The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-20

simple instrument Of writing. Ii dspelled the dark
ness that enshrouded the natives as with pail and
caused the aspiring souls of to expand with a
promethean light. 1t spoke into existence brought
into birth and introduced to the family Of nation
anotherdaughter fully matured and developeda
IN all the gorgeous beauty and perectons of the full
grown woman as Minerva is reputed to have been
spoken forth full grown from the brain of Jove
And like city upon ahll-this nation the emana-
OF their brain the creation their hands to-day
less than century from its organzatinn-the beacon
and the light iIrGdating with it's genial beams the
whole civilized world
know that this language may to some and particu-
ary t. foreign ears to of hvperboe But
it s the less for there is not today nation
under the shining sun overlooked by the twinkling
stars that does not feel If it does not acknowledge the
influence of America. And when speak thus do not
mean that influence or power which is made manifest
by the tread of laundering armies or by the brstinp
q rowmng navles over the coast of weaker foe
but mean that deep and silent current which ever
flowing towards u.s. bringing to our shore from every
quarter of the htable globe the suffering and the on
pressed, the ambitious and the aspiring the good and
the great the rich and the poor to minge with us
become spectators and partakers of those blessings of
civil and relig gious lioerty which can be engaged in
their fullness no where else but in America
1t would be source of interest and labour from
which we would derive qualification to compare our
relations to-day commercially and socially, with thr-
nations Of chrIstendom and to the es lmation in
which we now held by them with what it was
but few years ago. But we have enough to occupy
our attention for the present in looking around upon
ourselves and trying to keep pace with the r.pd
advances making in progress and improve
ment here al home. And when We behold the unper-
eeived changes which we do witness ON every side
and those that there constantly occurring it does
indeed fthe works wrought by the plastic
! hand of magic.
Eighty three years ago government consisted Of
bnt thirteen weak and puny colonies: To-dIy the flag
OF country proudly STRAINS thirty three great
and prosperous States, each one vieing with the
! other a noble lrtio IN tba
sciences in commerce, agricu tu and manufactures
S3 years ago our population lsted of but 600 900
of people. The census of lobJ will show thriving
community Of 100000 souls SO years ago our
national domain embraced an area of about S0n, 10
square miles. To-day our boundaries extend over
fertile region embracing all the varieties Of cline and
contains upwards Of 8, o. 90 miles of territory not
foot OF which has been acquired by the strong arm
OF conquest. AT the close of the revolution there
within the whole United States but colleges
The census Of i 50 shows that we had then 9 4 to
say nothing of 60 100 private academies and schools
with an innumeraole host of public schools At the
Close Of the revolution there but about news
papers published throughout our entire borders Now
the press the palladium of free thought the guardian
of liberty is spread broad every part of the
land, and the number Of weekly newspapers exceeds
$500. Where then not mile of railroad track was
to be seem continuous bands of iron wind them
selves ghout the country and the thuners Of the
locomotive awaken the stiffness of every Sumering
valley, while their smoke curls high the top of
our IallesJ mountain peaks our vast and magnltl-
cent rivers but short time since disturbed alone by
the paddle Of the Indian bark canoe are now thronged
by ten thousand floating palaces the messengers of
! your commerce freighted with the products Of your
teeming and exhaustless soil. he vast wilderness
of the Mississippi valley the Nile of the new world
has changed as if by enchantment. and towns aud
cities spring up every side to please the with
their bsauty, and to greet the with the hum Of
! Amr IN industry and enter risS
OIr canvas, whitens every sea- our sailors are to be
found in every port! Our national domain once cir
I cumscribed by the Atlantic on one side and
| the Allegheny mountains the other now extends
from ocean to ocean, and the flag of ry,
the object "f British sarcasm and contuncly floats as
proudly to-day the rock grt coast Of Oregon ii
does beneath the frowning guns Of e New York
! battery.
