The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-07-12


giant proportions, and scatter to the
four winds of heaven those vast forests
now reposing in their eternal solitude /;
unbosom and unearth those boundlesS
pralries which, since time was young,
| have lain waste of beauty and OF
bloom; and all, all will be one vast
home of happy millions. Then will be
seen that mighty chain which is TO bind
the restless Atlantic with the serene
Pacific. Then will be heard that
mighty roll of commerce, which, after
pressing down the bosom of the Pacific,
will be borne across the whole breadth
of our land, and through its ten thou
sand arteries will throw its life blood
over the whole. But this is not half
for science pauses not to contemplate
her proud achievements, but presses on
forever Motion snatched in thousand
forms, not now for our dreams, will be
made subservient TO the will and wants
OF man, who, from every quarter OF this
great confederacy, can send the flashes
of MS fruitful mind meteor like through
the whole, from ocean to oceans bound,
the EARTH groaning beneath the weight
of his inventive genius, and the air
loaded with his thoughts. Imagine all
this done, and more, and then say who,
what arm, what power on earth could
sever nation SO enlightened and so
bound by interest and by bands of iron.
And here, fellow citizens, by your
permission we will leave for moment
the general theme of our remarks and
look at the responsibilities resting ON
US to aid in this great march of i'm
provement which is to WELD so mighty
an influence on our destiny, and espe
cially that great enterprise which Is
now agitating the minds of our COM
munity. If it be thought improper to
introduce such topic on this occasion,
the answer is that liberty and improve
ments go together-mother and child
and it would be cruel to separate them.
No proposition can be made more clear
than that it is in our power 10 aid in
forging the first connecting link, if not
portion Of that great chain itself, the
extent and magnitude of which we
have dimly shadowed before you.
Men gifted men, armed at all points
with facts, figures, and demonstrations
have addressed you on this subject;
they have analyzed the whole matter
and spread it before you in its deep and
impressive interest. The question then
now comes up before us in its naked
form: shall or shall we not lend our aid
in annihilating the distance between
these fair and beautiful fields of Alta
kapas and that great mart of wealth
and commerce, with which we are so
vitality connected, and which is the
pride and boast of every true hearted
Louisianian. The fiat of that stern law
of necessity, pealing with that iron
tongue which speaks but to be obeyed,
has unerringly proclaimed that the
work shall be done, and if not done by
us, then by others, who, though less ia
vored by soil and location, will seize
upon this large need of honor and of
wealth, and hand down their high
claims to grateful posterity, while we
have sunk into our graves-forgotten,
save by the burning shame which rests
on us for a monument. That march OF
improvement which, coming from the
east and travelling to the west, finds US
in its pathway; and shall we throw
ourselves but to be crushed before its
mighty wheels, or will we aid to move
on the glorious car. Surely there is
enough in the position We occupy to
infuse life and animation into human
iceberg!
Glance your eyes over the map OF
the world, and you will find us located
about the centre of the globe-half
way between Europe and Asia-think
of this-the heart of the world, with
its mighty pendulum of commerce,
from circumference to cir
conference; and where, tell me, where,
over all the vast realms traversed, could
it centre on tairer spot than our own
Louisiana? Where swing over more
mighty river than our own Mississippi
When over such valley 2'whose teem-
ing bosom will ever be pouring into
that vast reservoir of commerce and OF
wealth, whose very pulse we feel
brought by this work into our very midst
and which, in spite of hoary time will
ever be our own New Orleans.
Look into the futuTe-perhaps but to
me generation to come when these
great works, now in their incipient
'tage of formation, shall have become
/ part and parcel of that mighty pano-
anna. From the crowning pinnacle OF