Litchfield enquirer., 1831-09-29
THOUGHTS ON EMIGRATION.
From q Vermont Daper.

l AS uIS SuUJ0Ct dI u0 plCS0HS nAIN
 expressing the public mind, we shall give it a few passing thoughts. What then, we ask, are the vast advantages which those promise themselves, who are willing to sa- crifce friends and home and old institu- tions for the same things, which, if they have an existence, exist in the uncertain future and at distance On this subject, more than on any other, we believe pre- sent advantages ara overlooked, and pre- sent evils contemplated, and on the other hand, the anticipated good is gazed upon as pleasing vision and the associated evil ex. cluded. Now is there any better country, all things considered, than this same Yer mont? We answer no. It will not be dis puted that land of the same or superior fertility, can be purchased for the same or less money. But let it be remembered 1 that a mans life consistent not in the abundance ofthe things which he posses seth. To what purpose is it that man possesses his thousands of acres of fertile land at the west, if on the whole he does not enjoy life so we'll as he did on his hun- dreds here !? Yet one single evil may turn the scale of enjoyment immeasurably on the side of his present home. Ague and fever may do it. Let man grow pale, and pine, and shake in the hands of this stern enemy, or let his wife, or children, or the whole together, as is a very supposablc case, and he will soon undervalue the ex- tent and fertility of bis land and begin to value the health ofthe green mountain air. The single article of water will even turn the scale. The water of the west is uni- versally bad-the geological nature of the country necessarily renders it SO. But the pleasure and the health that follows the daily use of pure, delicious, cold water, is an important item in life.-Good air and good ,Oater are the two most essential things to our physical existence. Look at some parts of the world, where these evils exist in the extreme, and the subject speaks with power.
 But society-society is the great coun- terbalancing good of the eastern states-it is one which the first generation of emil grants cannot find at the west. Society and its institutions are of slow growth--they do not spring up in day; the enchant-. ment by which these are produced is the slow and patient labor of years on the raw material of the earth. Where in the great valley or its vicinity are the good and con- venient roads, intcrsecting in all directions every six miles square of territory? where the good and convenient schools within hailing distance of each other 2 where the pleasant neighborhoods of uniform kindred manners? where the houses of God for the preaching of his gospel, and the organized communities for the support of the gospel ! O, they do not exist, nor will they exist for the first generation to enjoy. Yet the blessings of society are almost the sum total of lfe-houses and lands, and herds and Aocks are as nothing in comparison. What fla man be monarch ot all he sur- veys," if he have not the privilege of fre- auent communion with kindred minds, and cannot participate with them in the earth and its products of which he is proprietor! !
 The Whtestown country and the Gene see country are now beginning to enjoy in profusion the blessings of New England but the inhabitants are not the first settlers. The first difficulties and hardships have been met and overcome by generation that have wrought and left their lands for others. Nor are the inhabitants chiefly the children of that generation, but those who have hocked in after society began to have an existence. Other men are reaping the labors of those who first toiled. So it will be with all the world west, and those who now go from Vermont to the great valley, will labor and enjoy not ;-they may lay foundation for postcrity of the third gen. eration, but not for themselves nor their own sons. Butperllaps this is admitted.- "We Go not expect to reap the advanta- ges proposed, ourselves; but we wish, since we are not rich enough to command the privileges ofNew England for our chil- dren, we wish to go and labor where we can secure for them such privileges" But we ask, why not trust Providence in this matter as well as in others The habits of hardihood, industry, economy, and good conduct in morals and religion, which New England inspires, constitute richer legacy by far than houses and lands. Possessing those they can gain these. wanting the for- mer, they cannot preserve the latter ifthey possess them. The sons of New England are proverbial for their enterprise-what IS it that makes them so ?-just the circum- stances of mediocrity, or penury if you please, in which they find themselves. Because they do not inherit wealth they are fitted by the inheritance of good habits to gain it. This makes them proverbial for enterprise, and for rapid advances from strengthened to affluent circumstances.-