The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-02-16

Emo oil the Law, cue. rn
CRY AND CoUNTRY-At the Legislative
Festival at st. Louis, sentiment was ex-
pressed that large commercial capital was
essential to the grandeur and prosperity OF
State. 1t was in large city that mind was
developed; it was by collision and constant m
tercourse that the electricity OF the intellect
acquired its activity and power; 1t was the
liberalizing influence Of commerce that ex-
banded the views Of men; it was experience
and practice in the gigantic operations OF
modern commerce, that fitted men to plan
and execute the vast schemes OF public im-
provement. A community Of petty shop
keepers would be startled at plans that came
within the daily scope Of merchants opera
tions. Men do not know how much they can
do till they have been tried. The shop. keeper
counting his ten and twenty per cent on his
hundred dollar operations is amazed at
the operations of the great Spectator,
who by the simple process Of credit,
purchases and transfers ten thousand bales OF
cotton worth five hundred thousand dollars.
with more ease and less fuss than the retailer
transfers q hundred barrels Of flour. Mems
views rise with the magnitude OF their daily
transactions. All ofour gigantic plans Of pub
lie improvement have originated with the mer-
chants; with the men whose views have been
extended to encompass the interests and wants
Of the whole country, by the sphere Of their
own operations; and it is by the practical
knowledge Of affairs and Of finance, that com
mercial men have acquired in their own count
ing rooms that has enabled them to devise
the ways and means to accomplish undertake
ings, which, in the hands Of few private in
dividuals, had, in magnitude /, and splendor,
eclipsed the single work to which had been
devoted the power and resources Of the Rus
sain Empire. These great works could never
have been accomplished by farmers and shop
keepers Men can be fitted for these great
undertakings only in large commercial CEN
tres, whore private enterprises assume some
thing of the proportion of the public works
needed to be done. o7 oH
1t was the concentrated force of the public
opinion Of commercial capital that gave it
the electric power to move and quicken the
opinion of whole State. In rural districts
and small towns, opinions were too dIffused
and discordant to unite the people in any
great scheme of public improvement. With
out capital city to engender it. there could
be no strong, efficient public sentiment no
active State pride, for the habits and sen,i-
ments of the people would take their cue and
hue from the dominant capitals Of other
States to which they were tributary.
And it is almost as important that railroads
should have large market for terminus. Is
fertile country to yield the products for
transportation. The railroads Of Missouri
would have no business without the market
of st. Louis, created by a vast concentration
Of capital; by her warehouses and local facili-
ties, and her extended commercial relations.
The farmer in the country is almost as
much benefited by the building Of steam
boat at st. Louis or the extension Of the
credit Of one of her merchants. as any one in
thc Sity. IL piVihosO VIC P'oSPSi'sy w "Si
railroads and the Development OF the country,
the whole State should unite cordially in do
ing all in their power to build up and extend
the influence OF their commercial capital She
was the heart that gave pulses to the vital
influences that gives vigor and health to the
State. These sentiments, contain some i'm
portant suggestions to the people of our own
State. Without commercial capital, we
shall remain tributary to the capitals of other
States, imbibing their fashions and modes Of
life and thought and shall ever be servile
imitators ofthem; our governors will hurry TO
their capitals to receive the plaudits o. their
populace for their trumphs over the better
sentiments Of their own States They will
direct our improvements; build roads where
ever it may suit their interests, and make US
but an appendagc Of Ohio and kentucky. In.
diana can not be Indiana in truth-with her
own distinct Independent State policy-with a
genuine, vigorous public sentiment, a noble
State pride. till she shall build up CONNER
cial capital somewhere within her borders.
o. The indianapolis and Rising Sun In
surance Companies are again very busy at the
Capital to procure the passage OF an act to ex-
clu1e foreign Insurance Companies. These
companies are themselves organized under the