The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-14

foundaions and destroy the political fabric our ia
Tiers erected and bequeathcd an inheritance to our
postsry forever. Since the formation OF the consti
tu,ion vast extension Of territory, and the varied
relations arising therefrom have presented problems
which could not have been foreseen. IL h just cause
for admiration even wonder that the provisions OF
the fundamental law should have been found 40 fuiy
sdequste 10 all the wants Of government ne in its
organization and new in many OF the principles on
which Il was founded. Whatever fears may have
once existed as to the consequence OF territorial ex
pansion must give way before inc evidence wnSn
ihe past affords The general government, strictly
confined TO IFS delegated functions and the States
lett In the undsturbed exercise OF all else, we have
n theory and practice which fits our government for
unreasonable domain, and might under Ini,en.
Mum of nations, embrace mankind. From the slope
Of the Atlantic, our population vita ceaseess tide,
has poured into the wide and fertile valley of the
Mississippi. Its eddying whirl has passed TO the
coast OF the Pacific From the West and the East,
the tides are rushing towards each other-and the
mind is carried 70 TIE day when all the cultivable
land will lie inhabited, and the American people VIII
sigh for more wildsrnesses IT, conquer But there Is
here physco political problem presented for our So
luton Were IL purely physical, your past triumphs
would leave but little doubt Of your capacity tn solve
II. community, which, when less than twenty
thousand conceived the grand projecs OF crossing
the White Mountains, and, unaded, save by the
stimulus which jecrs and propbesics OF failure gave,
successfully executed the hercuean work, might
well be impatient II II were suggested that physi-
cal problem was before us too difficult for their mas
terry. Ihc history Nv I1hn ttCutS tnte ibh mum
tais and wide deserts have resisted the permanent
extension Of empire, and have formed the inmuta-
BE boundaries OF States From time TO time, under
some able leader have the hores Of the upper plains
Of Asia swept over the adjacent country and rolled
their conquering columns over Southern Europe
Yet after the lapse of few generations the physi
cal law 20 which have referred has asserted its su
premacy and the boundaries Of those States differ
little now from those which obtained three thousand
years ago. Rome few her conquerng eagles over
The then known world, and has now subsidized into
the little territory on which her great city was orgi-
nally built. The Alps and the Pyrenees have been
unable TO rcstrain imperial France; but her exPan-
sion was a feverish action; her advance and her re-
treat were tracked with blood, and those mountain
ridges are the re-established limits Of her empire.
Shall the Rocky Mountains prove dividing barrier TO
us2 Were ours central consolidated government,
instead OF a Union Of sovereign States, our fate
might be learned from the history of other nations
Thanks 20 the wisdom and independent spirit ID our
forefabers this IL not our case. Each State having
sole charge OF its local interests and domestic affairs,
the problem which 20 Others has been insoiuole 70
us Is made easy. Rapid. safe and easy communica-
ton between the Atlantic and the Pacific will give