Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-04

WHAT would our power, SIS nation, be to-day II 1t
had not been for this principle Of expansion, SO
dear to the great Democratic hearth
When we come to glance at the map OF our terri
torisl acquisitions, the injustice ami inequality to
which the South would have been subjected, and
from which il was partially sayed by The policy Of
the Democratic party, ~ startling. In order TO
comprehend more fully the enotmity OF ncrthero
selfsbpess see the Did Domiuion-the mo'her Of
great ideas and great deeds, in the PRODUCTIVITY of
her mupifcence, and in the virgin purity of her
patriotism with a magninimty to which the history
Of the world furnishes parallel cede to the North
the Northwest Territory, empire OF Itself, COM
prising tire States Of Ohio, Indiana, ILLINOIS, Mich
iean, and Wisconsin. For this muuihcent donation
"A free>will offering 10 these people-they send 10
this Congress some Representatives who affect to
scorn what they are pleased 20 d1nominate the
slave oligarcby of Virginia. Well may this venerat
ed old mother exelam,
''How sharper than a serpent's foothills
To have thankless child"
And yet, when the wise craftsmanship and fore
cast of Jefferson seized upon the lucky moment TO
rest The Louisiana purchase from the grasp of Ma
pOleon, this same northern parry denounced him as
propaganda and usurper. There was splendid
acduisitiou the richest in SOIL the most splendid in
production the most delightful in climate, and the
most fruitful in resources Of any land beneath the
sun: with the noblest rivers, embracing the great
Father of Waters. upon whose bosom n4vies might
l
judicial blindness as to regret the free navigation
or the Mississippi river, without which The South
must have ever been blighted province, shOrn of
her commerce?
The advantages of that territory can scarcely be
computed Every farmer who lives within the great
valley Of that noble river, has cause 10 bless the
American progress Of the Democratic party, with
cut which that immense empire would have been
to day French colony. it was the Democratic
party that gave you Florida with its healhgiving
breeze. ABd when the lone star of Texas, cOrrus-
eating with the gloTies Of San Jacno. veered from
the crbit Of its nationality, and settled amid the
American galaxy, this sane anti-slavery party of
the North had their hearts moi qusiled them, would
have cuencbed il in blood, and blotted it from the
firmanent Of States. Annexation was opposed by
the old Wing party in the South; but only parry
move which resulted most disastreusiy its pros
poets and future But the national democracy in
serbed the honored name of Texas upon their ban
ners and bore her triumphlnly into the Union.
Who now but abOlitionist, will gairsay the wis
oom of that policy? There she lies upon our south
western border Ike huge giantess slumberiDg 10
her strength who, if the bloudhounds of ienateism
approach too nearly, will arouse TO the most deter
mined and desperate resistance We can no more
do without Texas than the moon can do without the
lustre of the stars that smile in her face as
She walks in beauty through the night"
Where is the enlightened statesman who will adj
nit that Mexican territorial acqIisiOns--the
eIowning glory Of that most successful and bril-
liant administration of the model President, were
inexpedient and unWise. Since The mines Of Cali
fornia and New Mexico have been opened up 10
American enterprise and industry, every depart
ment of human pursuit throughout our whole cOun-
try has been quickened, and the whole commercial
world strides along upon more extended scale.
California gold is silently producing revolutions in
the commercial and financial world that eOntrsdicts
all calculations of the political economists and up
sets the best established theories of the Wsest
statesmen. Scepties may doubt and sneer, bu they
are COMPOUNDED at the amazing results it has pro-
dnced in the progress Of human thought and action.
Energies have been aroused and latent efforts put
forth which had lain dormant throughout the long
hight ages past In the whirl of prosperity and
sudden fortune which has broken upon us, men
can scarcely believe their senses. In word-De
moCracy has acquired every foot of territory that
has been added to the nation, and has taken every
step in the march Of American progress, while
the opposition parties have resisted and opposed
expansion preterring rather American repression.
That mission is not yet fulfilled; the dim vista
that separates the present from tie future, but hard
ly conceas from the view still grander and nobler
results.
The time may not have arrived when ought
to acquire other territory, but it will come Desi-
nv forces it upon us--phat is to be DiH be- and hu
man power cannot prevent it. Yau can no more
repress the energies of this people than you can
check the beadIong cataract or turn the course of
the mighty river. Cuba, rorgh diamond in the
Spauisl crown will some day dazzle the eye, bright
polished, and sparkling in the diadem of American
States English diplomacy, nor French buster,
can wrest from the American people this gem OF the
ocean wave colored as il is. with the blood of the
lamented CritteBden. 1t is ours, geographically,
commercially, naturally, and the very sovereignty
of America, sooner or later, requires its annexa-
ton.
There is not an interestin this country that would
not be b, ne6cislly affected y the acquisition of
this island; but especially would 1t contribute
10 the interests Of the people nhsbiting the valley
of the Mississippi river Every description Of pro-
duce nov raised in that fertile valley would be
HANGED in value by finding market in Cuba; while
the great staple CT that island, sugar. uEder Amer
lean culture and by free trade, would be supplied
10 at greatly reduced rates. The people Of the
United States would save annually, millions In the
simple article of sugar But the island becomes
doubiy important TO this country in view Of our
hundreds Of millions of commerce between the At
lantie and Pacific shores that pass beneath the
Spanish guns A people so near our own shores,
and long weighed down by the iron yoke Of Spanish
despotsm, aWed into submission to the most tyranS
nical laws by bireling soldiery, it is not unnsiu
raj that they should seek deliversnce from Govern
ment which, instead Of sffording them protection,
operates engine Of oppression. American |
prosperity and Cubsn Independent alike suggest the
necessity of carly action
European diplomacy is endesvoring to entangle |
gress must cut the Gordial knot of Mexican miss |
rule and Central American despotism, and rebuke |
the unWarrantable intervention Of the English |
Queen and the French Emperor. These countries (
must and will be Amerieanized; in spite of the in
trigues OF foreign despots, by the moral power of
great example; il not, by the terrible vengeance
of the sword. To such an alternative we have to
come; l would prefer not but sooner than see those
trsnsits closed by the ornaments Of the Anglo>
French alliance, 10 intercept our commerce and our
free passage to the Pacific shores and thus laugh to
scorn, our boosted American principle Of the Mon
roe doctrine would counsel and appeal 10 the ar
biirament OF the sword, the last argument of mas
tons. Sir, | an not of that school Of politicians
that would reIrsss application of the great prin.
cple Of liberty and justice to classes States.
have no fears that those eternal prinei les will beA
come diluted by expansion am rot slarhed for
fear this country viii break in two account Of its
great msgritude--tbat very 'guitude presupposes
remoteness OF parts and diversity OF Interests ami
hose part, and interests will naturally beg1t jeal-
ousy towards the more central and powerful that
cannot fail to preserve in beautiful proportion the
,ntire whole The isolated position OF California
ind Oregon, far of on the Pacific shores, renders
hem ever watchful and jealous Of the Atlantic
;talss and those lying ts the North, aud dsnoa-