Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-07-10
PROCTOR kK0TT


ernor Of Kentucky was born in Leb
anon, this State. August %, 1880. Al
90 years Of age he possesses the full
vigor Of youth, keen judgment, and O
power Of ridicule which he has made
his opponents feel on moro than one
occasion. In 1851 he was admitted
10 the bar in Missouri; was elected to
the legislature in 1859; was appoint
ed attorney general Of that State, and
elected 10 the same office in 1862. The
following year he returned 10 Ken.
lucky and resumed the practice Of law
at his birthplace. Ia 1866 he was
elected to the 10Th congress. and re-
elected 10 the Ilsi. lie served in the
43d, iith. 18th. 10Th aud 47th con
gresses, always Us u straight old-iash-
toned democrat, but declined renomi.
nation last year.
His great speech ON Duluth aud
the raging st. Croix" was provoked
by very ordinary event in the life
Of a congressman, the efforts Of a lob.
byist to induce him TO vote for bill
TO establish and subsidize a town in
which the petitioner was interested.
The applicant for congressional re-
cognition called upon Proctor Knott
late at night, without even the for.
mality OF an introduction. The con-
gresham begged time To consider the
matter. but the speaker pro TEN would
not be denied, and pushing his way in,
produced Il map in which the whole
country seemed 10 have vested in
terest in the prosperity Of Duluth. A
pin-head would cover New York, a
needle-point would hide Boston or
Philadelphia. while Chicago, Cincin-
natl, ST. Louis and San Francisco
paled their diminished fires before the
future (on paper Of Duluth. Struck
by the originality Of the idea, Proc.
tor Knott said he would advocate the
bill. and he did the very next day.
Promising his remarks by saying
that aeither his constituents nor him.
self could be benefited by the passage
Of the bill a particle more than they
could be by a project TO cultivate an
orange grove on the bleakest sum
init Of Greenland's icy mountains,
he said in the course Of his argu.
ment:
"Years ago, when / first heard that
there was somewhere in the vast in.
cognita, somewhere in the bleak re.
gions Of the great northwest, stream
Of water known TO the nomadic in
habitants of the neighborhood as the
river st. Croix, | became satisfied that
the construction OF railroad from
that raging torrent to some point in
the civilized world was essential to the
happiness and prosperity of the Amer.
lean people, if not absolutely indis.
pensable to the perpetuity of repub.
lican institutions on this continent.
4 y Il +
AT what particular point on that
noble stream such railroad should be
commenced l knew was immaterial,
and il seems so 10 have been cOnsid.
cred by the draughtsman Of this bill.
II might be up at the spring, or down
at the foot-log. or the water-gate. or
at the fsh-dam, or anywhere along
the bank, no matter where. But in l
what direction il should run, or where {
il should terminate, were always, TO
my mind, questions of the most pain.
full perplexity. | could conceive OF
nowhere ON Gods green earth, in such
straightened circumstances for rail. {
road facilities as to be likely to desire
Or willing to accept such connection,
until | accidentally overheard some
gentlemen the other day mention the |
name Of Duluth =
"Duluthl The name fell upon my {
,ar with a peculiar and indesciibable q
harm, like the gentle murmur of a !
Ow fountain stealing forth in the !
midst OF waters; the soft accents of d
N angels whisper in the bright, joy s
'us dream of sleeping innocence. !
After relating his fluctuations in
looking upon every existing map for
he position of Duluth, and lament. G
ng the ignorance Of the tOpographers G
who had omitted ii from their sur. a
Veys, he added. eyes, sir; had it not /
Deen for this map, kindly furnished |
ne by the legislature of Minnesota, l /
night have gone down to my obscure q
md humble grave in an agony Of 3
despair because ! could nowhere find s
Duluth.