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evince advancement, improvement, progress. That our soil and climate 
are admirably adapted to the raising of the finest horses, cattle and sheep 
in the world, is demonstrated beyond a doubt, and that we can compete 
successfully with any country in producing pork, butter and cheese, is 
no longer a problem. And should the farmers of Southern Wisconsin 
and Northern Illinois, turn their attention mainly to the rearing of cattle, 
sheep and hogs, they would, from their geographical location, and other 
advantages, be able now to compete with any portion of the United 
States, in supplying the markets with beef, pork, wool, butter and cheese, 
and eventually to monopolize the business in all Eastern markets. When 
our projected railroads are completed, which I may say will probably 
be sooner than most of us expect, we shall have the choice of an eastern, 
western, northern and southern market, direct. Our beef, pork, butter 
and cheese we can send to New York or Boston, to San Francisco or 
Puget’s Sound; our wool where we please, or keep it at home to supply 
our own manufactories ; our flour and grain either east or south, as the 
market promises best: if to the south, to exchange for cotton, sugar, and 
coffee, all from first hands. The former we will manufacture here into 
its various fabrics, and the manufactured article again exchange for more 
of the raw material; and thus on, until our commerce with the south 
will rival New England, and draw largely from her overgrown incomes 
obtained from southern trade. Our own Wisconsin will be sought as the 
summer home of the Southerner in pursuit of health, relaxation and en¬ 
joyment. Our sunnier sky, and more healthful climate, will be more 
grateful to him than all the East affords. And in this connection may I 
not be permitted to suggest the thought that perhaps an intercourse, and 
acquaintance between Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and other 
Southern States and our own section of the Union, would be promotive 
of the best results. Might it not tend to do away with those prejudices 
and asperities which have, for so long a time, been cherished between the 
North and South. Is it too much to hope that the North-west will yet be 
the great pacificator between the two, and by its kindness, forbearance, 
and practical example, win the South to adopt to some extent our usages 
and customs? And thus the iron bonds which shall unite us physically 
and commercially, serve the double purpose of making our interests, feel¬ 
ings, habits, identical. 
