Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-25
INTERESTING RFNIINTSCTNCES

Gen. Cass was one Of the distinguished guests at
the recent Rail Road celebration at St. Louis On
his travel through Ohio he was created by the peo-
pie at every station. The Columbus Statesman,
gives the following synopsis of his reply to the
! Governor when received at Marietta:
have listened with deep interest 10 the address
by your EZceeney in your reception of the stran-
gers who have just landed the North bank Of the
Ohio
OF all persons on earth, none more than myself
can appreciate these passing scenes. Within few
feetto where l now stand, landed more than hafa
century ago, poor, young adventWer seeking in
this land ofprOmise to commence my first enterprise
in lfe-this to me was the land Of promise Of my
first trial-Of my first sacrifce-here commenced
my career in life-my hopes and my fears.
Your EXcellency may judge then, that there could
be nothing more strange than the Ohio Of the past
and the Ohio Of to-day. The circumstances under
which now find myself, awaken sensations of more
than an ordinary character. Here was my first
SCHOOL, left this spot a scholar come back now
a teacher. l went out to fight the great battle of
life, return with it fought The result is glorious
illustration Of the popular character of our nstitu
tons. The poor boy has represented the people in
the high places of the land and as representative of
the nation has been her Minister before Kings-no
other nation presents such spectacles.
Hold on, then, to the pOpulas character of the
government as to a ship when night and tempests
under the sum- our lines have indeed been cast in
pleasant places.
Fifty-seven years ago. all the Northwest Territory
contained only 10000 people, now its limits include
six millions. The man is now living whose axe
feled the first tree Of these forests and there are
men now alive who Will not pass away until the
United States has attained a population Of one
hundred millions The triumphs of the past are
wondrOus. From a land without cultivation, with
out schools without internal improvements this has
become State, both prosperous and powerful The
vessels which traversed the beautiful river flowing
at our feet were the Kentucky Ark for descend
ing, and k.el-bOats for return. Fifty-one years
ago, / was young man, representing this county
in the Legislature Of this State, when those pioneer
steamboat builders, Messrs Fulton and Livingston
made proposition to our State authorities to estab
sh lines of passenger and freight boats on the Ohio
propelled by steam against the current at the rate
of four miles per hour, The proposition was laugh
ed out Of the Legislature as impractcable; was
young fogy then, L am an old fOgy now. If il had
depended upon US of that day the magnificent en-
terprise of steam navigation would not now be
startling US with its grand achievements.
have just passed over the magnificent Railway
traversing the mountains, dividing the East from
the Vest a work Rome could not have constructed
even in her palmiest days.
The time has been when a horseback trip to Bal
timore required twenty days, now it is accomplish
ed by steam railway, in near that may hours.
settlements at Marietta, were happily made. This
the second step in the march of that progressing
race, whose powerful influence is felt in the land
The first landing was at jamestown, the second on
the north side of this river. Improvements follow
ed in their wake.
They have difused learning here with liberal
hand, the best mark Of human nature.
Wemust treat the reader also with the beautiful
address of General Cass on his arrival at the Queen
City of the West:
On his arrival at the Burnet House, General Cass
was introduced to the immense audience assembled
by Governor Chase, who, in a handsome and fit
speech introduced him as one Of the old Pioneers
identified with the State and West, who had served
his country in the field and abroad with dignity and
patriotism, and who filling with ability and
confidence Of his cOuntrymen, the distinguished |
office of Secretary Of State.
Gen Cass arose, his face bearing the marks Of /
age; but his voice ard motion exhiDiteda
large share Of physical strength. He said thatthe
fatiguesof the journey afforded suc ent excuse fer
short speeches. but he cOull not avoid expressing his
pleasure in again revitng the scenery with which he
was on fsmi ar HelOOked upon this large assembly
aud scarcely knew more than here and there one;
and they would hardly recognize him. But there
was a time when on entering this town he knew
every one, and they knew him
He had seen the State when it was a wilderness;
where now he saw the citizens he had seen the In
dian; and where he had then passed on the War-path
he now came on the railroad; where he had heard
the War-hOop, he now listened TO the church going
bell! He had been much abroad, and returned
wiser, if not a better man. He would tell them that
that there was not this earth, from the rising 10
he setting sun, more prosperous country, better
government, a happier people, The people of the
West now hold the power, and when, from North
South, on either hand, or from any quarter, the!