The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-02-11
is no resemblance between the cases upcu

land ancestors, to avoid persecution, or
came hither al their own charges, and OF. !
ten at the ruin Of their fortunes, as private !
edventurers. Generally speaking, they de-
rived neither succour nor protection from
their governments at home. Wide, in
deed, is the difference between those cases
and ours. From the very origin Of the
government, these Western lands, the just
protection Of those who had settled or
should settle on them, have been the lea.
ding objects in our policy, and have led to
expenditures, both of blood and treasure,
not inconsderable; not indeed exceeding
the importance Of the object, and not yield
ed grudgingly or reluctantly certainly; but
yet not inconsiderable, though necessary
sacrifices, made for high proper ends. The
Indian title hos been extinguished at the
expense ofmany millions. Is that nothing
There is still much more material consId.
GRAFTON. These colonists, if we are to coll
them so, in passing the Allegheny, did not
| pass beyond tho care and protection Of heir
own government. Wherever they went,
| the public arm was still stretched over
them. A parental government at home
was still ever mindful OF their condition and
their wnnts: and nothing was spared, which
q Just sense Of their necessities rcquired.
IS il forgotten, that il vas one of the most
arOuous duties Of the government, in its
earliest years. to defend the frontiers a.
gsnsl the northw estcrn Indiens? Are the
nisforiunes and suffering under Harmar
and 81. Clair, not worthy to be remember.
ed? Do the occurrences connected with
these military efforts show an unfeeling ne.
glect Of western interests? And here, sir.
what becomes Of the gcnlleman's analogy!
What English armies accompanied our an
cesiors TO clear the forests Of a barbarous
foe? What treasures Of the Exchequer
were expended in buying up the original
title TO the soil? What governmental arIn
held its Egis over our fathors' heads, as
they pioneered their way in the wilderness:
Sir, il was not ill Gen. Waync's victory, in
1874, that it could be said. We had conquer.
ed the ssvages. Itwas not till that period
that the government could have considered
itscfos having established an entire abili.
ty TO protect those who should undertake e
the conquest of the wilderness. And, here,
sir, at the epoch of 1894, let rs pause, and
survey the scene. II is now thirty five
years since that scene actually existed.
Let us, SIR look back, and beholdit. Over
all TINT is now Ohio, there then stretched
one vast wilderness, unbroken, except by
two small spots of civilized culture, the one
at Marietta, and the other at Cincinnati.
At these little openings, hardly each pins
point upon the map, The arm Of the from
tiersman had levelled the forest, and let in
the sun. These little patches OF earth,
and themselves almost shadowed by tho
overhanging boughs of that wilderness,
which had stood and perpetuated itself,
from century TO century, ever since the
creation, we're all that had then been rem.
deTed verdant by the hand Of man. In an
extentofhundreds, andthousands ofsquare
miles, no other surface of smiling green at,
tested the presence of civilization. The
hunters path crossed mighty rivers.fowing
IN solitary grandeur, whose sources lay in
remote and unknown regions ofthe wilder
ness. II struck upon The north, on vast
inland. sea, over which the wintry tempcsis
ragged rs on the ocean;aIl around was bare
creation. Il was fresh, untouched, un-
bounded, magnificent wilderness. And,
sir, what is it now Is it Imagination only.
or CAN'T possibly be fact, that presents such
a change, as surprises and astonishes us.
when we turn our eyes 10 what Ohio now
ls2 Is II reality, or dream, that in so
short period even as thirty FIVE years,
m independent State, with a million OF
people' a million OF inhabitants! an q.
mount Of population greater than that OF all
the cantons in Switzerland equal to one
thiTd all the people Of the Uoi,ed States
when they undertook 10 accomplish their
independence. This new member Of the
! Republic has already left far behind her, a
majority Of the old States. She is now by
the side of Virginia and Pennsylyania; and
in point OF numbers. will shortly admit no
equal but New York herself. If, sir, we
may Judge Of measures by their results,
what lessons do these facts read us. upon
the policy Of the government? What IN
ferenccs do they nuihorise, upon the gene.
raj question Of kindness, or unkindness +?
What convictions do they enforce, as to
the wisdom and ability, on the one hand,
or the folly aud incapacity, on the other, OF
our general administration OF western af.
fairs? Sir. does it not require some roy.
ton OF self respect in us, TO Imagine, that
if our light had shonc on the path Of gov
ernmcnt, if our wisdom could have been
consulted in its measures. more rapid ad.
vance 10 strength md prosperity would
have been experienced: For my own part
while I am struck with wonder at the sue
cess, ] a. - look with admiration at the wis
dom and foresight which originally arrrng
cd md prescribed the system for the settle
! ment Of the public domain. Its operation
hiss been, without moments interruption
to push the settlement Of the western coun
try to the full extent Of our utmost means
Mr. Hsync said he wanted no permanen
sources Of income, inasmuch as the admin