True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1845-10-08
THE u. STATES A CONTINENT

shadows before. Is not this the case in
relation TO the vast and almost indefinite
expansion Of cur Republic of confederated
States, blended into one mighty nation for
great aud common purposes, and yet pre-
serving their separate identity in reference
TO local and domestic affairs? When we
emerged from orr colonial state, through
n war of revolution, peril, and suffering
into the triumphant condition of national
independence, we numbered but thirteen
States with q population of but three mil
lions, and owned a territory encompasSed
by the stormy Atlantic on the east, the
fathers of rivers on the west, the great
lakes on the north, and a foreign power
on the south, bordering the Mexican Gulf
ard commanding the mouth of the AlSsiS-
sippi, the great outlet ofour western com
merce In less than seventy years with
what giant strides have we marched to
strength and greatness Orr northern
and eastern boundaries remaining as they
were, in the great outlines impressed by
The hand of nature, the acquisition of Lou
iSiana and Florida, obtained by peaceful
negotiation and purchase, has given us the
mouth Of the Mississippi and the secure
natural boundary of the Gulf of Mexico;
and both maritime discovery and expora-
tion, by land and river have yielded us a
tide TO transcend the Hockey Mountains,
and claim the vast Pacific as our western
boundary Recent negotiation, too, has
added to our already vast domain the fair
and fertile plains cf Texas, peopled with
those who are bone of our bone and flesh
of our nesh our kindred and brethren in
blood and institutions. The original num-
her of our sister Repub'icS,-the glorious
old Thirteen, which biazed in emblem.
alic and starry ehnlgcnce on our revou-
tionary banner are more than doubled in
nuniber--our territory has expanded in
vet larger ratio, until lavcd by two oceans
and rs well By the great Southern Gull,
as the vast inland seas Of the Norih-and
our population has swollen in seveniold
increase, from three to perhaps twenty.one
millions Corresponding, too, has been
our progression in oil the elements of ma
iional greatness and renoVn, and the IN
quill colonies Of England now rank in the
national scale with the mighliest powers
Of the earth, and will not Shun a compar.
son with the mother country, from which
they wrested their independence Our
population continues to increase in scale
of progression unexamped in the history
of the past, and new States continually
crowd on the field and heighten the luStre
Of our stalspangled banner. Blessed, too,
are We with a political constitution framed
with such profound wisdom and skill. that
il seems capable of expansion, in well ba.
lhnced rule, over at least all contiguous
territory--being so admirably constructed
and exquisitely poised that, according TO
Mf. Jefferson, every new state added 10
our republican family, at once increases
our national power, and YIELDS the more
securely our national Uuion--as, to use
his own idea, in case of domestic dissen-
sion, there will only be the greater number
OF sound States to face the disafIected ones.
Who then can SET bounds 10 our territorial
expansion, short Of The continent on which |
our destiny is cast-what earthly power
shall say to us $50 far shalt thou 60 and 10 /
within that ample area Coming 1
events cast their shadows before! Louis .
iaua is ours, Florida is ours, Texas is ours .
the Oregon must be ours, inundated, in F.
the course ofnature by the advancing tide .
ofour population. Mexico threatens war,
which will provoke, ifnot invite her an
ncxation Canada will, in due season, fall
like ripe fruit into our lap-and al the rest
will then follow OF course, till the IsthmuS
Of Darien form our equinociial, aud the
Arctic sea our popular boundary. Com
ing events cast their shadows before =
Time was when our Republic, although
far short Of her now colossal proportions,
was deemed TOO vast aud unwieldy for one
yovernment-wheni il was thought the fair
west would naturally fake of and form
IN independent emperor when al least
he National capitol must tower on the
Of the Potomac, TO prevent
,ur overgrown Republic from breaking in
% fragments. All such fears and specula-
ions are now as a tale that is told as a leg
nd Of The past. The discovery and appli-
.aiiou ef the uses Of sieam-ihe invention
4 the steamboat, the railway and the loco
notive-to say nothing ofihe atmosphere
gre and electro magnetic power, pTeg-
.aH With mighty issues-and above al,
be isFsniiCn q ihs nssusiic irlsersrl.