The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-02
THE UNION.
From the Dubuque Daily EXPRESS.
TA,c prOxres. OF tho West

The present u.s. perhaps the most important era in the
history OF the West few years since, and this beaut
full country teemng with the fruits OF ndustryayored
with all the natural advantages requisite for the highes,
state of prosperly-peoped with rare combination OF
intelligence industry and vrtueand advancing to great
with rapdity and certainty unparalleled IN the his
tory of the world-was Wilderness unnhabiied except
by the savage and the wild beast Thirty years ago, the
people Of the northeastern States regarded the western
border of New York as the est - and to those youag
and daring adventures among them who manifested the
teney OF visit to the wild and barbaIous regions OF
Ohio Michigan Missouri Indiana, or Illinois, the
horrible picture of savage nqusnon and ntoleabe SUI
erng was presented their Sisters tears, mothers
enreates and fathers stern commands were brought into
equson to regulate the giddy mind and stay the head
long course OF the youth and if this failed the venerable
sage OF the household (whose opinion was never asked
influence sought, except on grave and important occa
sons old grandmothers wisdom, experience, and world
wide renown for wonderful adventures and
dicons calculated stae and shock the tmid novice in
Nature were invoked in solemn benedicons upon their
hayward heads But even this rare combination OF do
nestle talent and power, aided by the strong natural ties
of home and blood, not in all instances, sufficient TO
check the youthful spirit OF curiosity and enterprise, and
destroy that restless ambition OF the American to ad-
beyond the limits OF civilization, fathom the secrets
of Nature, and experiment upon the grand principle OF
mind applied to matter. Young men left their comfora
BILE homes, and poneered into Ohio and Michigan; and
the numerous difficulties, exposures and Affections they
encountered only served to render the vocation one OF
sporting curiosity and increase the appetite Tor adven,
ture Their bold energy and daring nlrerdty startled
the curiosity and. If it did not excite the admiration, at
least the ave. suspicion and fear Of the red
AS civilization advanced, the natives gradually eceded
into Indiana and Illinois. brief space elapsed and
bold push was made further west another brief space
and the natives pressed to the Mississippi, and
forced ii another and they were compelled to
seek the muddy of the Missouri and the piaeres
of the North and civilization advances they will con-
tnue ecede until they reach the very Of the Pa.
cifc and their shr whoop finally lost in its deep
and solemn muTmurs.
| Thirty years ago. as we have before remarked, the
territory west of the western limit OF New York was
only known vast wilderness. peoped by savagss
,haiata fha huftup fha md tha
Now it contains population OF over five Millions Or
nearly third OF that Of the United States; commands
political importance weighty any portion Of the
Union has an internal commerce which nsures the
spect OF the country; contributes food to almost every
portion OF the known world is the great public provls
house OF the continents the grand central focus at
which all the various lines Of railroad, from the Atlantic
and Gulf States aiming, and from which will be
emitted the staples that will eventually warm and nour
ish great portion OF the human family The West is
emphatcay the most favored portion OF this continent
True, cannot boast OF navigation, the
land killing crops OF the South, or the nexhausti,
BILE gold deposiles Of California; but we can beast Of
mate unequalled for health and pleasure and
people pre- eminent for intelligence, industry and virtue
And when the Pacific shall become as much Of
porium for trade the Allantcwhich period is npidy
and surely approaching-our own beloved West is
the geographical centre OF the continent will be regarded
as the agricultural and landscape garden spot OF the
world And from the western tendency OF immigration
casual observer, think shall not be set down
enthus for what have said The fact is irresisi
be that public opinion with regard to this country has
undergone a mighty change within the last few years
and there is another fact equally much sothai the
next ten years will produce migh,er revolution in the
and o. me hi ere
full yet buried in the earth She has but just
commenced her career Her soil is scarcely redeemed
from the wdness in which the untutored savage left
H. Her capacious bosom has yet sent forth
moeiy from its inexhausbe fountain of agricultural and
mineral wealth.