The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-19
From the Bosfon Transcript.
The United States in 1850.

We find article under this title in Hunts
Merchants Magazine for April. containing some
interesting spccuatons based on the report of the
superintendent Of the Census, showing the pro-
gressive increase Of population in the United
States during decennial periods OF their existence
as an independent people, from the first census in
1890 TO the seventh in 1850. The result Of the esti
mate is. that in the year 1900 population will
have reached IA 2l4, ,2ll; and that in 1850 il will
amount to 23G, 729
The above estimate is made, taking the natural
increase from lS40 to 1850, II per cent, the
ratio of our future advance. This result, it is adj
mited, is very improbable. Various causes will
conspire to prevent our future increase equalling
the rapidity OF growth hitherto. Although
the additions 10 our population in dccennial peri
ode in coming years may greatly exceed the in
in similar intervals Of time in past his
tory, yet the per centage of increase IN such ac-
cessions must almost of necessity, be reduced.
In the course Of thirty forty years, foreign i'm
migration, now 90 powerful an auxiliary in swell
ing our numbers and raising the ratio Of our pro-
gression, must become n comparatively unimport-
ant item in our periodical advances.
The writer makes another estimate by which
population in 1850 il computed I6I os6, ,246; and
the, he thinks, will fall short of the reality. lie
ventures the assertion that there are those now
living who, if internal dissensions and fratricidal
quarrcs do not previously destroy existence
as nation, will see people OF than
200 100000 souls. Our territory embraces 3,i3G.4F
square miles, and its present population amounts
20 but seven inhabitants TO the squarc mile. Should
this vast area, presenting every variety of climate
and inexhaustibie fertility Of soil, be as densely
peoped as Great Britain. which has two hundred
and twenty within the same mits, our numbers
would reach $50 020. $40; and should it rival
Holland and Belgium in density Of population, two
hundred and sirty-seven 10 the mile,) the result
would be the enormous amount of s37 .a3l,0l9,
equal to four fiths of the present estimated mum
Der Of the human race
II would seem from the following passage that
the writer differs from kossuth IN regard TO the
imminencc OF the danger we are in from foreign
dcspots:
"Much has been said of late about the manifest
destiny Of the American people. Have those who
have talked most md oudest upon this topic looked
forward into the future 10 contemplate what that
destiny is TO be! We have sprung up, like Jonah's
gourd, in night, until our shadow is cast lar over
the earth; it may be that, like that gOurd have
the worm rnaUing at our vitals, and that our
downfall will be as swift and certain
rice. Our ruin must come upon US, II Il ever come,
from own suicidal hand; no foreign influence
will, il remain united, ever be able to over
throw Ne. To sum up in a few vords, We de-
stincd to become power for good or for evil. such
ns the world has never scen, in comparison with
which the storicd grandeur OF the Roman empire
will dwindle into insignfcance."