The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-07-11
Charles R. RUCRgLEW.

Charles R. BUCRgLEW:
GENTLEMEN Our frs, census was TAX
en- in 1890. The population of the Union
was then 3 929,s29. At the time of ,h'
Revolution The number was abou3 600 600
The original number Of Sla'es we know
was thirteen We are to-day just ffy"siA
wears distant from the date of tina, census
and seventy years from that Of the Oeclara-
ton Of Independence. During these seven.
tv years our population has gone up from
,b,ee millions to twenty and our national
limits have been made 10 include fifteen ad
diIonaI States We are just one lifetime
removed-usI three score years and ten, y
from our national br,hsd4y, and This is the
resuIR Our experiment. for our Govern,
ment was an experiment, has admirably
succeeded , and ihe biNerest enemies OF re.
pu5Icanism mus;now admi, the practicable
ity of its perm sneut and successful esteb-
llshment
When our Union was formed great dam
ger was apprehended, by some, on account
OF The extent Of territory united. II was
questioned whether so many States as thirs
ieen-exonding through eleven degrees Of
latitude, and along sea coast ofa thousand
miles--would long hold together. Bat our
fathers had faith 10 themselves and in the
future the experimen, was ried-and
here we are o-day-the second naval pow
er in the world d-.almost without debt
the Union frmeI than ever--with fifteen
new Sistes--tiie great territories seuine
up an increase OF seventeen million.
of sous-and the people, thank God, still
free
Mr. Madison was right in arguing thai
exlen. of territory was not dangerous tc
the perpe,uity of theUnion Time has test
ed his argument and established ii. Our
Union has wonderfully and rapidly extend
ed,wihoui becoming weakened or corrupted
& by this our example, is demonstrated,
as foretold, that (" a Republic may be ex-
tended over a large region" (federaiSt
No IA See 8ppendir II,
Our Government has made several I'M
por,ant acquisitions OF territory since 1900,
beside extending Territories end States
westward by exlinguishment of Indian
title In 1903 Mr.. Jefferson purchased OF
France the grea, territory Of Louisiana for
$4,000, 900 II has since been cul up n'
10 several States. and now constitutes a
large portion of the Republic. Mr.. Jeifer-
sons purchase was most viOlen, ly and Bit
,e,lv assailed at the time, but he had saga
city and energy for The occasion, and sup
ported bv a majority Of the nation, ih'
great measure was effected. Who is there
now to say ,ha. this purchase was unwse
Who would be willing that the States o
Missouri, Alabama. Mississippi and Louis
lana should be held by foreign powell
that the mouth of The great river OF the ives
-.the Father of Water" should be upoI
alien territory? The fears Of those who fore
saw disunion as lhe result Of that purchase
are shown 20 have been most foolish an
urfoundedi : the Union has strength
ened with age, and no part of ii is more val
liable, or possesses warmer devotion 10
republican government than this sou'her
extension of The grsa' Valley of The Mls''
sippi. Ills part of the Republic wise'
acquired, ana may ,he stars and stripes fio'
over il forever
Florida was obtained from Spain 10 lal
after prouacted negotiations, under lire at
minis,raion Of Mr.. Monroe-givlng us a
uninterrupted line Of gulf coast from N
ocean to the Sabine. John Quincy Adam
man Of singular for'une--who' never
s,r,c, partisan, has figured conspicuouSy
publo life for SO years-conducled the neg'
,iadons asSecrelary Of State, Florida IS no
State, adding to the security ana s'reng
of ,heUulon--enjoying the blessings OF go'
government, and advancing rapidly IN pro
psrily and power.