The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-30
2l.

productions which demand such a work. 1t is
the population and productions of the States; and
if have not suffered myself to be unduly fanci-
full, Of the world that demand it. Should live
to the age of my fathers, l shall expect to see
teas and silks passing this rout to their des
tination in our Atlantic Cities. But independ-
ent of this idea if from this day, we do our best,
and arc successful in what we undertake, this
| improvement cannot be constructed in day, nor
year: and before its completion, the population
| and productions of the State, and the whole ex-
treme west, will be vastly increased; especially,
| if we shall be able to hold out inducements to
| immigration and capital. Iowa is this day more
emphatically regarded as the land of permanent
promise, than any other State or Territory. If
we enjoyed the same facilities of access which
Illinois and Wisconsin enjoy, population
would increase with double rapidity.
Few great works of internal improvement
have been projected without drawing upon them
selves the ridicule Of some, and the weak faith
OF othcrs:-but they have not opposed the force
of the spiders web to their md aestic progress and
completion. When the idea of the Erie Canal
was started, it was deemed by many impractical
bic and foolish;-but the folly of the thoughtless
did not discourage the capacious mind out of
which sprung that noble scheme, characteristic
Of the man, of his State, and might almost say,
of the country. Then, such a country as North
ern Illinois was hardly to be found upon the
map:-Wisconsin was literally regarded by wise
men the everlasting abode of the savage; and
Iowa was known to nobody but Lewis and Clark,
who were regarded as little more than the legen-
dary explorers of strange countries and unheard-
of rivers But now "Clinton's Ditch and two
rail roads can with difficulty do all the business
which is required
We now have a name and place with the
States We have beyond us Nebraska, and
Oregon and California-territory enough fol
State after State; great portion of which we car
make useful to us in the contributions of com
merce. What, then, have we to do but to put
in rcquisition the means with which we are bless.
cd' 1t is principle both of law and religion
that the vigilant are to be assisted; the law will
not help the needless, and God himself hates
the sluggard. AS | have before limited, there
is encouragement in the very spirit of the age
the history of civilization shows that some class
of enterprise has ruled for time the public mind
| At one time it has been the elevation of nationa
reputation and the extension of power by con
quest at another, it has been scientific and geo.
graphical research at another, it has been col
onization and the settlement of distant countries
at another, it has been the arts Of peace, found
in wholesome laws for the encouragement of
agriculture, and commerce, and as consequence
of internal improvement; and this last charac.
tcrises the age in which we live. Shall we not
mbbe this spirit Or rather, is it not one
which has gone out from this people? This is
the spirit which is both to create, and reap in
:, calculable advantages from system of wise ant
liberal legislation. system which shall con
vert unavailable into available resources-vas
amounts of which there are, agricultural, min
eral and commercial, in this unsurpassed valley
and in our own State-and as they are, in grca
part, they are but nominal but channels com
municaton and transportation will impart to
them sensible and ever productive reality.
Gentlemen, fear that l have been unjust tc
others from whom know you expect to hear
The sensations of this occasion will be long tt
be remembered, and when again we meet,
trust it may be snugly seated in the beautiful
car when we will talk over the "reminiscences
of this day