Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-03-12

by considerations growing out of the peculiar
character oi our government, infinitely more
important than any which relate merely to the
economy of national wealth. There is not,
| upon the face of the earth, nation 10 deeply
and vitality Interested in the improvement of
the facilities of internal communication, as the
| u. s.: for whatever differences of opinion
may prevail upon other subjects, all of us must
agree that our hopes of preaching the high and
happy destinies for which Pro, dence seems To
haS. fUrmedthis country aud this government,
absolutely depend upon the preservation of
the Union. And what are the sources from
which danger Is To be unprecedented in this par
tcular? Dissimilarity of interests, suspicion
of social aud commercial intercourse, and ID
consequent alienation of feeling among the
great geographical subdivisions Of the country.
Intercourse is the only eaectual preventive.
This, sir, is not matter of mere speculation.
The most salutary effects have resulted from
the intercourse between the Northern and
Southern States an intercourse founded upon
commercial and other accidental relations,
and facilitated by the channels provided by
nature. So pa1pable has been the effect of
this intercourse in correcting mutual preudi-
ces, that Il cannot have escaped the most
careless observer. Without this, it is mpossi-
BILE TO say what would have been the effect of
our political divisions, in a crisis which ha,
happily passed away, or what would now
have been the state of feeling existing between
the Northern and Southern portions of this
Union. But, united as they are by the strong
ties of interest, cnnsecra,ed by social kindness
and mutual good Offices, these PORTIONS of the
Union can never separate.
| But, sir, there is, in another direction dam
ger which cannot be Disguised No states
man, OF enlarged views and patriotic feelings,
can look with indifference apun the situation
oil the Western Country, aud the relation il
bears Ia tins Uninn. Il is AN old maxim that
rivers unite nations, but mountains separate.
them. And why is itso? Because rivers ia
cIlitate Intercourse aud mountains prevent IL.
frus, shall not be- misunderstood in whai
say the Western States, On this delicate,
subject. There is M portion uf this UniOn II
make 40 exception more Justly dis,ns ushud
for lofty and patriotic feeling than the Western
states. Nor is there any portion of the Union,
AT this time, more ardent and devoted la It's
attachment IN the general government. But
what produces this attachment : The ties uf
| consequently, and the power of youthful as
sociations Few of the citizens, who consti.
tutc the governing power in those states, can
look around them for the ton;s of their ia
theirs. These Repositories of the dead, and
many living objects Of their alfrclionate re-
YET tWUuS, nil rms Sluf al
the mountains. But time is gradually weak
ening these tics Ofnaturr, and when u few
generations more shall haze passed AWAY The.
bond of utilization whicl, nuw untes them To
us will br entirely dissolved. With these i'm
pressve facts before us, we should be- ui-
worthy OF the high Il ust coniided to us IL We
did not endeavor, By ii pro,ideut forecast, To
substitute new principle of attachment for
| those which must so soon cease la Operate.
Let us, then, provide the substantial ties
oil commercial interest. Ii is my Deliberate
opinion, that, ii the entire commercial sup
plies of The Western states should be perma-
nently derived through the port of New Or
leans, and no commercial intercourse should
subs'st between them and the Atlantic states
II would be Impossible for all the power of
parchment and political organization 10 hold
this Union together for a halfI century lon
ger. In this view of the subject, have often
reflected that the difficulties incident 10 the
navigation ofthe Gulf of Mexico, and of the
river Mississippi, we've kindly Intended by
Providence In promote our union aud great
ness. rejoice that those difficulties do exist :;
and, trust, we shall be wise enough To- inn
prove them to our advantage. Let us, then,
cut down and level the mountains, not like
the Persian tyrant 10 suhjugale nations, but
In order To achieve u more glorious conquest
the subJugatioG of our own mutual prrudices
Sir, III whatever light view these improve
msDts, whether in reference 10 The dii.,,sien Of
Intelligence, the increase Of the defensive
power at the country, or the perprtualion of
the Union, they are essential To our ex-
istence and prosperity as a nation, aS the
veins which give circulation to the principle
of animal life are TO The health aud ,gur of
the animal system.
There is another view of this subject 10
YyhIrh 4 shall meraly call ,,ff
committee, having neither time nor strength
for ITS full devrlopemrnt. A. attentive eKami-
nation Of the piIy los"phy of national charac-
ter and national greatness will lead Us To the
conclusion. that the common efforts and COM
mon sacrifices of the " hole people, made
with view To some great national object, are
absolutely Indispensable TO the existence of
these attributes. Hence. the influence of war
in calling into action sentiments of patriotism
and nationality. and the tendency of peace
to Cause these lofty principles of action to de-
generate into srllishuess and want Of public
spirit. Sir, what would this nation be with.
nut those military achievements, which arr.
80 many monuments Of our common exrr
lions? Strike fr"m the record of history the
heroic deeds OF ouTlancestOrs, and the more
recent events which illustrate the yalor and
patriotism of the present generation, and the
people of thes" United States would he re-
duced to mere multitude of human beinns
animated by no common principle, and united
by no commsD sympathies, destitute of those
moral characteristics and sentiments, without
which all the physical elements ofpower and
greatness cannot constitute nation. But. sir,
| trust that military achievements are not the
only means of giving us national character
and national sentiments. Let us substitute
moral for military glory the achievements
Of national Industry, directed by an en!isht-
ened policy To The great Improvements CON