, 1857-07-24
The Future of the Tnion.

Some men apprehend danger TO tn
Union from the continual expansion of it
are, (Say the Washington t'Woa\, assert
ing that such expansion will make the ma
chincry of government too complex and to,
cumbrous to operate with safety and PIE
cison; and that it will destroy homogeneitl
and beget conflict Of sectional interests
IOthcrs-the eXtremc sectonalists of tht
North and the South-insiSt that difference
of social organization and Institutions mus
. ultimately occaSon n dissolution Of th'
] Union, because, say they, this difference 0
institutions occasions hostile relations an,
difference Of governmental policy. Tn,
obvious answer to the first objection is, tha
our federative system, leaving to the scpa
rate States much the larger share Of the
administration Of the affairs of law aud
government, enables the federal govern
ment, when Systematically conducted, tC
rule wisely and efficiently almost any extent
Of Territory. Its chief business is to at
tend to our foreign relations, leaving to
| tho States the management Of domestic
matters, and those relations are not neccs
sarily more complex or difficult to arrange
with large territory than with small
one. Indeed, great and powerful nation
commands, 10y its strength, respect, deters
aggression, and, if it act fairly, will have
less difficulty in its intercourse with other
powers than q small one.
The objection that expansion produces
conflict of interests is the reverse of true,
for it necessarily begetS variety Of produc-
tions and diversity Of industrial pursuits,
occasions trade and intercourse between
thS most distant sections, aud thus super
induces mutually of dependence and SINH
larity OF interests. Neighboring States,
even neighboring counties, have little deal
ings or intercourse with each other, becansc
their productions and their pursuits are
similar. Distaut States become absolutely
dependent for the comforts and neCessaries
of life on trade, which enables them TO in
terchange commodities Mississippi and
Alabama do not trade with each other.
The similarity OF their products makes them
rivals, and large crop Of cotton made in
the one State depresses the price of cotton
raised in the other Yet they both trade
with the North aud have much intercourse
with her. Their interests do not clash with
those of New York and New England, but
coincide with them. Ncighboring North,
ern States are likewise rivals, and have
tlittle occasion for trade or intercourse
Distant California finds commerce and con
nection with the A Ilantic coast promoiive
of her growth and prosperity, and we Of
the east have not found our far-of sister a
troublesome appendage. But soon rail
roads and. telegraphs will annihilate dis
tance, and then the last remaining objec-
tion to Territorial enlargement will be OBJ
liberated.
Besides, every year added to the age Of
onr country compactS, strengthens, and
hardens our institutions, increases the love
and veneration Of the people for those in
stitntions, and for that Union which can
alone secure their continuance So long
as We grow and prosper, SO long as there is
less Of poverty and more of happiness aud
camfort among US than in any nation under
the sun, disunionsts will struggle in vain
to dissolve our Union, infidels hurl harm
less missels at our churches and our relig-
ion, agrarians preach in vain against the
right of private property, dissolute social
lists leave uutarnished the sanctity and the
purity Of the holy ordinance Of marriage,
and ranting abolitionists but lose their
time in attempts to excite seryile msurrec'
ton. All the signs Of the times augur Q
long and gloriohs future for our common
country. For present assurance, we have
an administration not only free from sec
tionalism, but free from every taint and
suspicion of sectionalism, deserving and
enjoying the confidence, respect, and ad
miration not only of Americans, but Of the
world. A people prudent and sagaciou'
lenough, in stormy crisis, to select anc
place in power the man best fitted for th'
occasion, evinces equally their love of the
Union and their ability to protect, defent
and conserve it,.