Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-03-27
OUR COUNTRY.

as II now is, II viii be seen that cur country eN
tends from Minnesota to NewMe xico from the At
lantic 10 the Pacific 1t contains an area Of more
than three millions Of square miles Its geo
graphical centre is in the Indian Territory. On
entire sen coast embraces something more thar
three thousand miles-,he number Of Stltcs is
thiriy-one-Territories six Our entire popula
ton probably exceeds twenty-thrce millions
Twenty of the States and two Of the rerrtores
enjoy ocean navig ltion in ships Of the heaviest
burden or have easy access to the commerce OF
the world The remaining States and Terrific
rics enjoy the navigation ofocoau lakes and mac
nihcent rivers The inland commerce Of these
lakes and rivers in 1850. amounted to S79e-554.
IA. Three thousand STEAMBOATS, traverse oui
waters. and about nine thousand miles ofrailroad
reaching from state to state bind them together
as with bands Of iron. twenty-five thousand
miles of the electric telegraph speed the flight
Of inteib-eneo. on t.s ehores ef eur lakes aud
on the banks Of our rivers running down from
the Allegheny and the Rocky Mountains, rriga-
ting the valleys and the prairies Of the mighty
west, numerous and enterprisng population is
at work, rearing towns and villages and cities, as
if BY magic; while thousands upon thousands
are every yer ponrin- into new settlements to
till the arabic lands and deveope their agricultu
raj wealth Other thousands still are climbing
the mountains to unlock the mineral treasures of
the country And yet but mere beginning has
been made in this respect In the language of a
beautiful writer, "not hundredth part Of the
arabic lands are TILED, nor thousandh part OF
the hidden wealth of the country revealed. The
focks of the world might Craze on our hill-sides
and the population Of the globe be fed from our
gnnares.'
This is not the best, nor 10 II the brightest side
which the beautiful picture Of our country pre-
SCENTS to the admitting gaze Of the world Her In.
stituuons are her most precious Jewels. Ourpl-
grim fathers laid the foundations Of the first,
best, and modest empire on which the sun ever
shone' and cur revolutionary fathers sustained
by the God of the Pilgrims, bequeathed to their
descendants a richer inheritance than has fallen
to the lot ofany other people upon the face Of the
earth-a free government 10 an empire Of freemen ,
We have the pulpit, with an open bible. a free
press, free schools, and an independent judiciary
general government, in the main well admin
istered, and in all the states, institutions Of be-
nevoence philanthropy, religion and learning,
which would do honor to any nation, and are just
ly the pride ola free people. IT, among our free
institutions, there is one more than another that
should be regarded in the Union as the citadel Of
its strength, II is the system Of schools and col
leges. OF the latter, no less than one hundred
and twenty -one already adon the country With
in their walls from ten to twelve thousand young
men are pr fectng a liberal education. OF
schools, the single State Of New York has more
thln eleven thousand pouring the ligh, of knowl
edge mo the youthful mind and giving moral
and intellectual culture to eight hundred and twcn-
ty thousand pupils This is the light of but one
star Other and smaller stars. ~ the constella-
ton Of eiates, are doing even more, in proportion
70 wealth and population, IN raising up an educa-
ted generation to bless the land they live in. L.
norlnce is the source Of crime. The press the
pulpit and al men of all parties and all denom-
inalions, who love liberty and their country,
should unite their efforts to improve, enlighten,
ana elevate the misses They hold the control
ing power; AMI en- ghtened and vrtuous, form
the van-guuds, the rear-guards, and the safe
guards of the Republic The time, we trust, is
not far distant when our extended territory in its
length and breadth; on its sea-shores around
its lakes along its rivers up It's hill-sides over
its mountains; and upon It's prairies will be dot
ted with the happy dwellings of Freemen. and
decorated with institutions of liberty and law, re-
ligion and learnng-with 10 bot to mar its beau
ty. May Tie who hath the hearts of rulers aud
people in his hand, enable the nation peacefully
and efiectually to wipe out the one stain upon its
fair escutcheon.
This Union. shall II be dissolved; No, new
err Who will prevent it The people-under
God, the sovereign people They have too great
an interest in its preservation, and in its perpetu-
ity, ever 10 give it up. Politicians may predict
its overthrow fanatics may threaten it--dsor-
ganizers desire il and nullihers attempt n-but
the still small voice Of a free and enlightened
people viii mike itself heard. The Union is
theirs and, with help from on high, they will pre-
serve il. They love the Union as they love their
children. Their voice unites with the voice of
Madison, coming mp from the grave the ad-
vice nearest 70 my heart and deepest in my af-
fections Is, that the Union of the States be per-
petuated.' The bonds and ligaments that unite
parents AMI children, brothers and sisters, moth
ers and daughters, separated, as ten thousands of
them are, from east TO vest from north To south.
in different and distant portions Of the country.
yet still united in interest and affection, form
cord Of more than threshold strength, and the az
iectlons Of each are as so many links in golden
cham to hold tie sister states - fraernal and per-
petusl union. This bond Of union is every day
increasing It's power and extending its influence
In our estimation It 10 more powerful to save han
ali the new party tests which the ingenuity of
man can invent.
Our faith is mistaken in the perpetutv of the
Union II gathers strength from the history Of
tie past and the experience Of the present Our
hope is bright for the future. Hitherto every al
tempt at resistance 10 law has served only toshow
that the people, as Il whole, come whai may. will
abide by the Constitution and the Union. The
everyday business Of life speaks word of en-
COMMENCEMENT The ulourb ,b, .,,.j tho go,,,