The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-06


enrich the domain he has conquered, and
to rear and foster there other pioneers to
push farther onward toward the sands of
the great Pacific.
Such has been the onward progress OF
Jour country. But little more than two
hundred years have elapsed since the first
permanent colony from Great Britain
landed upon the snow-clad rock of Ply
mouth, to cooperate with others who had
erected few affairs along the more south
ern regions of the Atlantic shore. Like
the young pioneer, they came from home
with the blessings of millions Of their
countrymen upon their heads, the fire of
patriotism and religious zeal warming
their hearts, while upon their foreheads
they wore broad phylactery on which
was inscribed from the sacred scriptures
Of freedom
"Whcrc Liberty dwclls, there is my country"
The forest-the hood-the sayage-all
disputed their progress; but stout hands
and stouter hearts--the encouraging voice
OF contemporaries and the beckoning hand
of posterity--the righteousness of their
cause and the bright reward that glittered
upon the distant goal, all combined to
make them look upon danger as unworthy
Of notice, and to inspire them with that
courage which makes mountains dwindle
into mole-hills when intercepting the pro-
gross of mighty movement. As circle
follows circle when pebble is cast into
the quiet lake, so did civilization extend
its conquering influence from this little
nucleus, until cities, and villages, and
fields Of grain spread out like beauteous
panorama, 10 the very base ofthe towering
Alleganies. But there was one thing vet
to be accomplished The young pioneer
lelt his strength, and the new world he
had developed presented a far better scope
Tor his energies than the beaten track pur-
sued by his ancestors. He felt that
parental authority was ruinous restra'lt,
and compliance Herewith to be incompa-
tlble with the necessary ehort' Tor the
accomplishment Of his glori'us designs;
and he resolved to break Ale fetter. For
a time he laid aside the axe and the
plough and battled .nanfully for freedom.
The contest warlong and painful, but the
star of his ,lstiny lighted his path, the
principles of right were the "cloud by
dav APP the pillar of fire by night" and
arte seven long years of painful struggle,
ae eagle of victory perched upon his
standard, and the British lion retreated,
MANNED and alIrighted, to his lair.
Thus freed, our young republic opened
wide its benevolent arms as an asylum
for the oppressed of all lands. 1t had
changed the wilderness into a rich and
inviting territory, and vast flood of emf
grafton poured its tributary waters into
its bosom till the Alleganes no longer
formed an obstructing dyke. Over their
rough batilements mis- flood found its
way, and through tn. vast and fertile
valley of the Ohio irrigaing streams of |
physical strength, intelligelre and wealth &
flowed, spreading freshness and beauty .
wherever they penetrated. lear after f
year, new pioneers opened paths farther a
and farther into the wilderness, AM form 1
ed new channels for the tide of emisation C
and population, till now the Mississippi o
the father of floods--fows for hundrds Il
of miles amid the fields and dwellings ,fI Ii
a busy people. Now, when we speak oil G.
our country our domain--the term is II
vague and inconclusive. From the la
goons of Florida to the farthest verge of
the great lakes---from PASSPORT to Astoria, {
our domain is extended, and our "little c
piece of striped bunting" is acknowledged a
and revercd. i
The time has been, and that but recent i
ly when the star west" was our definite I
point of boundary. But now, where is {,
it? st. Louis, but few years since
town upon our western frontier has now y
become almost the centre of our union.
until recently, the wolf made his :,
LARA point more than thousand miles
from the sea-wiicrvcs are covered with .
he silks of India, the cutlery of Britain, :,
md the fruits of the islands of Oceanica. ;,
Follow the Missouri up even to the !,
elbow Stone, and the voices of friends Z
nd kindred greet you on every side. :,
Nay, stand upon the crest of the Rocky Z
and view upon one side the =
purs of the Alleganies, upon the other, 7
he waters of the Pacific, and around you
he vast expanse of mountain, prairie,