, 1858-10-01
WashlngtOn TerritOry.

IcAN ExPANsIoN.*
Ten years ago Washington was a terra
inoogniia, containing a few people speaking
English, a few speaking French, numerous
petty tribes Of wandering Indians; her
coasts unknown; her harbors rarely fire.
auented; her markets the most distant
from supplies having no organization, no
laws, no exports, no imports; her territory
unexpIored, the base Of her population
with but few American exceptions-a
mixed race, unlettered, indolent and unset
tied; her future yet to be shaped and mould
ed. There she lay in her primeval state,
awaiting the vicissitudeS Of coming events
destined to place her upon the great thor
oughfare between the golden New CalidO-
MIA and the Ell Dorado, or upon the great
highway Of Asiatic Commerce. At the
time Of the discovery Of America, human
vision could not fully fOresee the great mis-
sion in store for the Anglo-American on
the western confines Of the continent.
The triumph of Polk and Dallas, in 1874,
was followed by the annexation Of the Re
public Of Texas, the brilliant conquest war
with Mexico, and the splendid additions to
the colossal Republic on the Pacific. The
same spirit which planted the American
eagle on the Eastern, carried II to the
Western extremity Of North America
acquiring the splendid and magnificent Pa
eifc sea-board extending from the tropical
climes Of Mexico to the frigid breezes Of
Canada, which was no sooner possessed
by the United States than suddenly and
Unexpectedly q new era burst upon the
financial state Of the glObe-the profusion
Of gold introduced new phase into the So
cial and commercial affairs Of the Pacific.
The march Of empire had completed its
mission around the globe in six thousand
years; could go no farther; had arrived
where the "West dies away in the rising
East" and was to celebrate the cessation
Of its long and labOrious journey on new
theatre amid the representatives Of oil ma
tions congregated on the Western declivity
Of the Rocky and Sierra Nevada mountains.
The palmy days of the Ell Dorado having
arrived, the vessels Of every nation pOwed
the waters Of the Pacific, Iaded with the
products, the fabrics, and people Of every
cline Ten years since the commencement
Of this migration of races from the old
world to these golden plains, finds the
shores Of the Pacific covered with the most
industrious and enterprising people on the
face Of the globe-all contributing to ex-
tend the area Of European and American
civilization.
To give the world time to breath, the
golden jubilee abated, when thousands Of
California miners, having no sooner return
ed to their homes in all parts of the world,
restless Of labor, and painting for new fields
Of excitement and wealth, than tidings Of
the splendid discoveries Of gold in New
Caledonia reached them, -tidings which
doubtless arc destined to cause o wave of
emigration from the East and Europe to
this northwest coast equaled only by that
to California and Australia in their palmy
days. Already the rush of Adventures
from California and Oregon are penetra-
ting the interior of Washington, crossing
her beautiful platteaus, prospecting her
rivers. scaling her unknown mountains, and
opening TO the world her mineral and agri-
cultural wealth hitherto hidded in tho gor.
ges Of her mountains and in the recesses Of
her wilderness.
Washington, the infant of only five sum
mers, having dispersed the repeated coali-
tons Of the native Sovereigns by the terror
Of arms, is daily growing stronger in her
border defences, buster in her occupations,
increasing her mills, multiplying her machi-
merry, settling up her territory, stringing
her towns all along the picturesque shores
Of Puget Sound-"l like pearls upon the
necklace Of the sea, Towns, some of which
are destined to become great marts of COM
merce, to which capitalists will swarm to
amass the wealth and control the markets
Of the world. Washington, containing
magnificent and spacious bays, harbors,
and roadsteads, is now attracting its share
of the mighty wave of humanity westward,
who are pouring into its lap portion Of
the commerce of the Pacific.
So generally is the attention of the
world now turned towards the northwest
coast, that project is now on foot by
Great Britain to connect the commerce Of
the two oceans across the platteaus Of
Canada. But American vanity or pride,