Washington telegraph., 1854-08-02
From the Memphis Eagle & Enquirer.
Our Future.

America" SAID the greatest statesman
our country has produced, will, ere long,
be in the Valley of the Mississippi"
This Valley, with its inland sea, its nav
igable rivers, stretching on either side to
the bases of Appalachian and Rocky Noun
tains from the icy lakes of the North, to
the Mexican Gulf on the South; bearing
the varied productions of every cline, in
babited by people, characterized for their
enterprise and industrial habits, with insti-
tutions adapted to the full development of
social happiness, was fitting theme for the
mind of WEBSTER
In 1870, the centre of population was in
Adams county Pennsylvania; at the last
census it was in Belmont county, Ohio,
travelling in 60 years 220 miles nearly due
West The great tide of emigration from
the North of Europe, and the densely popu-
lated Middle and New England States, seek
ing climate like they had left, has contnu-
ed this Westward march of empire on near
ly the same parallel of latitude. Will it
hereafter take the same course
Arkansas was admitted into the Union Is
years ago, and Texas less than TO- These
two States have an aggregate of 378.7lS
square miles; more than the SIX New Eng
land States; New York. New Jersey, Penn
syIyania, and Maryland; and the Western
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa.
The census of 1850 shows an increase of
ll6 per cent. in the population of Arkansas
from 1910 to 1850. Texas is not given,
she had then been member of the Union
only 5 years; but it is conceded that the in
eaease there has been much greater Du-
ring the same period, the increase in Penn
sylvania was "a per cent. Ohio 80, Indiana
A. Illinois rs, Virginia Ia, and New York
q None of the Middle or Western States
are capable of supporting a denser popula-
ton than Arkansas and Texas. In fertility
Of soil we will admit they are equal, in eli
mate and variety of productions the two
Southwestern States have decided superb
ority. All the cerials are grown there in
great perfection. Corn is certain and
abundant crop. Cotton and sugar, which
cannot be raised at the North, thrives well.
1t is the land of the vine and the fg-the
peach and the pomegranete. Arkansas, too,
has mines of untold wealth, mountains of
iron and vast fields of coal, both bitumin-
Gus and anthracite The same soil and the
same mineral treasure are found beyond
her western border, in the Cherokee and
Choctaw Nations, which are now knocking
at the door of our Federal Union for ad-
mission as a free and independent State,
with even larger territory than Arkansas
These facts warrant the conclusion that, at
no distant day, the centre of the poplation
will be south of the Ohio river To be the
seat of such an empire is surely worthy the
ambition of our people. That it will fix it.
self somewhere no one can doubt--to draw
it here is within our power.
In looking at the map of our territory
west of the Mississippi river, we see that
nature has formed two valleys through which
the trade of the far west must flow One
is formed by the Missouri river, the other
by the Arkansas river The Memphis and
Little Rock Railroad, if continued to Fort
Smith, as it undoubtedly will be, being in
direct line and upon nearly the same par
allel of latitude, will bring here the trade
and travel of the Arkansas Valley Its
connection at Little Rock, with the Cairo
and Fulton Railroad will open to US the rich
countries of Northern and Western Texas.
While these Improvements are in progress
of construction, it is important that we pre-
pare to retain the trade which they will
certainly bring. We are satisfied the peo-
pie Of Texas Arkansas and Mississippi
would prefer Memphis to more Northern
market, all other things being equal, then
under no circumstance should there be an
inducement for them to pass US by.
That this will be the track for Railway
communication between the Atlantic and
Pacific cannot be doubted Many causes
render more northern route impractica ble.
Above the AID parallel of latitude our tracks
were icebOund for most of the winter and
breakages of rails, chairs, axels, ties and
wheels were common.
For months the road beds are frozen as
solid as a rock, as consequence, scarcely
train passes over them without breaking
wheels and axels or doing great injury to
the machinery In this latitude the frosts
are never severe and long continued enough
to depreciate a Railroad
Such are some of the causes which may
De combined to promote our growth. The
centre of a vast and fertile territory, with nat
ural and artificial communications penetrat-
ing its farthest limits, hourishing trade
and healthful position-who can look at
these things and not say our future is full
of promise.
Gen. Gonzales denies that he has any con-
npptIn, IL ba ax,,oditIop S.,i1 TO bo