The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-10
THE aRFAr NORTHWEST no THE PACIFIC.


out those measures we think necessary to the full
development of our peculiar local institutions that
forget others may have an eqnas interest in the
policy proposed as ourselves. Our national polti-
clans often become too sectional and partial IN their
views and attempt TO bind the policy Of the general
government to the aggandizement of particular
States and by the action of local representation to
make party lines in the States strictly conform in
fact to the mere theories Of local opinion This is
all wrong, and leads TO the most dangerous ii not
disastrous results 1t is Capitalization of power
principles repugnant to the spirit Of the government
1t is the doctrine of immobility denying the exist
Of progress, the equality Of the States Of the
Union for the time being. II is process of enlarg
ing the Territories Of the Union without enlargmg
constitutional guarantees aud rights.
Much Of the heart-burnng and jealousy ex-
listing between the different sections flows from the
limited knowledge they have Of the physical geog-
raphy Of each other, of their soil and products,
their system OF culture, the elements of their
merce, and the means necessary to develop their
sources. How few of the statesmen in the councils
of the nation have studied the wants and netes
sites Of the different States, the institutions best
calculated not only to promote their welfare, but the
common welfare of the nation. We venture TO say
that there s hardly q single member of the govern
ment, in the Senate or in the House Of Representa-
tives, who has set foot upon the soil of all
the different States composing the Union, much less
investigated the of their individual prosperity
Many who speak with huency Of the North and
South the East and West have never visited these
Hole IF tba and Enn
from their own observation nothing of the rise
and progress of the various sections into which
it is divided Hence the East is too prone to ig-
more the West, and the North and South think
that because they take antagonistic positions and
fight with each other. all others mnst take part
in the contest. These differences are only ire
concilable from the want Of knowledge OF each
others resources. and their mutual dependence in
developing the highest states Of prosperity
But there is one great division of the country, al
though sometimes led astray for the moment, which
does not enter iuto these sectional differences, be
cause they have more intimate social and CONNER
cal intercourse with both The Northwest covers
all that vast region lying adjacent to the great
rivers of the continent. On the west is the Mis-
souri, and her tributaries reaching to the base of the
Rocky mountains; the east the great lakes and
their tributaries ana cutting nus great DIVISION al
most IN the centre - the Alississppi' Inc people
whose homes are here claim the right of free pas
sage to the ocean, along their mighty watereouses,
and, although they may be deprived OF 1t Tor a tme
vet in the end they will enforce it. The Northwest
will soon command where they now only ask and
the attempt will be futile to refuse we commend
especially the rapid rise ana progress OF TINS sec
toi to all whose ambition leads them into The ser
vice of their country it is lesson iu'i oil instruc-
ton to statesmen and fraught with conclusions that
may well arrest the attention OF the nation
Ii we look back but few years to the census OF
1890, this region was no. even mentioned. Il there
were any inhabitants there they were 100 lew ana
too much scattered to be even ennmeratea' over
all that portion Of the country there then stretchea
one vast wilderness, unbroken by any spot Of civil
lied culture. In an extent larger than Europe,
reaching from the great States to the Paeifc there
was scarcely point on the map winch atteSted The
presence Of civilization. All around was pare cfea-
ton. It was fresh, untouched, unbonnded magmi-
cent wilderness0 But the constitution hike magic
wand infused life and activity and ylgor INTO tins new
world It sprang into existence like new creation,
ready for its mission The young giantlu its infancy
demanded the ACQUISITION oil Louisiana IRON France,