having met with such ex-
cellent success in buying A aska and
bringing the Senate to his support, cast
around in search of fresh fields and pas,
lures new, and his eyes fell upon the
small ana insignificant island OF St.
Thomas, in the Caribbean sea, an island
about the size of township Of land be
longing to the Kingdom of Denmark
To make the negotiation go easy, it
is said that he sent my friend out to
Copenhagen, IN the summer Of 1867, to
aid in making the acquisition Certain
it isthat he was in Copenhagen in the
summer Of 1867, and if he was not there
10 behalf OF The State Department, he
was negotiated about that time, agree
ing to pay $7,50OO0O for St. Thomas.
This the public were in profound ig
norance of.
On the assembling of Congress in
November 1867, in advance of the reg
ular time, there was rumor floating
about, that such treaty had been ne
gotiated. Acting on that rumor, and
bearing in mind the embarrassing posi-
ton we had been placed in regard to
Russia, lost no time in submitting the
following resolution, which was adopted
by vote of 90 to 43, and effectualy gaze
quictus to the purchase Of that bit of
real estate (Which has since been swal-
lowed up by an earthquake, ana saved
to the people $7,5O0,O0O in gold. | will
take the liberty ofquotlng the resolution
from the Congressional Globe Of Novem-
Dor 25 1867, as we'll as what was said in
explanation of it,
PURCHASE OF TERRITORY.
Mr.. Washbnrn, of Wisconsin by unan-
NOUS consent, offered the following res
eluiion:
,ReSoLution, That in the present tinan
cial condition of the country any further
purchases of territory are inexpedlent,
and this House will hold itself under no
obligationg to vote money to pay for any
such purchase unless there is greater
present necessity for the same than now
exists.
Mr.. Banks-I object.
Mr. Washburn-I move to suspend the
rules, and on that motion demand the
yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. Banks-For the information OF the
House, | would like the gentleman from