The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1846-02-18
Acquisition of Territory.


tories fthe country" We regret Mr.. Webster
did not state his reasons for this opinion. Com
ing from bis lips--sated in the clear, calm nam
Iner in which he can state them und deliTefng
| his opinion from some philosophical causes, sui
6ceny deep and immutabe TO produce un-
changing results, he might have Impressed his
views upon others, ourselves lncluded) who en-
|tertain very different opinions. But without
such re a sons, we arc unable TO come 10 such con-
cusions.
In point of fact, the United States have since
the peace of l7S3 when their independence
was acknowledged by their mother country, been
continually acquiring territory. AT what step IN
this process of acquisition, did new territory be-
come dangerous to our country and government
What was the principle by which it became dan
gerous? Was it a moral, an intellectual, ply
scal or political danger? What was IT, and
when did it begin?
The NORTH WESTERN TERRITORY was really
an acquisition of territory. 1t neither belonged
TO the United States, nor did it belong TO the
white man. Ii was ceded by Virginia. 1t was
purchased from the Indians 1t wasreclaimed from
forest, flood and savage, by the labors, the blood,
and the bold enterprise Of the daring Pioneer,
Was that wrong? Was it any injury TO the Uni
ted States to have Ohio, and Indiana, and Hi
nois, and Michigan, within their borders Were
the "Old Thirteen" endangered when this circle
of Younger brothers and sisters were brought IN
TO the family!
Let us 90 little farther. The United States
bought LOUISIANA for fifteen millions of dollars.
Was that a good or bad bargain? Was that ac-
QUESTION dangerous The territory purchased
by Mr. jefferson, under the name Of Louisiana,
was more valuable than the conquests of Alex
ander. What is now in every ones lips, butthe
Great Valley of the Mississippi? Let US pass on.
In the war of 1912, when Great Britain was
about embarling part of the army of Yelling
ton, in the peninsula of Spain, for the coasts OF
America, the London newspapers, thinking their
hands were now in for conquest proposed to
make the Ohio River the boundary. Why noH
If the acquisition Of territory is dangerous what
! matters the strip between the Ohio and the
: Lakes?
Again--we bought the Peninsula of Florida.
: Was that dangerous? Where, in this process of
continue! acquisition of lands during sixty years,
is the point at which the acquisition of territory
became dangerous2 Aside from this, what is
there in the thing itself dangerous? The Uni
1 ted States WERE at their first confederation, too
ri .arge in point Of territory, to become prospec-
lively small or secondary natioa. Their char
; acter ana circumstances, politically and socially,
Icompelled them to assume the position OF an EN-
pire, and TO look forward 10 growth unsurpass-
ed in the history of time. In sixty years, they
have increased their number SIrj fold; and upon
> any reasonable calculation, must in one century
more be nation of TWO HUNDRED MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE.
If we suppose the acquisition of territory TO
S be dangerous, we must imagine ourselves TO be
. in very dangerous position already. We do
not feel any such danger We do not imagine
: it. We do not look forward TO any difficulties
greater than those we have already encountered;
nor las any observation convincedus that Repre-
sentative Government (n-its very nature elastic
and expansive) is incapable of extending IFS
blessings and performing lis duty over any ex-
tent of territory included within the temperate
regions of North America
! 1t is no doubt true, that very small country
like Switzerland or Holland, may exist and enjoy
: a certain kind of prosperity although Of small
., territory; but let it be remembered that both
Switzerland and Holland hare more and greater
internal difficulties than haze the United States
The principle of REPRESENTATION here mells
down and DESTROYS thousand civil diseases
S which, without that principle, wouldrend this or
= any other country, with factions and feuds.
1t is announced in the Atlantic papers--and
probably with truth-that negotiation is about
!. to be opened with Mexico for The purchase Of
; California, lfMcxco be willing 10 sell, on rea-
sonable terms, the upper part of Callfornla-say
from 80 degrees to 40 degrees, or thereabout-
we do not see why the Government of the Uni
ted States should not make the purchase. What
J. we bug violates no national rights and does no
t injustice.
% At the present moment the ,rant Of the Uni
ted States, territorally, is a free LAND HIGHWAY
TO THE Pacific, at such point as will be good
Iharbor and mild climate. The mouth OF the
y Columbia river has heretofore, been supposed
s. such point, and it will answer the purpose very
of well, but all accounts, public and private, repre-
ar sent the soil, climate and harbors Of Upper Ca
i, liornia as the best
: In our opinion, it would be good policy, ifw
al can, to secure Upper California while il is UNI
I'd populated From the mouth of the Columbia
a. Ito below the harbor of Francisco, would make u
re fine Pacific front for The United States.
i. A Penitentidry presented as Nuisdnce.--
The Grand Jury of New York has presented the
IN vagrant department o the Penitentiary at Black
in wells Island as a nuisance. Two hundred per-
n. sons are confined in two rooms which are swar-
O. ming SO with vermn that the Grand Jury were
Q warned not TO enter. great number of the
% inmates are idiots, and the remainder lame or
L. diseased. Part of the jury visited the interior
ry Of the building, and found there were neither
le beds nor strGD; nor was there even room on the
s. floor for all these wretched people 10 e down at
sy the same time. The keeper informed the jury
d, that there were frequently $50 persons confined
Ut in these two rooms, there being no other place
I'd to put them in, and in consequences of this state
" Of things, It samost impossible to prevent them
from quarreliDg and fighting.