Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-08-12

into the little territory on which her great
city was originally built. The Alps and
the Pyrenees have been unable to restrain
imperial France: but her expansion was a
feverish action: her advance and her re-
treat were tracked with blood, and those
mountain ridges are The re-established linn
its of her empire. Shall the Rocky Noun
tains prove dividing barrier to us? Were
ours a central, consolidated government,
instead of Union of sovereign States,
our fate might be learned from the history
of other nations. Thanks to the wisdom
and independent spirit of cur forefathers,
this is not our case. Each State having
sole charge of its local interests and do
mestic affairs, the problem which TO others
has been insoluble, to us Is made easy
Rapid, safe and easy communication be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific will give
co-intelligence, unity of interest, and CO.
operation among all parts of our continent
wide Republic.
The network of railroads which binds
the North and South. the slope of the At
lantic and the valley of the Mississippi, to-
gether testify that our people have the
power to perform, in that regard, whatever
it is their will to do. We require rail-
road to the States on the Pacific for pres
ent uses; the time no doubt will come when
we shall have need of two or three, it may
be more. Because of the desert character
of the interior country, the work will be
difficult and expensive. 1t will require the
efforts of united people. The chickering's
of little politicians, the jealousies of Sec
tions must give wav to the dignity of pur-
pose and zeal for the common good. If
the object be obstructed by contention and
division as TO whether the route to be se-
lected shall be northern, southern, or CEN
trail, the hand writing is on the wall, and
it requires little skill to see that failure is
the Interpretation of the inscription. You
are practical people. and may ask, how
is that contest to be avoided? By taking G
the question out of the hands of politici-
ans altogether. Let the Government give
such aid as it is proper for it to render to
the company which shall propose the most
ie asible and advantageous plan: then leave
to capitalists, with judgments sharpened
by interest, the selection of the route, and
the difficulties will diminish as did those
which YOU overcome when you connected
your harbor with the Canadian Provinces
1t would be to trespass on your kind
ness and to violate the proprieties of the
occasion were I TO detain the vast con-
course which stands before me, by enter.
ing on the discussion of controverted to-
pics, or by further indulgence in the ex-
preston of such reflections as circum-
stances may suggest. l came to your city
in quest of health and repos.e From the
moment entered it, you have showeerd
upon me kindness and hospitality. Tho
my experience has taught me to anticipate
good rather than evil from my fellow-man,
it had not prepared me to expect such un-
remitting attention as has here been be-
slowed. l have been jocularly asked in
relation to my coming here, whether had
secured a guarantee for my safety, and lo
j have found it. l stand in the midst o.
thousands of my fellow citizens. But, my
friends, l came neither distrus,ing nol
{ apprehensive, of which you have proof il
the fact that brought with me the objects
of tenderdest affections and solicitude--m
wife and my children; they have shared
with me your hospitality. and will alike
remain your debtors.
, If, at some future time, when I an
mingled with the dust, and ths arm of my
t infant son has been nerved for deeds oil
, manhood, the storm of war should burs,
upon your city. l feel that relying upor
: his inheriting the instincts of his ances
tors and mine, may pledge him in tha
, perilous hour to stand by your side in de
3 fence of your hearthstones, and in main
: tanning the honor of a flag whose constel
: latns, though torn and smoked in many :
t battle by sea and land, has never beer
| stained with dishonor, and will, 1 trust
: forever fly as free as the breeze which un
f folds. it.
A stranger to you, the salubrity of you
a location and the beauty of its scenery were
e not wholly unknown to me, nor were there
/, wanting associations which busy memory
: connected with your people. You will par
r don me for alluding to one whose genius
t shed a luster upon all it touched, anC
: whose qualities gathered about him host
J, of friends wherever he was known. Prem
S tiss, a i've Of Portland, lived from you'll
to middle age in the country of my resi-
9 dence, and the inqiries which have beer
s made show that the youth excited the in