Mississippi Democrat., 1846-07-15


pee!S.
"We cannot foriity The Atlanac Ocean,
The utmost are can do, is 10 becom
FORMIDABLE TO THE WESTWARD"
This is one of The most striking senti
ments ever uttered by an American states
man. II fell from the prophetic lips 0
PATRICK HENRY, in 1878, in The tonven
ton of Virginia assembled TO deliberate OF
the adoption of the federal constitution
II embraces, in a few words, not only The
creed of the democratic party but the true
solution OF the great enigma of our nation
al progress. The influence of this senti
ment may be traced in all the important
movements Of our government. Wash
ington conceived it, when he made his SOL
itary expedition, by command of Lord Dun.
more, TO the Ohio river. 1t has been prac-
iically carried out IN every treaty made
with The Indians. Virginia and North
Carolina had il in view, when they issued
their military land warrants al the close of
the revolution, thus colonizing Tennessee,
Kentucky and Ohio. The perseVerng
negotiations Of the Federal Government
for the exclusive navigation Of the Missis-
sippi, show that the great maxim of Henry
was never lost sight of, and Mr. Jefferson
acted upon it when, BY master stroke of
diplomacy, he wrested Louisiana from the
miser grpe Of Napoleon. The great ex-
pedtion OF Lewis and Clarke TO the sources
of The Missouri and the mouth of the Co.
Iumbia, was part and parcel Of the same
policy.
The Pre- emption System of Andrew
Jackson---a marked and distinctive ea-
ture ofthe democratic party and the wisest
and most benefcent OF all its measures was
framed upon the injunction of the Virginia
orator, to make ourselves formidable in the
West. 1t is the great and only true prin.
ciple of successful colonization, and is
peculiar to The United States. The i'm.
mense land grants of Spain, the feuda con-
cession of France, and the proprietary
character of England, locked up millions
of acres, fostered monopoies and were in
theory and effect radically defective. But
the principle of sub-dividing the country
into small tracts, and then conceding the
first choice to the enterprising seltler--not
rendering him BENEFICIARY and depen-
dant, but offering a just inducement for
labor and enterprise, has achieved mira
cIes in the extension of civilization and
the progress Of empire. Missouri, Indiana,
Illinois, the upper territories and the South
western Staes, owe their unparalleled
strides TO opulence and population more
TO this Than any other cause. The demo-
cratic party early perceived its abstracT
Justice and salutary operation, and steadi-
ly adhered to it, until it has become engraf.
ted upon the creed Of that party, and is, in
truth, in the far.strechng west, its main
resource and support The pre.emplion
system, Insignificant as the hut of the set
tier may seem, practically realizes the
fable of Midas. 1t turns every thing into
gold. 1t scatters roses over the wilderness.
1t created mighty States in the dim and
dusky west 1t stocked them with men
who we're foremost in battle on the frozen
wastes of Canada, and who afterwards, in
the same spirit planted with their hands
and baptised with their blood the star gem
med banner Of a maiden republic!
The graduation and reduction Of the
price of the public domain, is the great
step to make as Formidable in the West.
Millions of acres have been in market for
a long term of years unsod, yielding no
revenue to the State or Federal govern
msnts. At the present rates, they will
remain uncultivated The cost of survey |
has long since been paid. Reduce the |
price 10 ten cents per acre. Give every
man stake in the soil. Cluster around
him the cndearments of home; and you
bind him in an allegiance stronger than a
thousand oalhs. Every acre brought into |
cultivation adds so much to the aggregate |
wealth, and to the means of national de- !
fence
The Oregon policy Of the present od-
minislrainn, and the great event for which
it preparing beyond the Rio Grande, are
Illustrations, on grand scale, of Henry's |
celebrated maxim, make ourselves tormida- |
bic in The West! This is the great Amer
can motto. IT should be stamped on our
national coinage. Amidst the strife and
vlcssitudes of party, it has never been for
gotten. Under its inspiration, as if by
magic, cities have leaped up in The frown-
ing wilderness. Great agricultural com.
munilies occupy the haunts Of the nomadic
tribes, States have been created more
powerful than the world ever knew be-
fore, because possessing within themselves
all the means of subsistence, and removed
from the possibility Of invasion, though
enjoying all the advantages of interior
navigation.
This great empire Of the West, stretch.
lng along the Ohio, the Missouri, and the
upper Mississippi is, in this point of view,
historical phenomenon. Its insulated
p0sition. lis vast distance from the sea. vet