The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-21


military organization. We do not want
hereafter, either within the limits of the
United States or without them, any such
meddlesome and vexatious interference
by the executive power Of this Govern
ment. Therefore, say, let us have some
neutrality laws that can be understood. II
there had been no apprehensions in the
North about the neutrality laws, if we had
not expected that whatever emigration we
might have fitted out for Central America
would have been arrested within the ma
rine league of the harbor of Boston, why,
we would have colonized Central Ameri-
ca years ago, and had it ready for admis-
sion into the Union before this time. We
want modification or an calculation OF
the neutrality laws, and trust that it will
be the duty Of the committee so to report.
Before proceed to consider the power
and benefits of this system Of organized
emigration, and the reason why it ought
not to be rejected by this House, will
proceed, as briefly as | can, to show the
interests which the Northern portion OF
this country has in Americanizing Cen
trail America, as contrasted with the in
terests which the Southern portion has in
doing the same thing. come, then, to
speak of the immense interests which the
Northern States have in this proposed en-
terprise. | am astonished, that so far in
this debate the advocates for American
iZing Central America seem to be mostly
from those States which border on the
Gulf of Mexico. As yet, have heard no
man from the Northern States advocating
the same thing. Let us look at the inter-
ests of the Northern States in this ques-
ton, and then at those Of the Southern
States.
These Northern States are, as the States
Of Northern Europe were designated by
Tacitus, oticina gentium, "the manufac-
tory of nations" We can make one State
year. In the last three years we have
colonized almost wholly the Territory OF
Kansas. We have furnished settlers to
Minnesota and Nebraska, and the Lord
knows where, but we have not exhausted
one-half of our natural increase. We have
received accessions to our numbers in that
time, from foreign countries, of more than
one million of souls, and now we have no
relief; we are worse off to-day than we
were when we began to colonize Kansas.
We must have an outlet somewhere for
our surplus population. Laughter.
Sir, | have resolution in my pocket,
which have been carrying about for days,
waiting patiently for all opportunity to
present it in this House, instructing the
Committee on Territories to report bill
organizing and opening for settlement
the Indian Territory. Mr.. Chairman, |
came to this conclusion with reluctance,
that we must have the Indian Territory.
But necessity knows no law. We must
go somewhere. Something must be open
ed to the descendants of the Pilgrims.
Laughter. Why, sir, Just look at it. We
are crammed in between the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans. The bounding pillows of
our emigration are dashing fercely against
both sides of the Rocky Mountains. OBJ
structed now by these barriers, this west
ward-moving tide begins to set back. Will
II flow towards Canadas Not at all. 1t
has already begun to flow over the "Od
Dominion" daughter, and into other
States. Missouri is almost inundated with
it. We canOt check this tide of flowing
emigration. You might as well try to
shut out from this continent, by curtains,
the light of the aurora boreals. No such
thing can be accomplished. This prog
ress must be onward, and we must have
territory. We must have territory; and |
think 1t most Opportune that the propo-
sition seems to be before the country to
Americanize Central America. A better
time could not be for, in addition to the
population which we now have, which is
immense in the Northern States, as shall
show you in proceeding, this financial
pressure in the East, and in the different
nations of Europe, will send to our shores
in the year 1858 not less than half mil
lion of men. In addition to that, we have
two hundred and fifty thousand of our own
population, who will change localities in
that time. Then, sir, there are seven
hundred and fifty thousand men to be pre-
pared for, somewhere, in the year 1853
men enough, sir, to make eight States, if
We only had Territories in which to put
them, and if we only use them econom-
cally, laughter, as we are sure to do by
this system Of organized emigration.
Now, could anything be more oppor-
tune, at this time, than to have this pro-
Ject submitted to US, Of opening Central
America to settlement? | assure you, if
the Committee will report any bill which
will enable the people of the North, with
out larceny of any kind, without tyranny
of any kind, TO settle that country, | will
postpone my resolution for the opening
of the Indian Territory, at least until the
next session of Congress-
But it is not only for the purpose of
furnishing an outlet for our immense pop
ulation in the North that now advocate
the Americanizing of Central America.
The interests of commerce, as well as
this great argument of necessity, are on
our side. Who has the trade beyond
Central America? We have whale fish
cries in the Northern Ocean, which build
mp great cities upon the eastern shore of
Massachusetts. We have trade with Ore
gon and California, with the Sandwich
Islands, and the western coast of South
America. We are opening a trade, des-
tined to he an immense trade, with the
Empires of China and Japan, and we
must of necessity have in Central America
certain factors and certain commercial
agencies, who, in a very few years, with
their families and relatives and depend
ents, will make dense population in
Central America. / say, then, that for
the interests of commerce we want Cen.
trail America AmericaniZed. This COM
mercial interest is, unfortunately, sec
tional interest in these States. 1t is, en-
nh ,llx, Nnptharv LII
fore, as Northern man, l advocate es-