Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-06-06
THE ONWARD MARCH.

Mr.. Cushing, in his great speech here
last week, spoke of the destiny of the two
columns pushed out from Plymouth and
jamestown, and their mission of progress
for the redemption of the continent. No
one can have failed, however, to observe
the unequal step with which they march,
march, march, Plymouth stands sew
enteen millions to-day to Jamestown's
eight millions and what will be the re-
suit when, at no distant day-speaking of
the life of nation-it shall stand seven
ty-fve millions to twenty-five The
Jameetown column, as it has passed along,
has devoured what was before, and killed
what was behind. As with the hoof of
the ancient conqueror's horse, the grass
has not grown where it passed. Virginia
is but shadow of what it was, and fad
ing out at that. The Plymouth column
has elevated, strengthened and advanced
coming like the breath of spring, max
ing the wilderness to blossom, the solita-
ry places to be glad, and the voice of sing
Ing to be heard in the land. While
jamestown is blotted out, and has left no
mark where it was, Plymouth remains
flourishing town, with its church and its
school-house, as two hundred years ago.
While Norfolk is in decay, and its spa
cious harbor given up to few oyster
gatherers, and the center" for the col
lection of the Virginia negro tax, Boston
is full of palace warehouses, where are
gathered the riches of the Indians-of
princely houses, where merchants sur
passing those of Tyre and Venice, reside
of temples of religion and schools Of
learning and works of art, that entitle
her to be called the Athens of America,
while commercially she stretches her
arms to the end of the earth, and opens
her broad bay to receive the commerce
of the nations. Virginia has dwindled
at every census, and is destined yetmore
to dwindle, till new race shall infuse
new blood and new life into her veins
Massachusetts, has grown stronger, stur-
dier, richer, and at the last apportion-
ment for members of Congress, was the
only State upon the Atlantic that increas-
ed its number
There are two columns moved by des-
tiny, it is true; but the one travels in a
Virginia two wheeled cart without springs
without evidencing that there was a
wheelwright or blacksmith in the world
where it grew" drawn by half-fed
donkey, with primeval yoke upon his
neck, and negro driving behind more
stupid than the jackass and the other
goes by steam, with the iron horse snort
ing over the railroad track, and as if for
ty miles an hour was not fast enough,
holds the telegraph wire in its hands, and
breathes lightning from its nostrils to
announce its progress to the distant places
ahead. The Plymouth column starts
from the Atlantic with one wing touch
ing jamestown, and the other resting up
on the great lakes, and when it has leap
ed the Rocky Mountains, stands alone
upon the Pacific shore. The jamestown
has no northern side, and tapers away
narrowing to the single State of Texas.
of which it holds but the southeastern
side, and when it marches, marches,
marches" beyond that, it must take
short turn down over the Rio Grande to
plumber the half-breed Mexicaps. Ia
maulipas must be its next State /; and by
the time ii reaches there, the point whence
it started will be lost, and like the tenn
pestuous cloud, we shall see it sinking
away into the dark south west, while all
the heavens about are given to the sun
shine of freedom.