The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-29


NJ, pp,s,pvSr have to solicit your appreciation OF
M train of thought which il is my purpose TO follow on
,Ls OCCASION You will appreciate my reluctance W
ocpy yonr attention with matters oi siehco
more familiar to you than to myself ana 70 the uscus
i of which it would be impossible for me TO impart
rtLino either of information or OF ornament pro-
e 20 leave the beaten track, therefore, and 70 submit
70 YOU series Of observations which, novel ior snch
an ccason are vet ia my Judgment, altogether appro-
i,t 10 il and at the time OF universal concern
ment. ). 80. - J. -. !,
, he productions of the earth, natural cultivated,
v,.tabIe animal and minerals undoubtedly the pri
sry interest and art OF 1t is the basis OF cvi
,tisn II is the indispensable great element of social
and poal stability and of national wealth and power
secondary to agriculture is mechanical production, the
elaboration of natural commodities and, finally, comes
the exchange Of all commodities natural and artificial
commerce All these thingsin their inseparble oonnex
ian constitute the material interests of society.
Hence the natural and necessary subject OF attention
al all assembages like the present is OF the material in
terests of societynot excluding moral interests God
fbjd Material interests in subordnation always to
moral ones But, on such an occasion as this, dis
ouistion Of theology of ethical philosophy would be
"a little appropriate Of rhetoric or logic Although
meanwhile the latter always are to be assumed for the
groundwork the former for the animatng spirit, OF
all our thoughts on this and every other OCCASION
repeat our natural and necessary subject at an ag
cultural meeting is of the material interests of and
at meeting OF the United States Agricultural Society Of
the material interests of the people OF the United States
is the material interests of the people of the United
States then in certain particular relations, which cons
ute my subject in order TO the due comprehension OF
which it needs that proceed first with few brief
truths TO anayze and set forth in plain view, the dis
tiuctve elements OF the actual conditongeog
social and political l-of the United States.
There are four great regions OF the earth, two in the
Old World and two in the New which, by reason Of their
geographical unity of character within defined limits
but ON vast scale the natural seats of preeminent
q v,.sy nra1t
and the United States In other regions of the earth
immense fertile plns afiuently watered by rains or
rivers in the valleys of the Ganges or Indus OF the
Po or the Loire of the Ornoco the La Plata but
how secondary is each Of these to those mighty combine
tons earth and water of which the land borders OF the
Yang Ize the YolSa, the Amazon, and the Mississippi
but SAMPLES in the favored countries of China and
Russia of Brazil and the United States Comparing these
two lasnaned countries together that portion Of the
United States which lies between the Atlantic ocean and
the Rocky mountains most nearly resembles China in SOIL
climate rivers, relations to the earth cosnical motion,
and other natural facts, and is alike capable of receiving
and retaining the numerous population in geo.
graphical confguraon, but not in climate, the part
the United States also most nearly resembles Brazil
Bat the simude in geographical facts is closest between
the United States and Russia Alike extend from the
Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, accomplishing between us
the circuit of the earth Alike with large deserts and
lakes and gold bearing mountains TO intervene in the
territory of eac great river systems flow through valleys
| and prires Of immense extent and Of marvellous
fecundity into the opposite waters of the Atlantic
and the Pacific Each of them stretches along tho
+ temperate OF continent, on horseback IL
were, its loftiest mountains and each OF
them, region of earth, and speaking ge-
graphically only possesses the mrepressibe sefimpul
sion of greatness, which is independent Of human institu-
tons, aud deies all external internal of reard-
men because in each of its incaculable capacity OF
population by of its SOIL its rivers, its climate,
and its maritime position because of the unexhausted
supeabuudance Of untitled land in each inviting the
OF the cutvator and because each of course in the
uberance OF its young ygor is eaping onward to the
dy when it shall be the seat of power Of that excellent
white race of the men of Europe and Asia.
For the second great elemental fact in the condition of
the people of the United States is that ofat master
white race which, whcresoever d lighter shade Of
kind comes in contact with darker-whether Manchus
with Chinese, Mongols with Indus, Arabs with
Berbes, or Europeans with eitherthe former rules the
latter as II by manifest charter of the providence of
God. say are of that master white race and may
not saywithout derogation of the Sayonic branch of
it, which has its destiny of greatness yet to attain and
therefore its qualities to produceInay not say that
OF the United States in that conjunction of the Tuetonc
| and Celtic ingredients which we make-that commxturc
OF English, Scottish, Irish, German, French Scandna-
Wan, of which aremay l not say that we resume in
ourselves the natural qualities of apperainng to the
demi-god peoples Of modern Europe, Britain, France,
Germany 4 .|| m
Our political Institutions are the next great fact in the
condition OF the United States 1t is tritc remark to
that the men who planted the parent colonies of the
United States were refugees for opinions sake In
small part they but with numerous diversified
aud contradictory conditions of opinion Purtans fed
from Charles to New England and cavaliers from Crom-
well TO Virginia. Catholics at one end of the scale
OF posa creeds and Quakers at the other sought asy
lam In Maryland or Pennsylvania The reformed of
Holland the Calynists of Scotland and the Huguenos
Oh France, found themselves together in New York.
Nay, II the fifth monarchy men of the English Com
monwealth took refuge in Connecticut did the Ja
ooltes oi extremist LOYALTY in Carolina And while Cot
Ton puposed theocracy of the saints in Massachusetts
BAY Locke, in Carolina, undertook to found a feudal
state as complicated and impractcable ALSO that
o the Aaszes OF Jerusalem. And after all it was the
spirit OF adventure and Of material interest, quite much
any theoretical opinions, which then, now, sent
f'h colony after colony from the shores Of Great Brit
ain and Ireland to those of America, and thus laid
The foundations Of the United States.
meanwhile, diverse and apparently irreconcilable
were lhe opinions of the people of the colonies they
We're subject to the acontrong influence of two great
c which fused them together, and prepared them to
oe IN the end, the one people of the United States
In the hrst place, the predominant of the colonies
was tlat of the British isles with the intellectual cond
on OF that race Its vigorous language its proud histor
a memories its manly political thought its legislative
guarantees OF property and right its trial by jury and
m s representative institutions. The Edwards and the
OF the brilliant days Of the Pantagenes and the
iudors were law-gyers to them Chaucer and Spencer
uakespeare and Milton were to them all the common
na ouht OF poetic inspiration the gories Of the Black
ce and Of Bruce theirs; the victories of Wal
e ana Talbot We're thersnay, theirs the very blood
oe wentworth and the Stuart well as of the Fair
~ n ana tne Cromwell. Their minds were moulded in
outline Of the statuesque proportions Of
nc mind of Great Britain
IN the second place. the emigrants of England Scot
anu Oh Ireland of Wales, stood here in the sole pres
nee, as IL were, Of adorable Nature and her works az
'n anu Eve may have walked with God in the Para