The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-28


red by Gen. Lewis Cass at the Grand Canal cele-
bration of the Fouth, at For, Wayne, Ia, has been
published. We copy extract, contrasting the
past and the present in the west, as noted by the
orator.
Scarcely two centuries have passed away since small
band Of adventures seated the shores
Of distant ocean, An interminaole oi est was around
hem, and its recesses were occupied by fierce
and vindictve foe They came out to suffer In
her day, bat to become glorious in their ge-
neraton. And well did they fulfil their mission.
Where the forest which shut them in and where
is the Indian who roamed and guarded in Both are
laid low. The great wave Of civilization has swept on
wards bearing the forest and It's tenants till this
little band has become mighty people, who have spread
the providenceof God still to go till checked by one
oil those Establishments by which the moral government
the World INDICATED and the ingratitude of nations
punished Well may exclaim In the language OF in.
spration he lines have fallen to in pleasant places,
yea. we have goody heritage" when we survey this
noble country between the Lakes, the Ohio, and the
Mississippi, where have established dwelling
There probably region upon the lobe better fitted
for the residence of and for the support of the pro-
auctions which essential to his wants. All those who
participated in its first settlement have not yet passed
away and the survivors find the members OF
community of three millions of people. have myself
witnessed much OF this progress and have had share
OF its tolls and rewards 1t ia forty three years since
landed upon the northern shore OF the Ohio young ad-
venturer seeking the land PROMISE which has been TO
him. asto many others the land OF performance At that
time the Territory OF Indiana not organized and the
States OF Ohio, Indiana Illinois and Michigan, and the
Territory OF Ouisconsiu formed one government under
bring before you the incidents of frontier life the
difficulties and privatons and serings in peace and in
war which the forest acquired and reclaimed and
finally subdued During many this region had its
full share otroubles The line of canal was bloody
path which has seen many deed Of horror And this
peaceful has had its Moloch and the records OF hu
terrible examples OF cruel
ty than offered at his shrine The Miami ndans.our
predecessors in the occupation Of this district had ter
rble institution whose origin and objects have been lost
in the darkness Of aboriginal history but which was
continued late period snd whose orgies held
maneatng society and the duty Of its associates to
them for ms nurnoss Th. members Of this society be
longed to particular family and the dreadful inherit
lance descended to all the children male and female
The duties il imposed could not he avoided and the
tons of religion added to the obligations Of imme
mortal usage. The feast was solemn ceremony at
which whole tribe collected actors specta
tors The miserable victim bound to a stake and
burned slow fire. with all the refnements of cruelty
which savage ingenuity could invent. There was ira
dictionary ritual which regulated with revolving preci
son VIII Die Of procedure nj these ceremonies
Lattery the authority and obligations OF the institution
had declined, and presume it has now wholly disapc
pesred But have and conversed with the head of
the family, the chief of the society, whose name was
White Skin with what feelings Of disgust need not de-
scribe.
In coming to this place. passed along the canal and
marked with delight tho beautiful whose bank
il Is constructed. and the charming country to which 1t
givesnew life and value. was forcibly struck with the
contrast this Journey and former Nature
prodga Of her avors the valley Of the Maui
mee forget the first time II caught my eye.
II was at the commencement Of the late war, when the
troops destined the defence Of Detroit had parsed
through the forest from Urbana to the Rapids
The season had been wet and much OF the
country low, and the whole of it unbroken by n
single settlement, and we had to cut our road and
provisions and baggage with great labor
and difficulty. We heartily tired OF the march and
longing for its termination when attained the
brow of the table land through which the Maumee has
made for itself and fertile region for those who
have the good fortune to occupy H. Like the Mariner
felt had reached port; like the wanderer,
home. have since visited the three other quarters oil
the globe and nassed over many lands and seas But my
memory still cpgs TO the propect which hurst us
in bright dav in June, from the valley of Maumee, to
the river vending beyond view to the RAPIDS
presenting form Of the most picturesque objects to
the banks clothed in deep verdure and to the rich hot
denuded oftmber though inviting the labor and
enterprise ofhe settler In subsequent Journey led by
official duty assembled the river in birch There
something romantic associated with that mode of
veyance but il pals upon the traveller During
many mile and hour, have been borne by this
aboriginal ski over the lakes rivers of the north
west and seen il carried through the dense forests
wild portages and then hoated some little stream
which gradually sweed by successive tributaries be
came large river. II thus passed from Lake Su.
perior to the Mississippi launching frail bark upon
rvule and descending before the peculiar charsc
terrs of the stream announced that we were upon that
mighty river which from its fountains the North
to tn tropical Here where your canal prepares to
eft the river with nv birch and placing upon
n wagon IL was transported TO Little river where my
faithful voyagers in IT, end oined me AT the
White Raccoon's village, 10 which rode. and where
passed the night My friend the RaccooD. treated us
with hospitality but he little too hospitsbeto
himself and his kindred. He produced his keg OF fire wa
do honor the arrival Of the Che kee MAN, but
fortunately he too free at his own feast One OF
those scenes Of followed which at
the bane and the attendant Of Indian life and retired to
my blanket leaving host and his friends at their or
gies. In the morning embarked upon the Wabash and
descended that river to it's mouth. stopping occasionally
to examine and admire the beautiful country through
which flows unsurpassed probably upon the face othe
globe TO these incidents OF frontier life TO place
holder relief the change which has rescued this region
from the Indian, and has crowned with the precious
work Of civilization.
The two sister and contiguous States OF Ohio and In
diana. have projected and compile this great commnn
would not be suited to the present sion This not
day for figures but for results know and we all Know
that great enterprise has been accomplished and we
have together to rejoice IT, We have come TO feel
and not TO calculate stupendous undertaking has been
brought to fortunate termination amid many difficulties
and nv the and perseverance, OF two new states
the oldest Of which has Just its orteh anniversary
Another route has been opened by which the two treat
Republic united Together giving 70 the
fertile country along II choice of markets and chance
of better price and quicker sale. Tis the second
mngling Of the waters Of the Lakes and Of the Misss
sipp. third route 10 in progress which may trust
will long be pleted. And there others, form
I'd by nature and which require but little aid from
TO render them useful They will he undertaken and
accomplished and the table land which divides those
great internal from the Ohio and Mississippi will be
frrowed by canals wherever the country permits and
its wants require.
Our works of Internal Improvement were honorable
in the conception and many OF them have been veor
ousy and successfully prosecuted The system has been
checked temporary causes hut these gradually.
passing away and then the great work will again
More doubt planned than could he immediately
The whole project was too gigantic Tor
prompt execution. But this fault, u fault be finds its
origin our NATIONAL character. There 10 a reckless
ergy about If NAV he allo wed the expression which
prompts TO the most gieautc enterprises This arior
OF expectation and confidence In the result lie nj the
foundation OF all great The will 20 dare NUT
prec edo the power do. Even rashness is sometimes
wisdom. He who stops coov to calculate step in
life indeed toward but he will find him
self behind his cotemporares Onward sthe great word
Of our age md country Never in the history OF man,
has human exerton been displayed and rewarded,
than in the miracles OF Improvement, which start up
Lo,. 1haa,, ara1 md and
from Plymouth and Jamestown 10 Lake Superor and the
and from the landing Of the Pilgrims to the
whose have this dav To hail
and which opens the table lands Of the Lakes both the
Atlantic ocean and the Gulf Of Mexico
"A p "a