The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-04-17
OUR COUNTRY.
ITS DIsfENsIoNs-Irs DESTINY

gFeaJueSS. we 90 not desire to speak IN
terms of too jealous self-laudatiofi We
know well the bad effects Of an excessive
pride, that too often ends in humiliation, on
the part of nations as we'll as on the part of
individuals. But the great wealth and pow
er OF our country are such, that the most
excited imaginations among us do not far
transcend the bounds of reality Our his
tory, so far, has been one of unprecedented
progress. We have moved forward like a
brilliant meteor, and with all the majesty of
a comet. 1t is hoped that we do not possess
the evanescence of the first, nor that our flu
ture course among the nations of the world
will be characterized by that eccentricity
which marks the orbit of the last, in its
peregrinations among the more solid heaven
| ly bodies Our country is now the idoliza-
ton of the world If the hand of practical
wisdom shall guide our future policy, then
the high destiny of our beloved country is no
theoretic vision, but is to be practically re-
allied. We have, in a little more than half
a century, sprung Minerva-like, completely
armed, from few weak, colonial dependen-
cies to thirty-one independent States. Our
enemies may attribute to US precocious-
ness that will end in our downfall But our
great progress is yet in its infancy; and as
we hope to exist thousand centuries, at
least, our precocity, if such is the develop
ment of our national mind, viii, at least,
last several centuries more Though great
in our infancy, we have lust entered upon
the highway that is to take us to the goal Of
pre-eminence. We have all the germs Of
prosperity. They are not germs which lie
dormant, but are characterized for their rap
id Development
North America is undoubtedly to become
the theatre for the greatest naval power, the
greatest agricultural, commercial and manu-
featuring prosperity in the world. The
United States already embrace the better
portions of North America, and is, no doubt
destined to embrace the whole, with the is
lands adjacent. We have now no enemies
on this continent which we cannot crush
with few raw recruits; except it may be
the British possessions on the North, which
would be defended by the mother country
so long as she finds it her interest to hold
them.
No nation possesses so much that is calcu-
lated to make great naval power We
have great many estuaries and magnificent
rivers running into the long sea-coast on our
borders, In which we can establish backwards
and build fleets with safety We have mex
haustihle supplies of timber, iron, and coal
and an abundance of raw material for sails
and cordage for ships. We have the high.
est skill which the world can produce in.na.
val architecture and a rapidly growing com
tmerce, internal and external, to supply our
navy with seamen.
We have sea coast on the Atlantic.
stretching from the Bay of Fundy, on the
North, to the Southern extremity of the
peninsula of Florida, and thence along the
Gulf of Mexico to the mouth of the Rio
Grande. Our recent acquisitions from Mex
leo have added to our Pacific coast so that
we have continuous sea-coast, looking out
towards Asia, and the Eastern Archipelago
/ of about fourteen hundred miles, This
makes sea-coagt line on both sides of the
continent, of about four thousand miles.
Asyet, however our naval efficiency is far
from being commensurate with our length
/ of sea-coast But time and circumstances
| viii giveus such naval force as may be re-
lquired for our protection, and which will be
no doubt, the greatest IN the world. Our
naval power must ever be,our chief source Of
defence. Our conhictsmust be on the ocean,
as we arc almost entirely an insular power,
when considered in a military or belligerent
latitude.
IF we cast our eyes west Of the Rocky
Mountains, we see a vast expanse of terrific.
nv. The energy aud enterprise of our PEG
fple are already felt there. On the western
Iborder of this territory hes great ocean.
AAVithia that ocean we find innumerable
islands. adapted .bv nature for an extensive
population Across that ocean we find a
{ W. All.
lands we find q great mai Gritty of the human
race; and with them Is carried on the great
est portion Of the trade Of the world. But
other nations, not us, have hitherto nearly
monopolized this trade. "a mighty change
lis to be made in that trade II IS not. only
to be doubled and trebled, but another ma
tion is to become the most active agents in It,
That nation is ours. America IS destined
to become the grand highway between Eu-
rope, Africa, and Asia. American ships
\ will carry the productsof the world across
the Pacific, and American Railroads will
carry it from one side to the other of this
great continent And d great portion Of
HIAsiatic productio thus brought to our At
4 lantic coast, Will be trans ported to its Euro
4 pean destination ia American bottoms, The
i great wealth of India must eventually, anc
that soon too, How In upon Us. Who among
us can contemplate the destiny Of this coun
Il try; without feeling some little pride ant
satisfaction But an this immense trade
this mighty commerce wish the 1oFld, wall
Il be Of little benefit to the great mass 81 hu
man aborefs, Il ould our free Institutions b
ami llilatod shoill 4 intefna ensions pro
lduce dissolution 81 Che Union, iTipg tis'
ito two % more confed eracies, cng enderins
sectional strife, terminating only u th'
downfaH Of that liberty aud glory Fhiclt gly'
ls a great name among The nations q Gag
= globe
II al london cores dent states that tn
3 commercia III tonnage of the United States j
sl20. 600 tons more than that Of England, th
former being 3, SO, 900 tons, and the latte
3. 1 SD, 600 tons IL this 20 true, We arc .
cou1se the first commercial nation IN th
Tbe area % tie United Ssasea u abOu
/ I8 40ll GOO square miles; b. if the whole are
was in the form Of square; i would b
about B2 D miles on each of IFS sides
+