Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-06-22

progress OF society for single generation. Far us
wc from the coast, we walk abroad md find our
selves not in the rude infancy of society. bat in the
ipdst OF lts artists re6nencnts and it's elegancies
tho product not Of centuries, but of the life Of
nan.-We are told that
"a thousand years scarce serve TO form state.
IAN hour may lay ii in the dust"
The reverse seems almost true. While we con-
template IN Europe the fate of Kingdoms, that have
been totterng for ages the brink of decay slowly
dying Tor thousand years, We behold our repub
hes rising into maturity within the experience Of a
generation. Were they not our countrymen, orr ia
theirs did not the grey hairs Of few surviving We
tcrans carry conviction to minds we could scarce
credit the narrative of the pioneers of the western
settlements. II was not till 1904, that even Daniel
Boone, whose flight from wilderness 10 wilderness
forms sort of egira in the west, made his appear
ancc IN East Tennessee. The first cession of land
obtained by treaty oftc Indians in this Statc is ofno
Older date than April, 1775, momento,s month,
as IL the great order of events in the countrys pro.
Srcss required, that simultaneously as the blow was
struck, which gave Independence to America, the
portals oil the western mountains should be thrown
lopen to her sous, who had hitherto been forbidden,
by authority FROM tho Crown, to extend their settle
ments beyond the Ohio. All those high spirited ad-
venturers cannot have passed off the stage, who mo
vcdforward at the head of the column Of the first emf
grants. 1t is related that in the year 1866, not a
white man was found scttlo! the Tennessee the
Cumberland, by party who, in thaty ar!dcsccndcd
these rivers population of the State at the pre-
s5nt period, cannot be less than 600 900.
But it is not merely the rapid growth ofthc west
cru settlements into populous States. that SUR
prscs the traveller from the coast. For this
growth he must be prepared because he finds il set
down III the statistical tables Of the country aud be-
cause, as mere matter of figures, he cannot but
comprehend IT. That which strikes him with aston
siiment ID the advanced state of the community
the social Improvement which he witnesses. lie finds
TINS great region Astounding not merely with fertile
ianus, ont with highly cultivated farms filled, not
with wild hunters but with substantial yeomanry.
Inc forests are intersperscd like the regions he has
ct, with villages active with all the arts of life He
descepds the mighty rivers in one Of those floating
castles, half warehouse and half palace, which the
genus of Fulton has launched m all our waters;
ouu mere In greater numbers than in the east i with
at least equal nagnifcencc; and these rivers he
finds, from Pittsburg down to New Orleans, sue
cesSon OF large towns surpassed only bya few OF
inc Atlantic cities; growing fast into rivalry with
some OF them; but in all the rcfnements of life, and
IN all tho institutions that adorn the nature Of social
intellectual, moral and religious man.
Such spectacle cannot be contemplated with
out mingled feelings Of establishment and qualification.
am sure you will pardon for adding, that it en-
hances the pleasure with which son of New Eng
land contemplates it, to find that among those who
have swelled the numbers of this great family who |
have come not merely to share your prosperity, but
In former days to parake the doubtful fortunes
OF the early settlements, are not few Of the chill
dten OF shat distant region. He rejoices that he is
able IN addition to the ties Of common language gov
ernmen and laws to trace those of origin and kim
1red blood. Nor does he rejoice alone. The fee |
ing nm sure, Is mutual This festive occasion, |
gentlemen is pledge that you too not less will |
lug TO seize an opportunity however slight of pro-
noting that mutual good will which is more irnpor-
ant for the perpetuty ofthe Union than all the forms
Of the constitution.
The beloved land Of my birth gentlemen, compar-
ed with yours, is generally speaking, a barren re
gion. Our rocks and lands yield not those rich har
vests which clche more fertile soil with plenty;
nor are we connected with sister States by no.
Die streams like yours, which pcnetratcs the
ny Tor thousands of miles, and bind the deepest IN
cror TO the rarts OF the coast. Bnt I may ven |
ure to assure you on behalf of my fellow citizens
home, that we behold not with envy but with pride |
iour natural advantages and wonderful progress.
w hen we are visited by strangers from Europe, af-
er we have shown them what is most worthy no
ice among ourselves, habitually add, that this is
title compared with the astonishing advancement of
he West. We boast Of your improvements rather |
han our own. We are in the habit Of contrasting
'ur comparatively tardy progress under foreign |
;oonia system with your more rapid growth, beneath
me cheering influence Of American Independence.
we look to you to complete the grand undertaking
which was but begun by the fathers Of the Amerl-
can people, who settled the Atlantic coast ReAeo-
ting men IN that region regard the great work
10 be performed in America, as confined to the set
tement OF the strip along the shore. II was to open
the whole western world as an abode of civilized
Ing your share of the noble work. Two centuries
nave passed away since the first settlers of the Allan
TIC coast were struggling with those hardshps, which
the generation Immediately preceding you. was here
called to encounter, and we cordially ro;occ that
period OF thirty years has purchased for yon that
curity and prosperity, which were with US the
growth OF n century and half We feel happy in
the belief, that Ill your further advancement you will
not forget the cradles of the American race and that
yon will bear in kindly remembrance the men and
tne deeds which arc among the dearest titl.s Of
our glory. In casting the eve over he man of
your State, VIC behold among the names of
your counties, these Of our Lincoln, Green,
knox, Warren and Perry. We feel that our
hearts are thus linked together by tho tie oil
common devotion TO the precious memory of
our great and good men; and we confidently rest in
the assurance, that when the present generation,
with US MS with you, shall have passed away, our
children will mite with yours in the tribute Of graf
tudc TO those who whether at the North, or the
South, the East tho West have triumphed or
'lcd have stood o fallen in their countrys cause.
Gentlemen, it has been Justly stated that when
e next census shall DC taken, the valley Of the Mis-
'lssipPi will probably be found to contain popula-