The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-23

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TMe Recent Growth or the Unltsd States q
from Backwood's Magazine, JunA, le6<.l
Although the eyes a the world are just now
directed almost exclusively to Eastern Europe
In which events are occurring Of far more thar
national import. it may not be either iti-timed
Or embarrassing to cast o hasty glance over an
other quarter OF the globe, In which develope-
nnent OF power 10 aoieg on. silently but rapidly
unattended by the startling incidents of bat
tie by land or sea. yet not the less pregnant
with results which may influence the destinies
OF large portion of the human race. Weneed
scarcely say that our remarks point TO the Anne
rican republic and that it is that young giant Of
the West, whose growth to maturity affords an
object Of contemplation infinitely more instruc'
tive than any which barbaric Russia presents in
her frenzied struggle for territorial aggran-
dizement or the powers Of Western ElSs1A
afford in their i'll cemented and dou6sFQ
union to repel the aggressor. Uotii
within the last few years we have been too
much in the habit OF treating the accounts
brought before us Of American progress to
greatness as extravagaDt gasconade. The gov
ernments of Europe have been disposed to ig-
more the pr. tensions which she has put forth
until from one after auOtber, she has wIung re-
psration for actual ar imagiued wrongs. Even
when we saw her flag flying in every port Of
the world, and felt The active competition Of
her merchants and shipowners we were dis
posed to regard her ra,her as an interlOping
tfrfhcker, with whom, from her distance from
ua and her isolated position, Europe Could have
little sympathy, than as the germ of q powerful
nation with mighty future Ia prospect. With
q view to bling about proper recognition Of
the actual and growing importance OF America,
as q rember OF the great family Of nations, we
propose here to give n few statistics illustra-
tive, not only Of tue innate elements Of strength
aud progress which she possesses, but also Of
the genius shown by b. people In turning them
to profitable account.
One of the most remarkable features in the
history Of America and to which she owes
much Of her present growth and prosperity, is
the foresight with which she has laid the foun-
dations of that prosperity. In this her popula-
tien have not evinced the spirit Of the mere
huckster anxious only for present gain, but
rather the enlarged views Of the patriot, anx-
ious for the future veal of his country aud his
race. striking expression of this spirit is
furnished in report made to the legislature of
the United States in 1872, by Gouverneur Nor
ris, DO Witt Clinton, and other eminent men,
appointed as a commission to inquire into the
practicability and prospects of the great canal
TO connect lake Erie with the river Hudsoa--a
project secuted at the time as preposter0us.
After boldly stating that the tolls from this
great national work-or such it has proved
would amply repay the outlay required for its
construction, the Commissioners remark
1t is impossible to ascertain and it is difficult to
imagine, how much toll would be collected. The
amount Of transportation might be estimated by
submitting probabilities to calculation. But, like
our advance In numbers and wealth, calculation out
runs fancy. Things which twenty years ago any
man would have been Laughed at for believing, we
now see.
AT that time the most ardent mind, proceeding
on established facts by the uueriing rule of arith
metic was obliged to drop the pen at results which
Nnagination could not enlbla ace.
After stating some facts to bear out their
view Of the result Of the project, they proceed
Standing on such facts, ia it extravagant to be-
lieve that New York may look forward to the re-
es ct no distant Sa of m III dS met
is short. The time IL not distant when those who
make this report will bave passed away. But no
time is fixed TO the existence OF State; and the
FIRST wish Of patriots heart Is that his may be
Immortal.
1t may be mentioned. az proof Of the sound
Judgment displayed by these men, that, within
eight years OF the completion OF the canal its
tolls exceeded the estimated returns.
1t is not however. as successful projectors
that the forethought Of the American people
has been ehown; for in fact their public works
have been anything but remunerative. and have
even been the cause of bringing down obloquy
upon come of the States, which have repudiated
the pay ment of debts contracted for their con-
etructi6n. 1t is the forethought and sound
Judgment displayed In their design with which
we have to deal The great object of American
enterprise has been, from very early period,
to connect the great lakes and the fertile val
leys of the Middle and Western States with the
cities and ports along the Atlantic seaboard; to
improve the navigation Of her great rivers, and
thus bring into cultivation the valuable tracts
of country along their banks; and, as part
of this great work, to connect with each
other, by railways and canals. the towns
nd Al faua tho dpnSnly -ppoplnd
and cultivated districts which lie along the
entire eastern frontier of her territory from
the State of Maine to the Gulf of Florida To
carry out the general design, vast sums have
been lavished, ana expensive works con-
structed. in many instances far in advance of
any ascertained requirements Of the country,
and certainly with little prospect Of an early
return for the expenditure. But in the mean
time the most apparently hopeless Of these
works are comforting important benefits upon
the mass Of the community, by developing
sources Of wealth which mil ht otherwise have
been closed for years, If not centuries to come,
and affording new spheres for the enterprise of
a people,. whose passion for adventure AMI
novelty seems to know no bounds. From the
extended means Of locomotion thus afforded
has been derived that striking feature in the
American character which has so long been
the subject of European remark. and fire.
auently of ridicule-the disposition to migrate
upon their own soil. For upwards of twenty
years her population have been moving west
ward, driving the red Indian before them, and
subduing to the plough the huuting grounds Of
hisraoe. Nosooner has State or district been
cleared and partially populated than the pio-
neers who frat opened up its soil have started
again in search Of cheaper localities for the ex-
ercse Of their untiriug energies, in part no
doubt. impressed with the knowledge that al
though they were Increasing their distance
fcm market for their productions, the abun-
dInt facilities provided by nature and art for
their transmission would neutralize this diff
Guilty. Another circumstance has tended mate
rally 70 duiuse the population of America, SIS
1t decreased, over larger extent Of territory,
instead Of locating it around any particular
centre. At an early period they were taught