The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-15

VIZ.
:" 100, that is, in the year 1880 :. 200 900 900
equal to nearly onefourth Of the present aggregate
population of the globe, and double the population
OF Europe at the time of the discovery of America.
But the advance of population on the Pacific will
far exceed what has heretofore occurred on the At
lantic coast, while emigr alton here is outstrp
ping the calculations on which the estimates are
based. There are silver and gold in the mountains
and ravines of California. The granite of New
England and New York is barren. $3.50.
Allowing due consideration to the increasing G
density Of our population, are sale In assuming
that long before this mass shall have attained the
maximum of numbers indicated, the entire width
of possessions from tho Atlantic TO the Pacific
ocean will be covered by il, and be brought into
social maturity and complete political organiza-
| ton.
The question now arises, Shall this one great
! people, having n common origin, a common Ian
| guage, common religion, common sentiments,
interests, sympathies, and hopes, remain one po-
litcal State one nation, republic shall IT be
| broken into two conflicting and probably hostile
nations or republics? There cannot ultimately be
| more than two; for the habit of association Is al
ready formed, the interests Of mutual inter
course being formed. IL is already ascertained
where the centre OF political power must rest. IL
must rest in the agricultural interests and Masses
who will occupy the interior of the continent
These Inasses, il they cannot all command access
TO both oceans, will not be obstructed in their ap-
proaches 10 that which offers the greatest ia
cilities 20 their commerce.
| Shall the American people, then, be divided!
Before deciding on this question, let consider
our position, our power, and capabilities.
The world contains no seat of empire so magnih
cent as this which, while II embrnccs all the vary
ing climates Of the temperate zone, and Is trayerscd
by wide-expanding lakes and long branching riv-
ers, offers supplies the Atlantic shore 70 the
over-crowded nations OF Europe, while on the Pa
oic coast IL ntercepts the commerce Of the Indies
The nation thus situated, and enjoying forest, min
eral, and agricultural resources unoqualed, IL on
dowed also with moral energies adequate 70 the
achievement Of great enterprises, and favored with
cd IN beir andc
dition, must command the empire OF the seas,
which alone 10 real empire, qsYs itr
| We think that we may claim TO have inherited
physical and intellectual viHor courage invention,
and enterprise, and the systems of education pre-
yailing among US, open TO all the stores OF human
/ science and art m Hhm
The old world and the past we're allotted by Prov.
idence 10 the pupilsge Of mankind, under the hard
discipline Of arbitrary power, queng the violence
OF human passions. The new world and the future
seem 10 have been appointed for the maturity Of
| ment, operating in obedience " reason and judg
Incnt. .l.l
We have thoroughly tried our novel system of
democratic Federal government, with its complex
! yet harmonious and effective combination Of dis
tnct local elective agencies for the conduct Of
domestic affairs, and its common central elective
agencies for the regulation of internal interests and
OF intercourse with foreign nations; and we know
that IL is system equally cohesive in its parts,
and capable Of all desirable expansion; and that il
IL system, moreover, perfectly adapted 10 secure
domestic tranquility while IL brings into activity
all the elements Of national aggrandizement The
Atlantic States, through their commercial, social,
and political ofinities and sympathies, are steadily
rcnovating the governments and the social constitu.
tons Of Europe and Africa. The Pacific States
must necessarily perform the same sublime and
bcne6cept functions in Asia. n, then, the Aneri-
! can people shsll remain undivided nation, the
rpenng civilization Of the West after separation
growing wider and wider for four thousand years,
Z will In its circuit of the world, meet again and
minglo with the declining civilization of the East
| ON our free soil, and and more perfect
civilization will arise 10 bless the earth under the
sway Of our own cherished and bcnefccnt demo-
cratic institutions. arfrl iafi
We may, then, reasonably hope for greatness,
felicity, and renown, cKcelling any hitherto at
tanned by any nation, IL, standing firmly on the
continent, we loose not our grasp the shore Of
either ocean Whether destiny magnificent
vould be only partially defeated, or whether II
would be altogether lost. by relaxation Of that
4 grasp, surpasses our wisdom TO determine, and
happily IL not important 10 be determined. II "a
enough II we agree that expectations grand, yet
so reasonable and 80 just, ought not TO be In any
degree disappointed,
And now X seems TO me that the perpetual unity
Of our empire hangs the decision OF this day and
Of this hour. fstt
California is already State--a complete and
fully appointed State She never again can be less
than that. She can never again be province or q
| colony; nor can she be made 20 shrink and shrivel
into the proportions OF Federal dependant Terri
tory. California, then, hcnceforth and forever,
must be what she is now, a State.
The question whether she shall be one Of the
United States cf America bas depended ON her and
on us. Her election has been made Our consent