The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-06-25
LETTERS FROM TIE WEST.
From The Port t1iio for .iprI

long before formed settlements on the Mis-
slSsippi and the Wabash, aud on tn,
Northern, but these insulated situation,
were SO much exposed 10 Indian hostility,
and the dispositions of the inhabiIant,
were 50 nncongenal with the habits of ON
people, that they were visited first onl,
ny lew enterprlslug traders As iht
country became better known, report
spoke goldcnly of It's fertility, and casual
reference Ia the maps WIS sufficient 10
show the great commercial advantages tn
be derived from the numerous aud Nalua
BILE streams which intrrsert II IN every
direction. But there were many obstacles
10 It's settlement. From II period shortly
after the revolution to the time Of the EN-
barge in 1907, there was no reason III in
duce any class of citizens IN the United
States 10 emigratc All were fully and
Prh6tably employed at hnsne. The san
culinary wars which spread ticsolation
throughout the European continent, not
only opened markets for all of our surplus
produce, but made us the carriers of other
nations. Never did American enterprise
shine more consplcuously than la the i'm
ptov"ment of these advantages. The art
of ship building was hrongh, tosa pcrfrc
! '''' bHhbt"b W hHD ''ii'i WI
| Gag hOated in every part Of the world
there was no adventure, however novel or
hazardous, which oar merchants did not
attempt, and our sailors displayed IN every
occasion the skill aud hudness which has
since made them conspicuous IN the annals
of natal warfare. Happily, too, those go.
terprises were generally successful. The
consequence WAS, that every man engaged
IN connecial pursuits found sufficient
employ mcnt for his capital , while the Ia
boring classes received high wages aud
the farmer had always = ready market and
an ample price tbr his produce The
ilohrshng state Of commerce and agricnl.
ture d,nusrd life aud spirit into every rank
and department of society. There was
scarcely snrh thing known as man Ia.
boring merely 10 support has .ta,HHY-no
one was satsicd.uhlcss he WAS growing
rich, and few were Disappointed except
by their own improvidence. Ii would be
Useless Ia point out the great statesmen u
lawyers Who have attained thclr preseut
cmlnence from an obscure origin, uI the
wealthy merchants, FARMERS, aud mcchan-
les, who, from The most hbIect poverty,
have risen 10 opulence. Our country Is
full Of such examples aud they stand rs
monuments of those happy days when in
dustry was not only a sure, but Il rapid
guide 10 wealth.
Under such circumstances, few persons
were disposed To emlgrate toanew country;
and although some were tempted by the
great prospects of gain which the frrtlie
regions in the west we're said 10 0llcr,
,hany were discouraged BY the unsettled
state of the country, its rePnled Ulheallh
mess, aud the vicinity Of the Indian
tribes.
10 Europeans this part IF America Of
fered no attractions. 1t WAS too remote,
too insulated, too barbarous, aud too an
lirely uncongcni9I with all their habits,
tastes, aud feelings.
The frst settlers Of this country, there
fore, were men whose Objects were not
gain, but WHO appeared 10 have been al
urcd by the very difficulties which dis
couraged others. They We're hardy, IN.
l'rprsing men, fond of change aud iamll
harwith fatigue ,who seem 10 have thought
with Fitz James,
II path be dangerous known,
" The dangers self is lure alone"
Col. Boon, the chief of th'ge, aud the first
" hitr inhabitant of KcntuAty. died lately.
His name deserves to be recorded, not
only on account Of his dauntess courag"
and eccentric habits, but because his life
aud achievements present glowlng PIE
turc Of the snilrrlngs Of those Mhp snhdhcd
the western forests. He stands forward
too, a, IA prominent individual Of class
peculiar 10 the Unit.d States. The A.
mrrican who takes a retrospective we" oil
the early history of his country, must re.
gard with admiration the sturdy Uo'dsmdni
who, as the pioneer Of CIVILIZATION, hrst
laid the axe 10 the tree, aud made smooth
the road for others but he will find hun
an isolated being, protesting tastes ahd
habits of his own, and voluntarily support
ing incredibl hardship, peril, and pri'a.
ton, without the usual incentives Or the
ordinary rewards of courage.
In the wear I7G0, Daniel Boon, a rcspcc.
table farmer Of North Carolina, WAS led by
u restless migratory spirit into Tie forests
nf Kentucky, then an extensive Wilderness,
inhabited by numhrrless savage, tribes Il
as yet unexplored by civilized men. Pass
ing the Alleghauy ridge, who's" hiarona
prrcipces alone might have reprIlrd less
fdctermined hand-gulded only ny The
STARS, depending on game for Subsistence,
and on their o"n vigilance and pro""ss
for protection, Boon, with FIVE adycntur
Gus companions, '',unged into NE bound
less configuiiy ofstode, and bodily cot the
lie which bound them 10 society. Tue
mariner, when he looks abroad upon the
vast lnterminalhe waste, may feel de
pr, ssing, yet awfuIiy sublime sense oI
danger and soil;ndr but he has the ro1
solution Of boVping, that if me soi.i'' &c o
the ocean BIZ hoprlcss, ito daHgers are few
and easily surmop"'ed ,they exist rattle
in idea thao n r'.dhty. Boon I'D his com
p"n,on c.'ald cave 10 SUI animaiing re
nec''".,s. Il country called the Bloody
-.rou"'., from the cXterm'natinS chararir
of Ks conficts-among the savage fIibt
continually at war with zach oihrr' am an,
o3rering in nothing but their deadly ennl