New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-19
or ritz NorsTassyEsTs


In pssa article os Yesterday cA the next saspczs
uonHnent of Congressional Representations, sassie
fefersrsse was made to the astonishing growth OF
the Northwestern States and Territories n pspnaF
fiOS and ysealth. VIXEN we come 70 retlecf upon
I'LL II seams wonderful indeed. district Of coan-
rv which at the INNING Of the present century
| lila mot send hafs dozen members w Congress
w.i. III I fcW yesgs send more tkan any other one
If orr natSonsg grand divisions. 4 region which;
half ,,es,suf-s ago, was an untedden wilderness,
il nav teesSiug with an active and Industrious
population and Il more thickly settled in many
splaces that some of the oldest States OF the
Atlantie coast
This result il due to the progressive energy and
restless activity of the Anglo American race aided
BY the large annual influx of Immigrants from
either lands. In many parts Of Wisconsin, indeed,
fsreign-horn citizens largely outnnmber the ma
tives. The same mag be said of portions of Mchi-
gan, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa. Colonies Of
Germans are established at various points with
large admixtures of Irish, English and Scandina-
vians. Nowhere apon earth is there SO mixed
population as in the Northwestern States Of the
Union.
The fertility and the cheapness of the soil are,
Of course, the incentives Of this rapid settlement.
The German race, accustomed to frugalty and
economy, thEises in the Northwest, and stores up
wealth with great facility. In a country where
the necessaries Of life are cheap and abundant,
and where the expensive and luxurious habits Of
older communities have not yet penetrated, it is
easy to SECURE comfortable existence, If not to
accumulate great wealth.
But the policy of the Federal Government has
also tended, very materially, to aid and build up
the States of the Northwest. Everybody knows
how lavish of expenditure our Government is, in
respect of its Territories. Before they assume the
sovereignty and dignity of States they are under
the special protection and patronage of Congress-,
which literally provides for their necessities. The
Federal Treasury pays all the expenses of their
Executive, Legislative, and judicial Departments.
1t maintains in their midst legion of oticeholders
of all grades and descriptions. 1t stations troops
builds forts, and otherwise discusses large por-
ton Of the annual appropriation for the support of
the Army. It sells cheap lands. upon sspreemp-
ton and long credits. The policy of the Federal
Government has been to encourage, by all possible
means, the rapid settlement and development OF
the Northwestern Territories. And though it has
been done at the expense of the older States there
has been, thus far, complaint from the latter of
its injustice.
But when the Northwest demands, as it now does,
additional bounty from the Federal Government in
the shape of Homestead law, whereby the pub
lie lands are to be given away to settlers without
money and without price, it is time for the other
States to speak out and resist the wrong. These
lands belong to all the States in common-and it
cannot be denied that the Government has been
already exceedingly liberal with them. The North
west has already partaken so freely of the larges
SEES of the Federal Government that il may be con-
sidered only necessary to ask q favor to receive
it. But that section should be satisfied with the
unquestionable advantages it already enjoys-nor
should it seek to abuse the generosity of its sister
States BY prefering requests which can be granted
only by sacrifice of their own interests.
The States of the South, SO far from having any
envy Of the Northwest, OF jealousy of its growth,
sincerely rejoice in it. But they have right to
know if the political power, which is the necessary
result Of this prosperity is to be used for the OPP
preston Of the South and the abnegation Of its
rights. If the Northwest, when it gets the power,
is to use the Unionifor its own benetit-pass Home
stead bills and plumber the public Treasury for the
improvement Of its lakes and harbors- it may be
the duty of the South to anticipate this result and
II possible prevent it, The nationality fraternity
and community of feeling which should subsist
among all sections of the Union have never been
disturbed by the people of the South, and never
will be except under the pressure of imperious
necessity and the obligations Of selfdefense Let
that section Of the Union which has the power to
prevent il, take that this necessity shall never
occur.