The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-09-16

from border 10 border. IL is true, generally
that condensed populations have risen more IA
pldly and matufed earlier In letters, ,arms, and
manufactures but, their decay has fastened
by correspondent premature corruptlons amid
higher and greater temptations The an
cient city OF Florence, whose Italian tel
ritory was extremely limited, IS memorable
instance Of this truth, and TO this example might
be added many others. The nations of The
earth were astonished, in the middle centuries,
by her learning, her architecture, her music, hei
painting, her commerce, and her manufactures,
and while the humblest cOoveniences Of life
were scarcely 10 be had among them in the
business of agriculture and all domestic pursuits
her skill supplied her with every want, and
ministered TO her varied taste and luxurious en-
Joyment. But Florence was compressed with
IN narrow compassionate was no outlet 10 the
enterprise Of the laborer, no hope, no reward, no
pleasing future to the poor. His humble dwell
ling stood forever in the shade OF The lofty pa
lace-his life was dreamy round Of mental
dutles-his generation relapsed into caste
Wealth propagated itself, and the patriclan be-
came his master. The great city OF Florence
sank almost as rapidly as it rose, as have The
hundred cities whose people have been confined
within the narrow circle OF few miles, and
where compression causes vice and temptation,
and the greatest extremes of wealth aud poverty
This has been The history Of The ioorld. Those
governments, other things being equal, have
lasted longest in the largest nations, and who,
when, instead oil being compelled 10 restrain
their population to certain limit, have given IL
free scope, holding it in the paterna hand. Al
this moment such is the state of Chrlstendom.
The only danger, at any time, from extension,
is the Introduction Of adverse and different races.
But give TO the poor-to the laborer-the honest
husbandman-the promise OF improving his
condllion-land upon which he fells his own
forest trees, plants his own orchard, and builds
his own cabin, and with his improved fortunes,
you will improve his virtues, increase his stake
in society, and make him good citizen
and brave soldier. Compel him, however,
to remain forever within the sound OF the spin
die and the loom of his rich neighbor, and mo-
nopollst manufacturer, and to have no hope but
that he must work at his wheel, and ply his ba-
ton, and his children after him, for longer gene
ratons than his simple mind can count, and
hope dies within him; he continues poor, hum
Bile, and depressed all his lfe--he never owns
an acre of land-never horse of his own, and
his whole existence resolves itself into ques-
ton Of bread and clothing. A hardy popula-
ZION, honest, industrious and virtuous, spread
over a large surface-the larger the better, if
they are all the same-never can be corrupted.
A hero or a statesman would be as likely to
spring up on the banks of the Trinity or the
Rio del Norte, as amid he highlands Of the
Delaware or inhallng the atmosphere of Lowell.
Ia such country, the poorest man, with his
axe daily upon his shoulder, or following his
plough, is sensible that his child is probably
born 10 higher destiny than his own. The
Far West has already multiplied such examples,
and in country such as Texas, it is certain,
if we held 1t, of the thousands and thousands
who would go there, and might have land for
settling IL, the number OF the fortunate would be
increased in proportion TO its very superior ad-
vantages. OF all countries in the world, Re
public such as ours, with population so re-
markable for It's honesty, industry, enterprise
and love OF freedom, requires a widespread
territory. We do not want 10 condense
closely, for long, long time, our popula-
ton, as If we were raising Princes, MOBILES,
and nabobs of wealth, instead of eminent and
vIrtuous citizens and devoted servants of the
peope-who, at their head, when they are ex-
tended far and WIDE neither become corrupt
themselves, nor can they corrupt their consti-
tuency. These are the centuries of standing
armies, aud of enormous individual wealth
forming, III themselves, the great enemies OF
public freedom. They are the privileged or
ders!-th military, privileged 10 rule, TO enjoy
pay, perquisites, and power, and to wear swords,
and epauet,es. The rich claim to scheme and
TO dictate The knight, and the feudal lord,
have given place TO these-and if we are TO have
an idle, and dangerous nobility, when we
grow older, these are the classes from which
they will come, and a population constituted as
have said, competent IN their circumstances,
strong in their individual will, virtuous, and
brave, and spread far and wide, will be their
l. IL.
will too of sectional dogmas in politics, mon
strostIes in society, and of sectional blgotry in
religion.
have hastily glanced at these considera
tons, because the contrary, as being an objec
ton to Texas, was gravely maintained before
an enlightened and dgnihed legislative body.
But of all that has been said against the
annexation Of Texas, nothing, it has seemed
10 me, has been more violative of good
taste, kind feeling, Christian sympathies, the
customs and the habits of our countrymen, than
the UNMEAsURED ABUSE AND RIDIcULE FROM The
SAME QUARTER, which has been hesped upon the
men who emlgraed to Texas They were
charged as being guilty of insuuectionn-n
allowed the honors of a revoution-but that
theirs was a scheme Of "personal ambition"
ofand- iobbng,n to "seize upon great public
domain to "parcel it out smongn them, aud
that II was JWie 70 tdh ~ IeTidh HOtTfy,
as hduing any cause, any impulse, bm his
might turn here 10 our countrymen of Ten
nessee, and ask them, are these your opinions
Their answer, think, would be heard in tones
Of thunder, which the dullest cars could not
mistake.
We are an emigrating people-and have al.
ways been in advance OF the action Of the Gov
eminent. Tennessee and Kentucky were set
tied at The brecch of the rife, and those who
went there wanted land-the bone and slnew-
the bold Indian hghters-but they did not want
II for any mean purpose. They had wives and
children. They were poorer than their neigh
bors whom they left, in many instances, aud
they wanted to better their condition and many
a noble patriot has maintained the honor, and
the glory Of his country, against our Blush
foes, il the war OF the Revolution, aud in the
last war, who emigrated under these cream
stances, and whose descendants now enjoy the
n Lob md