Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-11-05


lation amounting to l,555,l63, having a
territory, not greatly exceeding that of
Illinois and Missouri; and soil, which,
take II on myself to say, is decidedly
inferior to ours.
Should Missouri and Illinois then,
within the next thirty years populate as
rapidly as those four states have done,
within the last thrty-and | cannot
doubt that they will, even more rapidly,
after making proper allowance for The
difference in territorial extent, they will
at that time contain l,375,O97 inhabit-
ants, about 1000 more than the great
state OF New-York contained in 1920.
have said that Illinois and Missouri are
likely to populate more rapidly in future
than those states have done heretofore,
and that it must be so, seems TO me to
be necessary effect from existing eau
ses.
In 1870 the whole population of the
United States amounted 10 but 1929 1856,
and it was principally from this stock
that the western states were peopied.
In 1920 the population of the United
States amounted to 1854 Ais, thus pre-
senting stock from which to people H.
inois and Missouri, nearly three times
as great as that, from which The other
western states commenced receiving
their population. But it must also be
remembered, that Kentucky, Ohio, and
Tennessee, are now so fully peopled
that they have become considerable emf
grating states themselves. That they
are SO, is verified by the fact, that almost
an equal moiety Of the present popula-
ton of both Illinois and Missouri is from
those states. The probability, and that
TOO supported both by reason and expe-
rience, is, that within thirty years, MIS-
souri, and Illinois will contain a popula-
ton of not less than 100000, and that
the surplus produce, or commercial in
terests, Of such people will give full
employment to the canal.
With such prospects before us, can
not doubt that this canal should be state
concern THAT the rich harvest which
il is destined to yield, should so into the
treasury of the state. 1t would, in less
than thirty years, relieve the people from
the payment of taxes and even leave a
surplus, to be applied to other works Of
public utility. The present dropping
state of our finances, instead OF producing
despair, should, as it will do, invigorate
the enterprise Of our people, and quick
en- the vigilance and economy OF their
public functlonaries. When pressed to
,la l., # Ia he
people ana their servants will rise, III tho
elasticity of their patriotism, with de-
termination to surmount all dlflicu Ines
and we shall be able to meet the requis-
tie expense of TINS undertaking without
trouble or distress.
Should the state find no other practical
Die alternative than to pledge its resour-
ces to reimburse the loan, think it ought
not to be doubted, that it could, IN that
way, borrow the money from eastern "a
pitalists, to carry the work into effect,
the great advantage which the state OF
New-York would derive from il, IN be-
coming the cheap depository and mar, OF
our commodities, as wei! as by increas-
ing the navigation on her great western
canal, could not fail to enlist both the
state, and its individual capitalists, so
much in its favor, as to secure us great
and efficient aid from that quarter. But
proper measures being adopted to com
mand them, we have the means within
our own reach.
Congress has granted to this state for
the support of schools, largely upwards
of a million of acres of land and with
the assent OF Congress either TO pledge
or sell portion OF them, The state could
raise the money. Or should Congress
consent to an application of the tnree
per cent. fund, that has also been SCI
apart Tor the support OF schools, with
stipulation on the part OF the state TO APP
ply The prof 5 of the canal, to the sup
port OF schools, it might also in that
way be raised; and by either exchange,
! thinklit must be obvious, tha, he means
for the support Of education would be
increased.
Blu, this is work in which the nation
is interested, and which the General
Governm ent should therefore aid in exc
cutting. AS lIgament to bind the Union
together, no work OF the same magni-
tude can be more useful. Occupying,
a, Illinois and Missouri do, a central
position in tho great semi-circie OF states
on the North aud West, and command
ing, as they may, the commerce OF the
trhee GREAT rivers OF the west, the Ono,