Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-07
TERRITORIAL EXTENSION.

The rapid emigration to California with the prospect
of the speedy organization of Stale Governments the
Pacific gives rise TO the uerance Of misgivings
here and there the future stability Of the Union
When the shores of the Pacific shall present the same
ANNA ed appearance OF commerce and agriculture that
the Atlantic coast exhibits '',he problem will then
be solved" says the Lexington (Ky.) Observer '.abou
which American statesmen have much differed and
that is as to the capacity Of this continent hold ogeth
er under one government 1--WE confess )" adds the OBJ
server THAT we have ever feared This expansion of
territorial limits We have believed the inevitable result
must be the falling to pieces Of the whole edice"
These apprehensions, which shared in by many
are excited at this time by the very events which should
dlspel all fears Of The kind. The settlement Of Calor
MA the organization of State Governments beyond the
Rocky Mountains, the building up Of cities and towns
the coast Of the Pacific the accumulation of the products
and materials OF trade in every hafbor from Pugel's
Sound TO San Diego-al these creations Of commercial
political and social activity will but constitute aggre
CATION OF elements full Of attraction the larger and
older body in the Mississippi Valley and The Atlantic
seaboard. Mutual affinities will draw them together
and mutual interests will compel the speedy opening
those spacious avenues of trade and already
projected between the Mississippi and the Pacific.
Another event, which must come to pass in the full
ness of time, and not long hence, likely have moi
onfy controlling influence in binding together the Eas
tern and Western sections of this great country but as
in checking any undue nordnate tendency towards
itself very strong and which, if continued might 90 be
yond the bounds Of geographical ainities The even
we refer 10 is the new direction Of the trade between
Europe and the East which. upon the settlement Of ou
Pacific coast and the opening OF the necessary
OF communication must pass across the United States
San Francisco San Diego aad the ports Of Oregon vii
be the great points Of attraction the Pacific to which
The commerce Of the East must tend. They will be o
sufficient Importance in themselves TO attract it hut b.
yond their own special attractions they will be important
the ports through which may be had to The hear
of the Mississippi Valley. to Atlnc emporiums
to Europe and the rest of the world.
Apoweu current, then, is to set territory
from East TO West and from West East. Here vii
concentrate the national vitality. Along that line Of
quick and rapid circulation the strongest intensity Of m
and action will be found. Beyond that geographical for
nation the South which bounds the alluvia formation
of The basin Of the Mississippi there would be
no nducemen for Us TO 90 there outlets in tina
direction corresponding 10 any Of great productive
regions there connections be there formed witt
other systems upon any principle Of national seograph
cal unity
The territorial configuration Of the middle region o
the North American continent, while it is upon ia
grander scale than any where else presented is at the
same time marked for the seat Of one empire that il
would though Nature herself had proclaimed its
destiny from the beginning. The characteristic feature
OF that grand confgnraiion is the Mississippi with lis
immense valley-a valley il extent fer
tile in SOIL prolific in resources, thoroughly
connected in all its parts by the nnumeratle tributary
and navigable streams flowing into the main artery than
any other aluvia formation that civilized people have
vet been called To occupy since the world began
The AIIeghanies the one hand and the Rocky mum
The other, the ribs Of this great
The head waters Of the Missouri rising among the lat
and the tina, form the Ohio issuing rom tine
Alleghanies meet and mingle together and fluid com
outlet in the Gufof Mexico 1t is manifest that the
GREAT valley demands connection and the means of COM
muncaton with both oceans eqnally-as well through
If the Aeglanles If the afint;es which seek open
facilities Of intercourse with the Atlantic the
most potent and Obvious because of the earlier settle
of the Atlantic board and the accumulation there
of the powerful agencies of But in proportion
as communities arise On the shores Of the Pacific and
become strong and productive, in such proportion Will
the tendencies increase which compel lhse com,
mnnities. seek a separation from the Nlisssipu
valley the body Of the Republic but strive for close
and still coser connection with il.
Such would be the result Of hose laws Of ao;tv and
those necessities Of trade and mutual intercourse which
characterize our own geographical ST. STEM considered
unity with lis indispensable appendages The unity
is Tue Mississippi Valley the append ares are those ai-
era strips Of territory lying between ,he Aechenes and
the Atlantic on the hand and between the Rocky
Mountains and the Pacific lie other The force Of
these laws Of affinity and rase must become much
ger when the tide Ut an imense foreign commerce is
added to swell the clan is Of traffic already opened and
prepared Tor ou1 own d ..Iestic circulation
Baltimore .lIncric at.