But not alone does the face Of physical nature give
te timony Of our rapid progress and improvement
Our country is becoming the chosen abode of science
and of arts and of letters Here science is fostered
more than elsewhere. Here the fine arts have wider
field for development. And here Godlike philosnl ny
can make her dwelling free and unshackled by the
arbitrary laws of desl otism, by the prejudices d
ancient superstition. In the walks of science can
point with admiration and pride to the of a
| Franklin, Morse q Fulton, a Hoe, and a Whitney
with host of others no IS lustrious. In the de
parment of lettersto Baneroft,a Prescottan Abbot
| and an Irving: Among poets-to Bryant, Willis
a Longfeow, Poe and Prentice. While among
statesmen and oratGrs there cluster in gorgeous array
larger number uf names than be found IN con
tempoaneous nations during the same period Of time
The names Of Clay and Calhoun, of Webster and q
Everett of Benton and of Cass Of Fillmore and Bnch
anan Extensive with the bounds Of civlizatic
and while purity of dictiOn, depth of research and
Independence of thought shall be considered worthy
of admiration, the pe ches and writings Of American
sta eemen and orators will hold first place model
of imitation
Such my fellow citizens is America to day. And
now cast your eyes Over the of the world, sur
vey he bOundless univers and where can You tnd
country hat presents so sublime view sointercstipg
an anticipation; what noble institutions? What
comprehensive po icy! What WI e equal'sahon o
every political advantage. The oppressed of all M
tions the martyrs Of every creed the nn nj victim
of despoc arrogance superstitious frenzy may here
find refuge, his industry encouraged, his pley RS
pected. his ambition animated, restrained alone by
the wisdom of law suggested by democratic ln>titu
tions, winning ref rment but what is based VI OF
the possession of unqualified merit.
Long long, may it be ihusi Forever let America
be as she is to day-he coveted asylum to the down
trodden AMI oppressed OF nations-the CHERISHED
Mecca the hopes of the lovers Of liberty Throughout
the world.
Away then my friends, with this miserable hide
bound, narr..w contracted self unrel ublican un
satemeuiike doctrine of con mental isola lOn ! ha
would close ports to the emigration of the down
fallen and per ecuted and unfor unae, but none tn
less freedom loving and tyran hating inhabitants
less favored climes No! no. let our destiny be on
more noble; more worthy Of ourselves, more hon
orabe to ancestry: Lei 1t not be said that we tn
SONS of men who fled the oppressors rod and the en-
slavement of conscienC, ana who pr ferred death a
the hands of the mercless savage in the woods O
America to a life Of luxury and with gilde'
chains of srrv ude-shall the first to fetter til
steps Of freedom to dampen the arour OF Its lover
! wherever they may be found, by Withholding them
refuge in their day of trouble No, no, my friends
lei us throw open wide ports and our harbors Ou
rivers and our lakes, our railroads and canals. Ou
lands are broad our soil prolific and exhautless, an
does but await the coming of the husbandma yie
forth It's richest treasures: Millions upon millions
stately forest trees signing to the nnbroke
solitudes and stand inviting the axe of the woodma
and the square and compass of the architect; III
bowels of our mounta richer for in wealth tina
were the tabled mines Of ancient ophir and their IN
told treasures are sumoering idly until the land {
enterprise shall call them forth to be turned int
, PURPOSES of utility
Let US then look forward to glorious future, 10
land 60 highly favored and let US rather assist IN II
DEVELOPMENT Than to rttard its r'gress Why, tn
little State Of belgium in Europe whose natural cara
cities bear no comparison to our own IN ON OF fru
fuIlness maintains within bosom population o
3e5 persons 10 the square mile. / he kingdom {
e Gr,at rtain %. persons 10 the square mile Whll
our own country with all her vast It sources OF agr
f cultural mineral and commercial wealth, with all he
f large cities ani growing towns Only Supports POP
ulation Of to the square mile, ana yet we have mi
lions nj on millions of acr,s of NEST roductlve terri