Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-07-03
p ROGRESS AND PROSPECT S OF
OUR COUNTRY.

OUR COUNTRY.
The following passage from Mr.. Cri,tcn-
den's brilliant speech on the Oregon ques-
ton, cannot fail TO attract the admiration Of
the reader:-
"On the other hand, while we look al the
consequences of war, le, us for a moment
ponder on the wonders of our national prog
ress and prosperity. LIS there ever been
nation, since the foundation of the world,
which exhibited such spectacle of progress
within the same length of time! Has the
world ever seen a parallel to it Ii seems
as if the human intellect had Just broken loose
from the slumber of ages as if the hands of
man had acquired III. power of giants to
perform what was heretofore deemed to be-
long to fable. Look at the public works of
this young republic, and say where has so
much been done in the same space OF time
upon the face Of the earthl
1t is little more than two centuries since
our forefalhers, a fre5le band, very few and
very feeble, landed ofrIhe bleak shores ofan
unknown land. And What do we now be-
hold They hive established liberty, aud
spie"d their empire across tins broad CONT
nent, from sea ~ sea ). they have overcome
the wilderness, AN ~. it with cities; fton'
piled to twenty %iIl' and the cl1i is born
v'o viii 50" that Lhcr swelled to one
s'." ".' of i,. b TI~ss%yy ,r~ard
......t .....,.7 .,i.,, aud liberty
ra. .' sa S's' o.' ' i"nr o'
with aIi o5 present wa prospective great
ness O1r hnr,tS hnrn within us AT the con-
i,omp. jti,u Patriotism, ambition itself, can
~r4ro-lv suggest a,--<c that is not anficlpa-
.aa IS IT'S mighty progress. Why, then,
.botld we he impaiipnt? Why so impatient
I'D g,t ,1.d day, vim; b.. the mere force Of
circumstances, BY a<l"stiny that cannot be
| controlled, will be yours tomorrow Can
rot we afford to hi little wise, little pa
iirni1 We are borne aIorg upon tide OF
prosperity with the speed of the wind. Can
we not be satisfied Why must we be try
ing artificial, means 10 get on fasterI This
is the nniv way hv-.4Lch our progress can be
successfully impede. We are the great first
borne of this cont ent. The continent is
ours by title ndefeasible, irreversible, IT.
rcsistiblc.
smile at all the petty European endeav-
ors 10 check us, by establishing what they
nenomnate "balalce Of power" know
its natural on their part; and it provokrs no
feeling of resentment in my breast-ii rather
excites our pride Of country. This Rrpub-
lie is not seventy wears old as u nation il
has not yet attained 10 the lengih Of the lie
of man-and it is Justly and correctly spoken
of as an "infani Rtpnbc' yet We see
it exciting the alsrued attention aud policy
Of the kingdoms nf Europe Bot what can
they efrc,l Wln can Mons. Gnizois fine
drawn policy of "baiIncc of power" ou
this Western cnntJ1rnt, accomplish in st"p-
ping the march OF this advancing prnplr
We are this day twenty millions Of people
we shall soon he one hundred million,
where will he find lis "baance" for TN,
remember, NJ President, to have beer
once very much amused by an old memoir
(now to be found :. he Congressional Libra
ry) addressed to he King of France by hi,
minister, the celebrated Count de Vergenncs
in relation to ,thiA ointment, aod the policy
-
sixty Years ago, about the time of onr treat,
Of independence 10 1888 The minisrr
Thee informs thal k.ine OF powerful an
D Formidable tribe 81 Indians called Cherokees
situated near to and on the western side o
the Allegheny mountains, and he recon
, mcnds the policy f favoring them and up
holding them as a"Jdrrier against the pco
f Pile ofthe United States that (muc
langhter) "lesl The people of the L. States,
says the worthy Count. "more ambitious tha
wise, should, at some future day, attempt t
cross the heights of the Allegheny mountains
= and look even 10 the far off lower Mississippi
itself" Renewed merriment through til
b chamber and gaI.eres)
! The Cnerokecs were TO restrain and con
i fine our progress There is the Count d
Vergennes' "balance OF power !" |, ha
: vanished before as; nor can Monsieur Gui
got, AT the prese, day, devise any that vi
not be equally fugitive and Impolent, On
d march has ouis,ripped all their calculations
5 and they do not know how to measure TIA
. progress and power that stir within us. W
: do not realize il ourselves. The day is ii'
t coming when our posicritv will smile an
Z wonder-if we do not ourselves 1--we 10 smiI
~. aud wonder --7f pres nj lmpalence an
!. auxet, to get the "whple of Oregon" usl r
il il WAS not part of that great c0nlurnt'
r Inheritance that must fl TO us wilhuut
8 Struggle. as soon as it MAS really suitable
desirable lous.
DOR power AMI progress are founded in II
e very nlturC -~'2S, and depend on prime
1