Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-30

| this than of any other portion of our country. OF
the Atlantic coast they have some general know
iedge arising from the length OF time since il was
settled, and the political events Of which il has
been the theatre; but the valley OF the Mississippi
seemed to have presented itself. as il were, sud
denly, to their imaginations, as most peculiar,
important, and hitherto comparatively unknown
gion. But from the time that have been led
moro particularly to reflect on the western coun-
try, in its social relations to the rest Of the Union
have felt an irresistible desire 90 cndcavor TO un-
derstand, from personal observation, the stipend
o,is work of human advancement which is here go
ing on, and of which the history of mankind Ger.
tainly affords no other example. I cannot but
think the most interesting subject Of contcmpla.
tion which the world at present affords. Apart
from the grand natural features of the scene. the
aspect OF populous towns springing like exha.a-
ton from the soil--of vacant or savage wilder
ness transmitted in one generation, into thickly
inhabited territory must certainly appeal strong
ly to the inquisitivc mind, as tho sight Of crumb-
ling towers-of postratc columns, of cities re-
nowued and powerful reduced TO miserable ruins
and crowded provinces turned into deserts. While
these latter objects thought sufficient to reward
the traveller for distant pilgrimage to foreign
countries, he may we'll be pardoned for feeling
himself attracted by the opposite spectacle which
is presented 10 him at home; scene not ofdecay
but OF teening life; OF improvement almost too ra-
| pid 10 seem the result ofhuman means.
| II - renzrk often quoted Of celebrated 70.
reign statesman fraileyrand,) that America pre-
sents, as you travel westward, in point Of space
the same succession OF appearances, which may be
traced IN Europe, as you go back in point Of time;
that as you move from the coast toward the in.
terror, on this con,iaent, you pass through those
stages OF civilization, which are found in Europe
as you follow its history back the primitive ages
Ii we take the aboriginal tribes oil continent in
TO the survey, hero is some foundation for the re-
mark, but applied to our population, il is ra-
Their ingenious than solid. The scene presented,
by our western country, is not that Of barbarous
race, growing up like the primitive tribes of E,,-
rope, into civilized nations; but it is the far more
interesting because the rapid and intelligent
progress OF civilized people, extending itself
through a rude wilderness and transplanting the
mature arts OF life into the hidden recesses Of the
forest. The traveller, who penetrates thousand
or two thousand miles from the coas, TO the interi-
or may ind, II 10 true. the log hut Of the first set
tiers, as he may nd within the limits Of PhilaIel-
iphia and New York, aye Of Paris OF London, ma
ny wretched howell far less commodious; but he
will also find here substantial neutrality-suspicious.
and even magnificent mansons--,hs aboics OF
competence and Of nce,-surrounled By
all the indications of the improved arts of life
| l have learned, to my astonishment that within
twenty years the city of Nashville has grown UP,
from not exceeding four or Eve brick houses, to ITS
present condition, os large, populous, and thry-
ing capital: the mart Of great and increasing
commerce, exhibiting, for tile number of its inha-
bitants many costly edifces, as sny city in the
Union. The log houses have disappeared, not in
the lapse OF two thousand, or even OF two hundred
!
tive forts of the old hunters gone, no. by the
decay OF ages, but in the progress OF society for
single generation.--Far we from the coast,
we walk abroad and find ourselves not in the rude
infancy OF society, but in the midst OF its nrts-its
retnements-and its elegancies,--thc product not
OF centuries but oil the life of man. we are told
that
"a ilonsld yen. scarce serve 70 f5rm stare,
t can tnur may lay in the dust"
The reverse seems aimns: true. While we
IA, Fna ~ a.,
have been lettering for ages the brink of decay,
slowly dying for thousand years. we behold our
own republics rising into maturity, within the
experience OF generation. Were they not our
counr5m men, fathers; did not The grey heirs Of
few surviving veterans carry conviction TO our
minds, we could scarce credit the narrative Of the
| pioneers OF the western settlements. 1t was not
| till l76!, that even DAME, Boone, whose flight
from wilderness 10 wilderness forms a sort of He
gira IN the west. made his appearance in East
| Tennessee. The FIRST cession OF land obtained by
treaty OF the Indians in this state is of no older
! date than April lT15, a momentous month, as If
The great order OF events in the counry's pro-
gross required, that simultaneously as the L,ogy
was struck, which gave independence TO America.
| the portals OF the western mountains should be
thrown open TO her sons, who had hitler been for
hidden, by authority from the crown. to extend
their settlements beyond the Ohio. (Cheers)-
al! those high-spritcd adventures cannot have
passed of the stage, who moved forward at the
head OF the column Of the first emigrants. L; is
| related that in the year IT66 not a white man was
found settled ou the Tennessee The Cuuber-
land, by party who in that year, descended these
rivers. The population of the state, at the present
period, cannot be less than 100000
hut II is not merely tho rapid growth OF the
| western settlements into populous states, that
surprises the traveller from the seacoas Foe this
growth he must be prepared, because he finds i;
set down in the statistical tables OF The country
| and because, as mere matter of figures, he can
not but comprehend it. That which strikes him
| with astonishment is the advanced state OF the
| COMMUNICATIVE social Improvement which he
witnesses. lie lnds this great region Astounding
not merely with fertile lands, but with highly cul-
tivated farms, filed, not with wild hunters but
with a substantial yeomanry. The forests are in
terspersed, like the regions he has left, with villa
ges active with all the arts OF liie:-Ie descends
the mighty rivers in Of those floating castles
half warehouse and half palace. which The genius
| OF Fulton has launched all our waters, built
here in greater numbers than in the east; and with
at least equal rnagniiicence; and on these rivers
| he finds from Pittsburgh down 10 New Orleans, n
succession Of large towns surpassed only by
few OF the Atlantic cities; growing fast into IL
valry with some Of them;--and already rich not
merely in wealth, but in all the refinements OF
life, and in all the institutions that adorn the ma
| ture Of social intellectual, mora, and religious
man.
Such a spectacle cannot be contemplated with
oct mingled feelings oi Astonishment and gratf-
cation. am sure you will pardon me for adding,
that il enhances the pleasure, with which son
Of New England contemp!ates IT, TO find that
among those, who have sweled the numbers OF
this great family; who have come not merely to
share your prosperity, but in former days 10 par
take the more doubtful fortunes of the early set
Elements, are not lew OF the children Of that dis.
tant region. lie rcjoices that he is able in addi-
| ton to the ties Of common language, government,
and laws, 10 trace those Of common origin and
kindred blood. Nor does he Teioics alone The
feeling, an sure, is mutual. This festive occa-
sion, gentlemen, is pledge that you TOO are not