Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-19

due, not Of centuries, but OF the life Of man,
We are told that
"a thousand years scarce serve to form state.
can hour may lay it in the dust"
The reverse seems almos, true. While we
contemplate in Europe the fate Of kingdoms,
tina, have been tottering for ages on the brink
Of decav, slowly dying for a thousand years,
we behold our own republics rising into matu-
ri,y within the experience Of generation
Were they not our countrymen, our fathers
did not the grey hairs Of few surviving We
terans carry conviction 10 our minds, we could
scarce credit the narrative Of the pioneers Of
the wesrern settlements. 1t was not ill 1864 +,
that even Daniel Boone, whose flight from vii,
derness to wilderness forms sort of Hegira
in the west, made his appearance in East Ten
nessee. The first cession Of land obtained by
treaty OF the Indians in this State is Of no old
er date than April, l775, momentous month,
as il The great order of events in the country's
progress required, that simultaneously as the
blow was struck, which gave indc pendence 10
America, the portals Of the western mountains
should be thrown open to her sons, who have
hitherto been forbidden, by authority from the
Crown, TO extend their se,ilt gents hey ond the
Ohio. All those high spirited Adventures cam
not have passed off the sage, who moved for
ward at The head OF The column Of The frs,
emigran,s. 1t is related hat in the year 1866,
not a white man was found settled on The Ten.
nessee or the Cumberland, 10y parry who, in
that year, descended these rivers. The popu
lalion Of The State, al the present period, can
no, be less than 100000
But it is no, merely the rapid growth Of the
western settlements into p"pulous States, that
surprises the traveller from the sea coast For
IL L.. ka ha, ho
finds il set down in the statistic al tables Of the
country, and because, as mere matter OF fig
ures, he :anno, but comprehend it. That
which s,rikes him with as:onishment is the ad
vanced stale Of the comnuDi y-the soc 'al i'm
provement which he witnesses He finds lhis
great region abounding not merely with fertile
lands, but with highly cultivated farms, filled,
not with wild hunters, but with substantial yeo-
many. The forests are intersp rsed, like the
regions he has left, with villages active with al
the ar, OF life. HI drscencs the mighty rivers
in one Of those hoa,ng Castles: half ware house
and half palace, which the genius OF Fulton
has launched on all gu. waters built here in
greater numbers than in the east, and with al
least equal magui6cenee; and on these rivers
he finds, from Pit,sbu e down to New Or
leans, a succession Of large towns saroassed
only by few Of the A lanlic ci,irs; growing
fast into rivalry wi h come Of them and al
ready rich, not merely in wealth, bur 10 all the
r, 6nements Of lif', and in all the Institutions
that adorn the nature OF social, intellectual,
moral and religious man.
Such a spectacle canGo, be contemplated
without mingled feelings Of as,onishment and
qualification. | am sure you Will pardon me
for adding, that il enhances the pleasure with
- ate ia
to find that among those who have swellcd tire
numbers OF this gica, 7amfIy-who have come
not merely TO share your prosperity, bSt in for
mer da5 $ to par,ake the more doubtful fortunes
Of the early settlements, are not few OF the
children Of that distant region. He reJoces
that he is able in addition 10 the ties OF COM
mon language, government and Laws 10 trace
those of common origin and Kindred bInod.--
Nor does he rejoice alone. The feeling am
sure, is mn,ual. This festive occasion, gentle
men, is pledge that you too are NOT less Will
ling to seize an opportunity however slight, Of
promoting lha mutual good will which is more
important for The perpe'uiiy OF Union than all
the forms OF the constitution.
The beloved land Of my birth gentlemen, com.
pared with yours, is generally speaking, bar
rem region Our rocks and lands yclid not
.lhuse rich harves,s which clo!he your more
fertile soil with plenty; nor are we connected
with our sister States by noble streams like
yours, which prnetrates The country for
thousands Of miles, and bind the deepss, in'e-
rior 10 the mar:s ofthe coss'. But may ven
ture 10 assure you, on behalf OF my fellow Cit
izrns a, home, tina, we behold, hot with envy
but with pride, your natural advantages and
wonderful progress. When we are visited by
strangers from Europe, after we have shown
them what is most worthy notice among cur
selves, we habitu.ly add, that t'is is lit
tie compared with The astonishing advances
mrn, of lli- West. We boast your improve
men,s rather than our own We are in the
habi, of contrasting our comparatively tardy
progress under foreign colonial system
with your more rapid growth, beneath the
che ering in fluence Of American Independence.
We look 10 you 10 complete the great under.
taking which was bu: begun by the fathers OF
tie Am rican people, who settled the Atlantic
coast. Rejecting men in that region never
regard the great work 10 be performed In
Ameri,a, as confined TO !hr settlement Of the
strip along The shore. 1t was 10 open the
q, boI. western world os an abode OF civilized