Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-07-27
American Progress.


The tone Of the British press towards thu
United States has become much changed recent
lv, and among the most striking of these intanccs
of change is that of Blackwoods Magazine
The June number has the following compliment
tary allusion to US and our Institutions:
although the eyes of the world are just now
directed almost exclusively 10 Eastern Europe
in which events are occurring Of far more than
national import, it may not be either ill.timed,
or uninteresling, to cast hasty glance over an
other quarter of globe, in which development
of power.i is going on, silently but rapidly y-un-
attended by the startling incidents Of battle by
land or sea, yet not the less pregnant with re-
suits which may influence the destinies of n
large portion of the human race We need
scarcely say that our remarks point 10 the Amer
lean Republic, and that it is that young giant Of
the West whose growth to maturity affords an
object of contemplation infinitely more inslruc-
tive than any which barbaric Russia presents in
her frenzicd struggle for territorial aggrandize-
mcnt, or the powers of Western Europe afford
in ihair ll-cemenled and doubtful union TO re-
pei the aggressor. Until within the last few
years, we have been too much in the habit of
treating tho accounts brought before US of
American progress to greatness, rs extravagant
gasconade. The governments of Europe have
been disposed to ignore the pretensions which
she has put forth, until, from one after another,
she has wrung reparation for actual or imagined
wrongs. Even when we saw her flag flying in
every port Of the world, and felt the active COM
petition of her merchants and ship-owners, we
were disposed to regard her rather as an inter-
Looping tralficker, with whom, from her distance
from us and her isolated position, Europe could
have little sympathy, than as the germ OF pow
erfu nation, with II mighty future in prospect.
With n view to bring about q proper recogn-
tion Of the actual and growing importance of
America us a member of the great family of ma
tions, We propose here to give few statistics
Illustrative, not only of the innate elements of
strength and progress which she possesses, but
also of the genius shown by her people in turn
ing them to profitable account
But we turn once more, before concluding, to
the great country of The West, with a view to
inquire whether its Institutions, and their past
working, afford a guarantee of its Dermanence
and continued prosperity. There was period
in 1928, if we remember aright-when dis
ruplon threatened the integrity of the Union,
and il was prophesied that interests so different
as those of the Southern States and the New
England and Western States, must ultimately
bring about their separation. Even now the
slavery question is provoking serious discord,
and may have, to those who haye not studied
the position of the country, a somewhat nenac-
ing aspect But, since 1928 much has been ef-
tectcd to cement and strengthen the entire con-
federation The various lines of railway aud
@ ebsF bay 5atWgaR ca tna4s tsem Noshss
Mountains, through every variety OF climate and
Of soil, from the temperate nearly to the troplc,
have created vast interchange of the products,
both of agriculture and of manufacturing indus
try, which no section of the great republic can
now afford to forego, or to see diminished. inc
Importance of maintaining the condition otArnu-
tual dependence between the various States Is
becoming day by day more acknowledged. The
manufac uring and the Western States:especla-
ly feel the advantages afforded to domestic in
dustry by an increasing crop Of the raw mate
rial, cotton, and the sources of national wealth.
in the shape of exports, which the produce OF the
Southern States provides, whilst the latter, from
tariff reductions, and the great advance made IN
domestic, manufactures of every description,
have ceased 10 feel that they are taxed for the
exclusive benefit of tho other States OF the UNI
on. These considerations induce US to believe,
and indeed 10 hope, that the progress OF the
entire people of the American Republic Will
continue, that the political compact OF the varl'
ous States which compose it will remain unoro-
ken, and that high destiny for 1t amongst ma
tions is the future.