The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-03
BY HON. LEWIS oAss.


That the lines had fallen to him in pleasant places, and
that he had goodly heritage, We're subjects OF eonsi
laton with the royal psalmis OF Israel, gfaleluiy 81
knowledged and beautifully expressed IN one OF ,nos
oupourngs OF the imagination when nave ooh 1, Wv
in the pages Of the Scripture aud whose hoh upon
the human affections Is as powerful no" as ~ @ -
est days OF the chosen people OF Soa huu "H a = e
American who does moi feel that his country oilers good
IN heages and pleasant places-and equally loo-io all
who seeE them from the shores where our Iahefs nst
ed their stern contest with Nature to that dis
ssnt ocsan which their descendants have reached by like
trials and exerons, and which separates us from the
islands and continent Of Asia Aud nowhere are hgher
rewards offered human industry and enterprise, well
nv The physical by the moral and political advantages
within reach, than meet us at every step OF pro-
gress upon our own beautiful peninsula. Around us is
one OF those PLEASANT PLACES one OF those
nAGEs Few positions present more objects OF agreeable
pation than does the very spot where this
bage is now convened in peace and prosperity, not 10
celebrate victory nor to ext0 conqueror but to
mune together upon OF the most interesting subjects
that engage the human attention Above and below
us are vast internal seas unequalled on the face OF the
GLOBE stretching away 10 other regions distributing their
bounes far and wide and already bearing rich products,
corn the sand of the sea-, from the great granay of
the Northwest to supply the wants OF other portions OF
the world less favored BY Nature more harshy ruled
by man.
The solitude of the forest but yesterday appalling
from IFS very intensity is now broken by the busy hum
OF human industry and wind and steam have united
their power. and have penetrated the most secluded re-
search of the objects and the rewards OF energy
and perseverance But who bold to venture to set
bounds to the productive extent OF this great theatre OF
human exertion, foree how far and how fast will
be it's progress The future battles all calculation the
past has outstripped all anticipation.
But our business IS with the present, and our noble
river Is too prominent an object in the landscape Of our
goodly heritage to be passed by without remark Unit
ing the Upper Lakes with Lake Erie it flows between
them in of many miles, forming by lis extension
the small Lake st. Clair and presenting marked features
Of beauty aud of magnitude which the attention OF
the most careless observer and mlnsterng also to the
health and wants of oar city, while mlnsterng 10 the
wants OF commerce already great though born OF yes
teIday and destined to take Its place. and long, too,
among the proudest monuments OF human enterprise.
With acurrent deep, broad and gentle. nus great stream
recalls the tribute OF Denham 10 the Thames, far more
appropriate TO the American than 10 the English river
Though deep yet clear. though gs4le yet dull,
Strong without rage without o'ertiowlns full"
Its depth sufficient for all the vessels that navigate the
lakes, while its broad expanse and tie mighty volume Of
water it receives and pours out announce il OF
the great arteries of the earth formed to maintain that
circulation which is essential as well 10 The order OF Ma
ture as TO the communication and with II the improve.
ment and civilization of the human family 1t
one peculiar and invaluable ieaturet is subject TO
periodical elevation nor depression AS is to-day
II, with slight variations, at all times. The falling OF
the rain and the melting OF the which elsewhere
the streams 10 overflow their banks and carry
terror and distress in their impetuous course,
dered by the great reservoirs above us, which
equaze the supply and the demand, and thus prevent
some of the worst effects oil the and dry
seasons.
There need that should recapluate The rewards
that peninsula has already secured to those 10
the lines haze faea here and Thai i continues 10 otter
10 all who seek comfort and Independence from The life
OF the husbandman, under the most favorable circum
stances OF SOIL OF climate, and OF position that excite
the hopes of the emIgant stimulate his exertions
And the progress and prosperity that mark whole
district OF country furnish the best commentary its
adaptation to the wants OF society," aud lis capacity TO
provide for them easily and abundanty and with pride
and qualification may point to own city, spread
out before us, and which is becoming every day more
worthy OF its splendid natural situation, aud OF its claims
to be one OF the principal marts OF business all this
tensve region. It's noble and capacious habor, in
temediay position between the upper and the 10 wer
lakes, commanding the communication between them,
lite relation TO the great wheat-growng portions OF the
State, OF much OF which II is The natural commercial de-
pot and the enterprise, capital and industry already
cumuated and in active operation within limits, suf
GENTLY explain the causes of present prosperity and
justify the most sanguine expectations of It's future pro-
Gress All the signs OF prosperous community are
around U.S. and yet how short the period since this very
place was the advanced post OF civilization, with scarcely
white man between here and the Pacific ocean-a se-
cluded nook IN the great primeva forest which extended
across the continent, apparently mpervous TO human
civilization and sheiierng In its recesses fierce and in
rac,abls ioe who defended his heritage with consancy
and courage. adding the cruelty OF to the obstacles
Of Mature. But few brief years have passed away
briefer and brefer they appear time rolls onsince
war party OF Indians issued from the osesi and placing
themselves between the spot where this assembage is
nov listening 10 the remnscence OF bygone incident,
removed from rather by the march OF than BY
the progress of time, and tie inhabited portion OF The
town marked their Eruption by OF those deeds OF
blood which have made the history OF frontier rec
ord OF trials and snfengs without parallel in The pro-
gress OF society. II is difficult for him who addresses
you under circumstances pleasant and prosperous
10 realize that he heard The silence OF the little village
broken by the discharge OF the Indian rifles, and to
describe the alarm which prevailed as the strength
OF the party unknown and The country left de-
fenceiess the troops having been sent away TO lake
part IN the operations on the Niagara frontier But
the energy OF the Inhabitants few and exposed they
were-most OF them the descendants OF the original
French seterssnpped The place Of numbers and expe
renee, and the foe was driven from the settlement hi.
native haunis III the forest, but without connic
with OF the ranging parties almost within hearing OF
the town; and there small remnant OF those brave
and faithful cizeDs-falthfu a, all times, soldiers in
danger-whom ! me, making part of this
great assemblage, and whom then still nearer
making part of the patriotic band who freely ofe red their
services in that hour Of peril and who will ecolect
terror inspired by our return, the scalp haoo
raised by OF Indian hunters Indicate the sue
Of the party and broke the silence of the twilight
with that teTIIbc sound which heard
gotten, and which tells the tale Of blood before The bleed
ing trophies and the victorious party present
Whether the signal from friend foe, the helpless
women and chIlJren-whose husbands and fathers had
gone out TO defend them--had no means of knowing
and IN the terrible uncertainty many OF them EN- ked
IN canoes, and fled Tor safety 10 the Canadian shore HUI
man nature IL seldom destined TO trial than
such state Of doubt brings with H. Happily, the return
OF her friends removed their apprehe and secured
Their safely Ard sucs incidents are characteristic OF
ironuer NE ard when they shall have been hallowed
Dy tme and traditional associations they will constitute
the romance OF Indian history showing the slruer
and su"sfhgs Wbich our settlements have encountered
ia tneit iong ana painful march from he rock OF py
mootn ana the beach OF jamestown The shores al ina,
distant ocean where our fathers ar and our o,vn Il
now planted and where American institution. ana ,ror
lean enterprises doing hat deed Of power and ~
gress whose consequences can conte win
out admiration ' W."