The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-01-02
BY VIM. OSMAN & co.

~
world, even with its history stretch
ing through the long and eventful
period of four thousand years. What
American has forgotten the first set
Elements of our country? For tens
of years it was confined to narrow
strip on the Atlantic. But gradual
" the settlements spread out wider
and wider, until they reached the
base of the Allegheny mountains.
SO far had our people advanced
at the date of the American Revolu-
ton; the establishment of indepen-
dence and democratic institutions
gave new and irresistible energy
to the progress of our people. In
subduing the heavy forests of West
ern Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio.
Tennessee and Kentucky, the march
of emigration was steadily onward,
Gradually the wilds of Indiana, Hi
nois, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama
and Michigan, were alive with the
hustle ofan enlightened people. The
yellow corn, the golden wheat, and
fair cotton, was waving over thou
sand hills and valleys "never before
yet reclaimed to the use of civilized
man"
But progress was still onward ;
the hardy settler has found new
homes in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebras-
ka and Florida. Coward, onward" "
is now the tramp of thousands, even
to the far-distant Oregon.
Here, for the present, let us pause
and look back. Our people have
advanced fifteen hundred miles from
the seaboard, in the space of two
hundred and twenty-five years. The
first one hundred and fifty years, they
advanced only five hundred miles.
The next seventy-fve years, that
march was increased to 1000 miles,
showing progress infinitely more ra-
pid, and proving the principle, that
the momentum Of emigration increa-
SEES as our nation grows older. We
have now nineteen millions Of peo-
pie. Will not the surplus popuIa-
ton of that number demand a great
err outlet than ten millions would re-
quire? Can we not already hear
the footsteps of "thc coming mill
ions" on the plains of Missouri and
the valleys of Oregon. ..
1t was the remark of brilliant
and gifted orator, (Mr. Choate, oil
Mass.,) in opposition to the annex
alton of Texas, and which was wide
ly circulated during the Presiden-
tial canvass, that the annexation OF
Texas would so seriously disturb the
balance of our country, that we
should no longer be the same coun-
try; that the United States would
be merged, and lose its identity. 1t
will be perceived that this argument
opposes all extension of our terrific
ry, on the broad and unequiyocal
principle, that we have already got
too much territory.
The remark of Buchanan, in the
senate chamber, still fingers in our
memory. After mapping the progress
of the wonderful past, he impress
sively asked, "what is century in
the lifetime of a nation ?" Who can
say that not only Oregon and Tex
as, but all North America will be
needed for our population, as it ex-
pands into hundred Of millions, I'M
der the quickening influence Of our
Institutions.
1t is well known, that the popula-
ton increases faster in our country
than in any. other in the world. 1t
is considered safe rule to estimate,
that we double once in thirty years.
Upon this basis, let us form some
data. Our population in 1915, is
20,000,000; in 1875, will be 100000
600; in 1905, will be $4,000, 900 ;
in 1910, will be l60,00O,000. Sup
pose, thereafter, we should not dou-
BILE more than once in fifty years, in
1890, we shall have 320,000,000 of
people embraced in the United
States Of North America, or sixteen
times our present population in the
course Of the next one hundred and
forty-fve years. These calculations
will not seem so extravagant, when
we call to mind that since the Amer
lean revolution, our population has
doubled as often as once, in t,Centy
years. So long as there is plenty Of
room to spread, and plenty of land
to occupy, so long there is every
probability that our population will
augment in rapid ratio. The ex-
ceeding cheapness of food in this
country invites population with the
same unerring law as the sun and
the showers rear the seed planted in
a genial soil. Though our estimate
may exceed any thing in the past
history of the world, yet it will be
recolectcd that there are circum-
stances, and not the least of these is
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