, 1852-10-02
Puget sound-The Present and Future

A gentleman few days ago presented u,
a copy OF " Thomas Massachusetts Spy. O.
Worcester Gazette"-yol. Axvu-rrinicd
January Slh, lSJO-ils columns IN mourn
ing for the death Of The Father of hi,
Country" The publication Of thi, vcner-
able rehe Of more than half q century il
would appear had been commenced three
years previous to the declaration Of our na-
tional independence-had been chronicler
Of the stirring scenes which subsequently,
folloWed-had assisted in the establishment
Of our present glorious form Of government.
and had the editor whilst penning the just
and mournful tribute Of admiration and graft
itude to him 10 whom we are so much in
debied for our emancipation from British ty-
ranny, been blessed with prophetic vision,
he might have closed his sad culogy on the
death Of Washington, with the prediction
that fifteen years from that day-sth of
January-it was reserved for man whose
name was then unknown 10 history, 10 ter
inmate successfully, at New Orleans, a Sc
eond struggle for the independence Of the
American people, and that the memory of
jackson would be cherished by future ages
eOeval with that Of Washingion, "io the
last syllable ofrecordtd Time" in the hearts
and histories Of a grateful people.
But had the veil that curtains the mystcri-
Gus future been Withdrawn, and the momen-
tous events connected with the history Of
The last fly years been permitted to pass in
review before the "mind's eye " Of that ed.
itOr at that time, they would certainly have
frightened him from his propriety," and
unable to realize the possibility Of their full
flment, have considered them as idle ere
atoms Of the mind "-chimeras Of distur
bed, unnatural fancy, and he would have
accused his brain Of deceptive alteration.
"There are mole things in Heaven and
Earth than are dreamed of in thy philoso-
ply, Horatio "-is the expression of the
master poet, and certainly the events ofthe
past 6fty years history of our country, have
been Of such a character as the most enthu-
siastic dreamer Of her future greatness must
',-.srly have failed in an adequate concep-
ton Of The valuable and almost indis.
pensible acquisitions to our territory-the
increase Of our commerce from a mere cy-
pher in importance, now second 10 no other
nation in the world-lhe building up Of
magnificent eities-the introduction Of steam
navigation, canals, rail roads, the telegraph
and the increase Of our population Of from
five 10 TWENTY-FIVE millions within the
last fifty years, together with tens of thou
sands Of discoveries and improvements no
less important, are matters which, could the
minds Of the past age have been made ac-
quainted as 10 their future accomplishment
and fulflmeni, would certainly have start
led them with surprise and unbelief, as they
are now regarded with wonder, and arc the
admiration Of the world
The associations connected with a news
paper printed fifty years ago, by perusal
Of its ancient looking columns, are varied
and pleasant--calTing up "reminiscences Of
the Past-the reality yet uncertainty which
attaches 10 all things in the present, with
innumerable speculations reaching into the
snexplored and impenetrable future. The
relic before us is a suitable commentary on
the opening Of the nineteenth century in
which We Of the present constitute the mid
die link towards its termination, and many
now entering upon the stage Of life in our
new territory, will have the satisfaction Of
witnessing its close, and in hailing the ad-
vent Of the twentieth. Who can conceive
the feelings that would probably he ava,
kenea IN the minds Of those who may be oc-
euPying our various places fifty years hence,
by perusal of the columns Of the present
number Of our little " Columbian - should
stray copy be preserved for resurrection
at that future period, in our now infant ter
Fiioryl Il would be cherished as a me-
mento Of the past-as an invaluable curios-
lily, and command four times the amount Of
our present subscription price.
Who can predict the future glory and
grandeur of the country on the Pacific coast,
Or who Of the present age presume to write
its destiny, or the position it will occupy
amongst the nations Of the earth, at ,he
close of the nineteenth century? Ere this
world shall have entered the record oftime
for another hundred YEARS. journey, /" the
thrones-'the palaces Of crowned kings ,,
may have heen. "a bt,rued f. 49,. =,