Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-03-10
DULUTH.


SPEECH OF HON. J. rnocToR KNOTT, OF
KENTUCKY, DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, ON THE ST. cRoIx
AND SUPERIOR LAND GRANT JANUARY
81. 1871.
The House having under consldem-
tion the joint resolution (S. II. No. ID
extending the timc TO construct rail-
road from St Croix river or lake to the
west end of Lake Superior and to Bay
field
Mr. Knott said Mr., Speakcr--lf
could be actuated by any conceivable
inducement TO betray the sacred trust
in me by those TO whose generous conf
dcncc am indebted for the honor OF
n seat on this floor; If could be mflu-
cnced by any possible consideration to
become instrumental in giving away, IN
violation of their known wishes any
portion of their interest IN the public
domain Tor the mere promotion q any
ffaIlfoad enterprise whatever ] should
certainly feel u strong Inclination 10
give this measure my most earnest ana
hearty support Tor am assured that
its success would materially enhance
the pccuniary prosperity OF some oi inc
most valued friends have on earth |;
friends for whose accommodation !
would be willing TO make almost any
saerailcc not involving my personal
honor or my fidelity as the trustee OF
an express trust. And that act Of itself
would be sufficient to counteryall al
most any objection might entertain
to the passage Of this bill not inspired
by any imperative and incxorablc sense
Of public duty
But, independent Of the seductive in
huonces of private friendship, TO which
admit ] am, perhaps, as susceptible
us any OF the gentlemen | see around
me, the intrinsic merits Of the measure
itself are of such an extraordinary char
acter as to commend il most strongly
to the favorable consideration Of every
Imember of this House, myself not cx-
ceptcd, notwithstanding my constitu-
cnts, in whose behalf alone ! am acting
here, would not be benefited by its
passage one particle more than they
would be by a project TO cultivate an
orange grove on the bleakest summit
Of Greenland's icy mountains.
Now, sir, as tothosc great trunk lines
of railways, spanning the continent
from ocean to ocean, confess my mind
has never been fully made up. 1t Is
true they may afford some tritling ad-
vantages TO local traffic, and they may
even in time become tho channels of a
more extended commerce. Yet have
never been thoroughly satisfied either
of the necessity or expedlency OF pro
ljccts promising such meagre results to
the great body of ourpeoplc. But.with
regard to the transcendent merits Of
the gigantic enterprise completed in
this bill, ] have never entertained the
shadow of II doubt
Years ago, when first heard that
there was somewhere IN the vast terra
ilcognfd, somewhere in the bleak re-
gions of the great northwest, a stream
of water known to the nomadlc inhab-
itants of the neighborhood as the river
| st CroiS, became satisfied that the
construction OF aralroad from that
raging torrent to some point N the
civilized world was essential to the
happiness and prosperity o. the Amer
lean people, If not absolutely indispen-
sable to the perpetuity OF hepubilcan
institutions on this continent, lett
mdistlnctlvely that the boundless re.
sources OF that prolific region oil sand
and pine shrubbery would never DC
fully developed without railroad con
strueted ana EQUIPPED at inc expense
OF the government, ana perhaps no.
then ! haa an ABIDING prescn'l'n'nt :
that some day or other the people OF
this wnoic country, irrespec'lve oi
party aiiilatiohs; reea,uiess o. scciion-
ai pre)udlces, ana ''withou, uisuilction
oi race color, or previous conui,lon ol
scrVituue, wouid iise ~ thc'r hryesly
ana demand an onlet iof tne vhorihous
agncnltafai productions Oh 'hose vas. ','
ana lertlio pine parrohs, oti'ihcu N 'ne :
RAINY season oy inc snrg'hS Wa'ers Oh
'he turpia ot' orolN.
ihese IMPRESSIONS derlvgd siinP'y
ana soiely rom ,no .e.cri,n' n'hess ,, =, Y,
,hlnSs' were hot oniy s'reng'hyn.a n,hn,a
py lhe ih,eres.lng ana sloqucl, uvp".e c
on 'nis pill' 70 wn'ch ! hs,enpu WIN WV, 80 80
nucn pressure uhe o'her G o',y, su. ,tis ~,
, to''sineu' ), posS'pio' ~ : re"u os1r 'n,s ,'
morning 'henVe,y , eGloquy Wh,un s,a 'oo' ro
pace on ma. ocens'cn' ~ M" ~, ~,
ported IN ,ast rIluny u1yOe' : WI m,i'
ask inc inuuigenco OF lhc house wnilc wnilc
! reaa u lew snoi. Passages' wnlon , ~, .,rc