Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-09-16
VOL. XLvI. NO. 49,. WHOLE NO. 1896.

extended under names before unknown in
Minnesota. Oregon, New Mexico, Utah.
and Nebraska. Do you douyt the ,enden.
CIV of expansion beyond your present bor-
dersl Only sixty years ago, all our setile-
ments clustered between Cape Ann and st.
Mary's River, on the Atlantic Coast-
Where are they now On the East and
North, they overhang the Bay Of Fundy and
Lake Superior; Svuthward. they stretch
away quite around the Peninsula Of Fiorid,
to the banks OF the Rio Grande; on the
West, their setting sun exlingstslres his fires
in the waters of the Pacific. By purchase
and conquest, the boundaries OF the Repub-
lie have been made 10 advance equally with
this gigantic hut voluntary expansion of
population. Aud are we now content .
Not at all. On every side there are signs
of the chatting of the people against The rig-
id aud unyieldng frontier. What do these
controversies with the maritime British
North American Provinces about the FISH
cries, and with the inland Provinces about
Restraints on trade, indicate. but discontentl
What these Unsurpassed aud desperate ex-
petitions from Louisiana and Florida against
Cuba, but covetousness of the sugar-planta-
tons and coffee grounds Of that beautiful
matte controversy with Mexico about a route
for Railroad across the Islhmus of Tehu-
aniepec. bat further ACKNOWLEDGMENT. if
not a complete absorption, OF that prema-
turely declining Republic And lastly,
what these explorations and expeditions
about Japan and the Sandwich Islands, but
the Necessity of naval stations ~ the Pacific
oceanl Marx, also, that ia nearly all these
coveted countries, not only have The priuci-
pies of American Republicanism worked
out practically Institutions substantially SIM
liar To our own, but there are already organ
lied in the native populations, parties strong
enough. when seconded by efforts on our
part. to deliver them into oar hands How
significant indeed are the facts that Great
Britain has practically rcliuquished govern
ment. in the Provinces adjacent to us. 10
their inhabitants, aud that simultaneously
with the fixed establishment of society in
AustraIia, indications Of the rise of a Repub-
lie appear 1t is happily true that these
desires for immediate annexation of ada
cent regions are local, aud IN some measure
what we call sectional, aud so counterfeit
aud balance each other; aud that the ex-
panding fnrces are also further modified by
conservative apprehensions widely prevail
ing IN the country. Neyert eless, these are
only checks-not absolute restraints. All
such restraints have ultimately gwen way
heretofore, and must do sooner or later
hereafter. Nor may u be believed that any
American colony, planted beyond our bor-
ders, will contentedly remain without, or
will, with the national consent, be left to re-
main independent of the Republic Expe-
has us IA
not taught US that wherever the American
People 90, they will draw the American Cow
eminent over them wherever an American
colony establishes Itself, there the American
people will extend the Constitutional roof
over them. Indeed there is nothing new in
all these movements, neither those within
nor those across the national borders En-
pansion and incorporation were laws impress
sed on the American people two hundred
years ago, aud they yield tn those laws now
Just as they have hitherto done, because they
have arisen out of circumstances above ma
uonal control, aud are inevitable. Let the
not, however be misunderstood. ! advocate
no headlong progress, counsel no prsUip-
iiani movement, much less any Que involY-
ing war. violence. or injustice. | would
not seize with haste aud force the fruit,
which ripening in time, will fall of itself into
our hands. But know nevertheless that
the stars will come out, even If the moon de-
lay her rising | have shewn you then that
Continent is 10 be peoped, and even dis
tant Islands to be coIonized by us.
These grand movements will draw large
" on the moral social, intellectual and po-
lnicai resources ofthe existing States. 9th
er countries and other continents will as
they have done hitherto. contribute great
aud rapid emlgrations; but the element Of
American Society, the Two elements of ,the
Federatlve Republican system Of Govern
ment, will be derived from the agricultural
population Of the established States already
within the Union. Such supplies cannot
he adequately furnished. unless the residu-
AIRY forces be perpelualy renewed and n-
ylgorated. If they be not adequatel supp
he'd SO as to sustain not merely perVadlng
community ofinierests, but even thorough,
homogeneousness ofnsllonal character, SEN
timents aud sympa,hles, political, moral, So
cial aud religious, then expansion, instead
of proving a means of union aud agsrand-
/ isement, will prove the cause OF dlsunon
and decline. Coniessedly we have signs,
though not alarming ones, OF disunion now.
They appear IA Southern States IA the
organization OF an isolated, peculiar, hostile
cnluny IA the valley OF the Sab Lake and
they appear also IN the resliyeness of State
onl, three years old. under the supposed
neglect or disregard of her interests by the
Federal Government, which IS nov no long
er a central one. la every case you see
that the cause Is the same-the absence of
entire aud perfect assimilation. How shall
such assimilation be effected aud maintain
ed ? The answer Is simple, obvions aud
practical. The tee, whose branches thus
continually multiply aud spread. aud which
even now, covers nearly all of the regions
OF the continent lying w,ihln ,he temperate
zone, aud casts It's shadow over distant Is
lands, stands here. and we tread upon the
very earth out of which The majestic trunk
has risen. Ii We would cherish aud preserve
II, we must continually Loosen the soil aud
supply new streams Of It's native aud accus-
toned moisture. While It Is thus manifest
thai the responsibility Tor the preservation
of our own necessary power aud lniaence,
aud even OF the preservation of the RePub-
lie ITSELF rests chiefly On the Agricultural
population OF the established States, aud
thaf resnnnslhilltv inxolxes a demand for