Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-09
THE RECORD
OF THE REFORM PARTY
ON TRANSPORTATION.
Some Extracts from the Speech of
Hon. Charles Seymour. of
La Crosse, delivered
at Tomah, Wis.
Oct. LIST,
1874.

La Crosse, delivered
at Tomah, Wis.
Oct. LIST,
1874.
At every step Of progress of the
friends of internal improvements and
cheap transportation they have encoun-
tered the Incorporating, unceasing
and virulens hostility of the Demo
cratic party, expressed through the
leading metropolitan Press of that par
ty in Wisconsin and adjoining States,
as we'll as by the Democratic Press of
the larger cities in the Union; and
also in the official records Of the Ma
tional Legislatures:
First, Every Democratic President,
from President James Monroe down
to President James Buchanan, inclusive,
has declared in veto and other official
messages to Congress, an undertaking
| and unaterable adherence to the car
dinal doctrine of the Democratic party,
that Congress has no right to make
appropriations for rivers and harbors, or
any internal improvements for the pro-
motion Of interstate commerce; and
no Democratic President, from the or
ganization of that party, down to the
last year of the last Democratic admin
istration in 1860, has ever failed to We
to or defeat the appropriations made by
| Congress for such objects; in proof of
| which, refere nee is made to these and
other similar facts which were elected
| in the debate Of the United States
Senate on the 9th and 9th Of February,
1860, upon President Buchanan's last
veto Of the small appropriation made
| by Congress for the preservation and
improvement of the channel in the ST.
Claire Flats, between lakes Erie and
Huron, for the benefit of western and
| national commerce, as recorded In part
| [ of the Congressional Globe Reports
of the first session Of the 36th Con-
gress, special attention being directed
to the statements Of Senators Davis and
| Crittenden on pages 672 and 673, and
to the veto message on pages $50 and
| $50, in which the long cherished Dem
ocratic doctrine was clearly inculcated,
that, in respect to the domestic com
merce of the country, each State must
look out for itself, and that "the pow
ers of the general government are con-
fined chiefly to our intercourse with
Foreign nations;' Notwithstanding
the larger tonnage and greater magni-
tude of our internal or Interstate com
| merce. Can any stronger evi dence be
needed to establish the fact that the ag-
ricultural and commercial interests
of the West have their worst enemy
in the persistent hostility of the
Democratic party, WHEN IN POW
Err?
Second--Thc utter worthIessness
and obsequious servility Of the Wis
consin Democracy, in a conflict be-
tween the industrial, agricultural and
commercial interests Of the West on
the one hand, and the National Dem
|, ocracy, as expressed by all Democratic
Presidents, from Monroe to Buchanan
| on the other hand, are matters of in
| delible record in the Legislative Assem-
bly, of Wisconsin. In March, 1859,
resolution denouncing the action OF
the Democratic President, Buchanan
(who with his veto thwarted the ap-
preparation of Congress for the St. Claire
Flats and other improvements, for three
successive years. for his persistent
hostility to Western interests, and in
defeating the will of the people and
the appropriations for these necessary
improvements, was introduced into the
Wisconsin Assembly. In order to
prevent quorum being present, AID
to avoid record of their votes on
the adoption of this resolution, on
the 9Th Of March 1859, the Democrat
ic members Of the Assembly, en- naasse,
hurriedly abandoned their places in
the Legislative Halls, while the ayes
and nays were being called, leaving
only one Democrat, (Mr. Bishop of
Dodge with sufficient courage to re-
main and have his vote recorded
against the resolution, while all the
Republicans (4S in number) recorded
their votes in its favor. This course
was taken after several hours of IN
successful flibustering was INDUCED in !,
with numerous motions to adjourn, to
table the resolution, appeals, &C., &C.,
to prevent direct vote on the adop-
ton Of the resolution. But on the next
day, March 9th, the fugitive Demo
cratic members were captured land were
compelled to show their hand, and the
result was, At Republicans and one
Democratic (Mr. Horn, of Ozaukee)
voted for, and 81 Democrats against
resolution instrncting the Wisconsin
delegates in Congress TO use all proper
means to secure the passage of another
bill of sim nature for the improve
ment of the St. Clarie Flats, &c.
Among the Democratic Assembly
men of 1859, who thus bowed in sub
mission to the unfriendly action of a
Democratic President, were Messrs !;
Geo. B. and Adam Smith, Of Dane
Andrew e. Gilmore, then Of Waukesha,
and now of the Railway Ring" Perry
III. Smith, then of Outagamie; John G..
Bishop and John Lowth, Of Dodge;
James W. Seaton, of Grant; Gardner
G. Meigs. of Iowa; Ferd. Wagner, Of
Jefferson. Thus stood and stands
the record in Wisconsin. Republicans for
and Democrats against internal improve
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