The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-09
27,114,3
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IS, 5,Osa,172
tai !. 9, 100 5s3 1872 s., COL, 42o. $50 asa

iotai tSO, 900 lo.2 SZ,oOl Az, 80 431
There is matter for much thought in the
above figures. Following out what seems to
have been the destiny Of the race, we see our
population moving steadily towards the West.
We find its fertile prairies enriched by Eastern
enterpTise-its primeval forests traversed by
railroads laid down by Eastern capital, and
the stiffness Of its great rivers broken By tba
paddle wheels Of countless steamboats, suc-
ported by Eastern money. We find the popu.
lation of the West increasing twice as rapidly
as that Of New England, four times as rapidly
as that Of the South Atlantic States, and near
ly keeping up with that of California, which
has the inducement Of gold superadded to-
fertile soil and delicious climate The Ter
ritories run far ahead Of California, and show
an astonishing increase boSh in wealth and DO
pulation. This is another prsef that agricul-
ture is considered more profitable than min.
ing, even where the latter pursuit brings q
ready and ample return tor labor. Our corn
is q surer source of prosperity to US than our
gold. The latter may yet turn out t
be a curse, and it's bad effects are alread
visible in that iLordinate appetite 70.
Injuries and lavish display which seems il
pervade all classes Of society. Experience
the best teacher shows US that when a people
become efeminate and luxurious, they are not
far from ruin. We think, however, that in
this country, with its constant infusion OF llesi
blood and new energy by immigration there
is no great danger at present. The returns
above do not show it. They rather give us a
pleasant assurance that we are very rich and
very great nation. II all the assessed pro-
perty in the United States was equally diyi IL, I
each man, woman and child would have three
hundred and twenty dollars. As certainly
two-thirds Of the property escapes assessment,
it will be fair TO increase this gum TO one thou
sand dollars No other country in the world
can show anything like this
Another curious fact appears by these figures.
We would commend 1t to all the abolition agi-
tators as good point for their speeches.
In the Middle and Western States. which
are generally conservative, and whore the peo-
pie generally attend to their own affairs. we
have large increase in wealth and nonu,s-
ion. The Southern States on We Atlantic
seaboard, and the New England States which
are noted for their fery and radical opinIons
and for waging continual war OF words 10 no
good end, show comparatively small in.
crease. That negro slavery is not responsi bic
for this is seen in the fact that the Southwest
ern siaveholding States have increased in
population and wealth nearly twice as rapidly
as the New England States, which are contin-
ually shrieking for freedom.
The chief cause Of the diminution Of popu
lation OF both sections is emigration TO the
West But this operates more powerfully on the
Southern Atlantic States than upon New Eng
land. The planter in Virginia or the Caro-
linas finds his land exhausted and migrates 10
another and more fertile district in Louisiana
or Mississippi; when he goes he takes from
ten to an hundred slaves, who are counted
in the population; but the New England far