Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-04-17

which We claim to rule, Anu - SOME los0 tuhn
the extent Of the possessions which Great Britain
still holds upou the Continent II isworthy Of note
that We have just about reached the point which
sVoltaire assigned to the Empire Of Rome that Of
Alexander in ,ss palmiest days. "a similar ares IN
Europe 10 covered by some fifty mine orr sixty inde.
itself upona long line Of royslty and nobility and
classic fame which have rendered every foot of soil
sacred. If in our mammoth grasp we should swai-
low the VIII ole of Mexico, it would be nouthful ex-
ceeding not much the Louisiana purchase. The
whole Of Central America would fall very far shor.
of Texas; Russian America, which Mr.. Marcy, we
believe had once in his breeches pocket less than
Nebraska, and Greenland, with all its whales and
cebergs, is of about the same size. The whole OF
the West India Islands, together are just twice the
size of Mississippi.
At the peace Of 1888, when the United States
entered upon independent national existence, the
whole extent of her territories were scarcely more
than fourth of what they at the present day.
In the estimate of the true statesmen, however,
mere territorial extent is element ofnatonal weak
ness rather than of strength, and history has shown
that for their very hugeness nations have fallen into
pieces. The strongest and most powerful nations
who have ruled the world have been the most COM
If the question of territorial extension were a
new one, the wisest statesman among might well
hesitate, but the circumstances of our condition,
and the peculiar character of institutions dcta
ted at first policy from which it has subsequently
OeeO lmp0SSlOle 10 depart lne LOUISIANA purchase
seemed to be necessity, dictated by the existence
of the Mississippi river, which drained SO large
portion of possessions, and presented things
then seemed before railroads we're constructed, the
only practicable outlet for our productions. The
limits of that purchase so ldefned that they
might easily have been considered as extending to
the Pacific, and the contingency of with Mex.
leo too good an opportunity to be lost of OBJ.
tanning that boundary.
We have been taug ht that the federal system was
entirely new thing under the sun that it would
render government equal and fair over empire, ever
so extended and that with the aid of railroads and
steamboats,, the physical characteristics derivable
from soil and climate would be smoothed and
simulated. This was pleasant hope, but has ex-
perience shown it to be realized?
What has been the practical result already of this
game of absorption? Has it not lead to heartburn
ings and quarrelings, which began with the days of
Mr. Jefferson and increasing with tenfold vgor,
every year? Are there not too essential distinct
civilizations which have grown up, and is not the
struggle daily and hourly between them for the mas
terry? The stronger struggles to throw the bur-
den of taxation upon the weaker, and seeks to ap-
propriate to itself all of the benefits which have re-
suited from that taxation, by purchase or conquest
How much OF the two millions of territory, which
have been obtained since the peace of '83, have fall
len 10 the Southern and how much to the Northern
States, to aid their development, extend their infu
ence and power? At that time the saveholding
States had the largest portion of the territory they
have now about half, and there are a million and
half square miles, equal in extent to all Of the States
together, which, the DEGREES of fate, will
be taken from and added to the dominent power
of our neghbors!
We mention this not so much in the spirit of COM
plant, but in evidence of the fact that if pecu
liar system of civilization was worthy of being
maintained and perpetuated, and if it be necessary
to people, we of the South have been but ex-
pending our blood, our treasure and our intellect in
attainments which have tended inevitably to our
eventual destruction.
If then the policy of absorption has proved so
disastrous to the South, it would tho part of
wisdom for her statesmen to set their faces against
it for the future unless there shall be such guaran
tees given shall be beyond the reach of contin-
gency, unless, by the might of the sword. we in
tend to vindicate equal right in the national pos
sessions.
To restore the equilibrium of territory between
the North and South, would require us to extend
our rights and institutions over the whole of Gen.
trail America, the whole of the West India Islands,
and two-thirds of Mexico.
But we will have occasion to refer to this matter
in the further development of the subject.
Debo,o's Weekly Press.