The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-11-14

communication could be as easy as with Europe,
instead Of being confined to teas and silks. The
project has nothing sectionalor local. The public
assent to the grant Is all that is required.
Europe contains population Of $50 millions on
A, 900 900 of square miles The Atlantic slope of
North America has an area of about 300 900 square
miles, the seat Of manufactures and commerce.
The Mississippi valley has 300, 900 square miles,
destined to agriculture. The Pacific slope con.
tanning 600 900 square miles, will obably sustain
manufacturers and commerce. The Pacific ocean,
reaching $500 miles to Asia, has superfces of
I9, 900 ,OO0square miles, The population of Asia
IS estimated at 700 600, 600, of which Japan has
fifty and the Chinese Empire FIVE hundred millions.
As will be seen by the map. the bulk of commerce
and population is above the parallel of 4o The
means of transit should be, as-near aspossible, in
that latitude. The road cannot be built by Gov
ernment. The people must be interested, and by
purchase and settlement of Western lands, build 1t
themselves.
All the commerce Of Asia, Mr. W. maintained,
must pass over this road We find that this COM
merce has ruled and governed mankind so far back
to occupy quite a space in sacred history II has
been the source and foundation of all the wealth
and all the commerce of the West. One nation
after another has possessed and prospered under
it. All the ancient cities have been founded for,
and built byit from Tyre, 'the Queen, to 'Palmy-
ra, Alexandria, Constantinople, Vienna, Genoa,
Amsterdam, and London Civilization marched
with it to London. Civil and religious liberty
preceded it and was driven to our Continent. and
is our destiny to take il Continent and
place it opposite land in contact with, the darkes
heathendom of the West.
This vast. this rich commerce, continued Mr.
W., has been sought by all the nations of the earth
and for ages carried on over mountains, up ant
down rivers unnavigable, by caravans of camel
: and other animals. at an enormous expense, unit
the discovery of the voyage around the Cape, ,whcl
i changed, and gave it to the strongest marltim
, power. Portugal and Holland have possessed il
, aud now the English possess and control it. Blu
each and all have sought shorter and safer rout
than the long tedious voyage, and it is acros
4 our Continent only where that route has bee
sought Columbus had not dreamed OF nsV
world; he sought for China, and found Americ
f Since Columbus, the subject has been cons tamil
4 before the west, and great efforts made 10 accou
It plish the object Voyage after voyage, and eSplt
K ration after exploration have taken place. Balbc
d and Cortez sought for passage from the Gulf {
= Mexico. In 1896 Viscayno explored the Pacif
e coast, hoping somewhere to find an entrance to
passage through the Atlantic, but in vain. EnglaI
had expended millions in trying to find passae
through an ocean of internal ice, but in vain II
# explorations Of Humboldt are known to US all
Il Panama, Daren, Nicaragua, &C., have been su
Is veyed and expored-the last under authority
the French Government, and under the commal
% of Gen. Gazella, distinguished engineer, and I
n- work pronounced impractcable,