The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-02-10

grown. Why, fellow citizens, fifteen
years ago, the site of Leavenworth was
covered with hazel brush, and the soli-
tude of these majestic hills was only
disturbed by the Whoop of the Indian,
and the occasional whistle of some
steamer, whose brave captain had thus
far pioneered her way up the mighty
river.
Now we have a beautiful city, of
more than $4,000 souls, macadamized
streets, lighted with gas, paved walks,
blocks of commodious stores, palatial
residences, elegant churches, o grand
cathedral, and system of education
that rivals that of New England.
The prairies of Kansas and the great
plains that ten years ago were travelled
by the slow and cumbrous OK team, are
now spanned by the iron rail. Towns
have sprung up as if by magic all along
the route, and the vast domain is being
rapidly transformed into finely cultiva-
ted farms.
And now, fellow citizens, what of the
future? l opine that the predictions of
the most sanguine of us would fall far
short of the progress our young State
will make within the next decade. Six
years ago we did not have within the
State forty miles of railway. Now we
have about fifteen hundred miles insuc-
cessful operation, and as many more
projected. Within the next ten years
we will have a system of roads equal to
that of Illinois, and q population of at
least million and half of souls; and
whilst would give every encourage
ment to railroad enterprises calculated
to develop the resources of the State, 1
would ever carefully guard and protect
the just rights of the settlers.
T. Ia -
State, we may well congratulate our
Situated midway between the frozen
lakes of the North, and the warm wat
ers of the South-midway between the
rociy-bound coast of the Atlantic and
the golden sands of the Pacific, upon the
great Missouri, with 5000 miles of
navigation above Leavenworth; soil
unsurpassed by any in the world, and a
climate as genial as that of sunny Italy.
With such country, in the very heart
of the nation, who can predict what it
may be within the next twenty years ?
will tell you. 1t will be the seat of
the national Capitol!
will not detain you with an argu-
ment upon the question of removal.
But it is not so improbable as some may
suppose. As early as 1914 the question
was agitated, and our forefathers sup
posed they were very far west when
they selected Washington as the site.
Since then our progress has been west
ward, and the Pacific Ocean Is now our
boundary. And when all the vast ter
ritory west of the Missouri shall have
been organized into States, it will not
be unreasonable for our Western Sena-
tors and Representative to say to their
Eastern brethren, "We will meet you
half way, will meet you in the Valley
of the Missouri-in Kansas" AT Fort
Leavenworth the Government owns
some 5000 acres of the finest land in the
world-has direct communication with
all parts of the East, and is already
sending supplies by rail to the various
! military posts, north, south and west.
We have upon the reservation, the finest
coal west of Pennsylvania, and marble
of the finest quality for public build
| ings. In connection with the removal
of the Capitol indulge the hope that
our beautiful Fort Leavenworth reser-
walton has future, grander and more
glorious than we now dream of.
Fellow citizens, this is festive occa-
sion. We are assembled here for the
purpose of enjoyment, and, so far as
am able to judge in this regard, this
meeting is success. l do not propose
ing the political questions of the day.
l will defer that for a more appropriate
occasion. ] desire, however, to say
for the information of some of my
friends in the remote parts of the State
that l am Republican. l am proud,
however, that such good and influential
Democrats as Tom Fenlon. w. S. Van
Doren, DR.. Crook, W. +. Ashby, and
others voted for me. am much oblig-
ed to those gentlemen for their support,
but will do them the justice to say that
had there been prospect for the elect
ion of one of their own faith, my ma
jority would have been reduced by at
least four.
AS many of my friends are here from
all parts of the State, and as some of
them may not be as familiar as they
should be with my political record, L
trust that a brief statement on that
subject will not be considered out of
place. / inherited from my father the
principles of the old Wing party, and
when a boy had the honor to serve in
the Mexican war, under the gallant
old soldier, General Scott, and to fol-
low him in his triumphant march from
Vera Cruz to the Halls of the MonteZu-
mas.
1t was with great pleasure that my
sequently, the dissolution of the Wing
party took place, and in 1856 my vote
was cast for John G. Fremont. L con-
fess I did not, at that time, have as
much admiration for the man as had
for the party he represented, being an
organization pledged to resist the ex-
tension of slavery. Again, in 1850,
had the honor to work and vote for
that great and pure patriot, Abraham
Lincoln. l am proud of my Republi-
canism. To the Republican party, in
my humble opinion, are we indebted for
the preservation of our nationality. To
it belongs the credit of having voted
men and means to suppress the most
gigantic rebellion ever organized against
q government. To it do four millions
of free men to-day owe their liberty,
and Republicans all over the world are
indebted to that organization for the
preservation of the freest and best gov
eminent ever Vouchsafed to man. And
now, that our glorious Union has been
preserved, let us see to it that the life
of this great Nation is not again i'm
perilled either from foes without or
traitors within. And let all unite in
sustaining such measures as will best
protect and develop the laboring and
manufacturing interests of the whole
country.
And now, in conclusion, fellow citi-
zens of Leavenworth, what shall say
to you for the support extended to me
in the recent contest? / have no Ian
guage to express my gratitude. 1t has
been the misfortune of our city, hereto
fore, to be divided. Let that not be
charged to her again. Never was city
more united never did men work more
earnestly than you did in the late con-
test. 1 can only promise you, in re-
turn, my best efforts in your behalf.
Your success-the success of Leaven-
worth-is my success, and the success
of the whole State. l am proud of this
the city of my adoption. My proper
ty is here, and I have much to make
by the prosperity of Leavenworth-and
so has the whole State-or much to lose
by the decline.
Do not understand me, however, to
intimate that shall ever forget that I
am Senator for the whole State of
Kansas Senator for the United States.
1t shall be my duty and pleasure to
guard the interests of Atchison, Law
renee, Topeka, Wyandotte, Fort Scott,
and indeed all sections of
the State, as carefully as / do those of
Leavenworth.
But, gentlemen, every State must
have its metropolis, and if nature de-
signs there shall be great city on the