The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-07-11
The Extension Of the Union.
AN ADDRESS
Charles ~. BUCRALEW.
DELIVERED AT oRANGEvGLLE, JULY 4
1916, BY

GENTLEMEN :-Ont first census was TAX
en- in 1870. The population Of the Unio
was then 3 929,s29, At the time Of tn
Revolution the number was abonl3 600 600
The original number Of STATES we know
was thirteen We are to-day just ffty"si
years distant from the date Of that census
and seventy years from that OF the Oeclara
ton ofIndependence. Of During these seven
~ years our population has gone up frou
ihtee millions 10 twenty ; and our naIona
limits have been made TO include fifteen ad
diuonaI States ! We are just one lifetime
removsd--jusl three score years aud ten,
from our national btlhsday, and This Is the
result! Our experiment, for our Govern
menl was an experiment. has admirably
succeeded and ,he biIerest enemies OF re.
pu5caEsm musinow admit the practicable
ity offs peru aneut and successful estcb,
lishment
When DOR Union was formed great dam
ger was apprchended, by some, on account
of the extent Of territory united, II was
questioned whether so many States as thlrs
ieen-extsnding through eleven degrees Of
latitude, and along sea coast ofa thousand
miles-woud long hold together. But our
fathers had faith in themselves and in the
future: the experiment. was Tied-snd
here we are to-day-the second naval pow
er in the world almost without a debt
the Union frmer than ever--wilh fifteen
new Slates--li'e great territories settling
up-sn increase of seventeen millions
Of souIs-and the people, thank God, still
free
Mr. Madison was right in arguing thai,
extent Of territory was not dangerous II
the perpetuiry of IheUnion. Time has test
ed his argument and established il. Our
Union has wonderfully and rapidly extend,
ed,without becoming weakened or corrupted
-& by this our example,iIis demonstrated,
as fore,old, that "a Republic may be eX-
tended over large region" (FederaHS'I
No. l4) See Rppendir Il
Our Government has made several I'M
porlant acquisitions OF territory since 1900
beside extending Territories end States
westward by exlingushment Of Indian
tile In 1903 Mr.. Jefferson purchased Of
France the great territory of Louisiana for
$4,000, 900 1t has since been cut up in
10 several States. and now constitutes al
large portion Of lhe Republic. Mr., JelIer-
sons purchase was most violently and Bit
,e,ly assaiIed at The time, but he had saga
city and energy for the occasion, and sup"
ported bv majority Of The nation, the
great measure was effected. Who is there
now to say thai This purchase was unwlse
Who would be willing that the States OF
Missouri, Alabama. Mississippi and Louis
lana should be held by foreign powell
tina. lhe mouth Of The great river Of the west
--"tbe Father Of Water" should be upon
alien ierrroryl The fears Of those who Iore'
saw disunion as The result Of that purchase
are shown 10 have been most foolish and
unfounded the Union has strength
eped with age, and no part Of il is more val
uabe, or possesses warmer devotion Tor
,enubican government. than this southern
extension Of The greas Valley Of the MsS'S'
.ippi. Ills Pan of The Republic wisely
ACQUIRED, sno may the stars and stripes hoaI
over it forever !
Florida was obtained from Spain in 1878
after protrscled negotiations, under Inc ad'
,o;nis,rs,ion Of Mr.. Monroe-giVlng us IN
uninterrupted line Of Gulf coast from the
ocsan to the Sabine. John Quincy Adams
man of singular forune--who' never a
s,r,e, partisan has figured consplcuously 10
roblic life for so yesrs-conduced the nego'
,,,,iors ssSecrelsry of State, Florida is no"
, Slate, adding to the security and s'reog'o
of,heUnion-erjoying the blessings OF goou
eo,ernment, and advancing rapidly In pros
potiIy and power.