The North-Carolina standard., 1849-02-14
THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

1f1E AOEI.
What country is this! Little did our forefathers
even dream, when they laid its foundations amid blood
and carnage and brought forth the stars and stripes
on its beautiful banner from the night and chaos of
Revolution that in the short space of seventy years
its population woudbe increased tenfold, and that
thirty Staes instead of thirteen, would cluster about
one centre. What perfect individual free
dom /! What an exemption from taxation and the
ills of class legislation while the millions of the
oldest countries in the world still groaning under
the weight of ignorance, misgovernent and oppres-
son What developments of science, of arts, and of
arms i. What capacities for improvement and ad-
vancement in all that the physical moral,
and intellectual condition of mankind 2. Il [tieo
But great, and powerful, and glorious as these
States already are believe that they still in
their infancy and that the century will reveal
an exaltation, renown, and character for force,
equity, and justice vastly beyond the brightest and
most glowing anticipations of the present day. If
the Union should stand--as it must, and we hope
it villa century hence all the great vallies of the
Pacific will be crowded with an active and enIight
ened population; and their intercourse with China,
with the islands of that sea, and with all the ports
of the ancient world, WIFI be rapid uninter-
rupted and as beneficial as that which now exists be-
tween the Atlantic States and Europe. Oregon City,
San Francisco and other places yet to be selected
and named, will have their Rail Roads and their Ca
nas-their fines of Electric wire-ther daily news
paPefs-their Colleges and Common Schools-their
statesmen and their orators while from that region,
as well as from Mexico, Canada, and Cuba the Sen
ators and Representatives of one common govern
ment will assemble at Washington, or at some point
father West to enact laws and to provide for the
security and welfare of all. This may seem extrav-
agant to some, but it is no fancy sketch. The Chris
tan Religion, the Press, and the great principle OF
Representative government capable it is of nde-
mite expansion, will produce these results i'' ~
1t is impossible, at present, to appreciate fully the
importance of acquisitions of Territory made during
the past four years. Time and events only dis
close their tras value. Looking to the rich State of
Louisiana-to the port and City of New Orleans, so
useful and indeed essential operations during
the late war with Mexico, we all commend, as we
should, the sagacty of Jefferson in securing them
the United States but this great sinks
into insgni6cance, when reflect upon the estima-
ton in wic Posterty will hold the wisdom of that
policy and of those which extended flag
over Oregon, and gave us permanent foothold up
to the Rio Grande, and over California.
Onward is the word which animates and thrills the
American masses, and finds echo among the
crumbing institutions of the old world. North Car
olina of the original States, has part per-
form in this grand drama; and her sons, of all par
ties, should look to it that she performs that part in
spirit and with purpose equal to that which pervades
and elevates all else about US. Onward is the cry;
and North Carolina could hold back, if she would.
With boundess resources-with climate and soil
so favored by Heaven, and producing, she may,
euery article which is produced in her sister Com
monw ealths-with minerals of every character, and
unsurpassed water-power for machinery-and, above
all, with unblemished reputation for integrity and
steadiness she cannot fail, by liberal but prudent
and welldirected ofegisation, make up for
the mistakes and inactivity of the past, and to as
sumo in due time the highest rank in this proud Con-
federacy of States.