, 1861-03-23
Illinois and laa EIencuts Of Pros-
per1ty.


There nre two laws, distinct in their nature.
which seem to haye controlled the growth Of
states up to this perioG--the natural iucrcaeo
o. fixed population, and growth by iumipra-
ton Those States which from natural causes
hare retained both Of these elements Of
growth, hare reached and held the first posi-
lions out in the majority of cases, iucrt aee
hy immigration is felt chiefly in the early BE-
Rod Of the existence Of q Sta ., and 1t then de-
pends upon tho natural incrcnse Of its own
population for the maintenance of Its position
and power. 1trequiEes combination Of mcst
fortunate circumstances to retain, for any con-
siderable period, both these elements Of In
crease in one State,
The State of Illinois seems to present cle
ments Of continuing prosperity Which no 9TH
er State possesses In the same degree, The
average increase at each decennial censna.
from 1870 to 1860. has been 1855. 70 per cent.
never exceeding 367 per cent, never fallinr
below 20 per cent. which was in 1850, md
rislng IN the next census to 10l. 10 per centurn.
From the 24lh State, in 1870, it has risen to
the fourth portion in 1860, and will attain the
third If not The second In 1870, It's crnpth
has been mora regular than that Of other
prominent Western states. It has never
shown the marvellous sudden growth exhibit
ed by Ohio and Indians, aud It will never ba
reduced to the sudden falling off which We
have seen In those 8 atee. Indeed It NAV be
doubted If any single State possesses SO pnapr
OF the elements necessary to continue for an in
definite period its remarkable advances as The
State Of Illinois. It does not, like other States.
suffer from the high price OF lands, or the fcr.
tility Of soils beyond It's western borders, In
both these respects 1t has advantages. to raw
the least, equal II not superior to any other
part Of the country. 1t is free from lie lopr
and severe winters which every year are bt.
coming more burdensome and distastefnl to
the Northwestern farmer. Extending over
ak degrees of latitude, 1t embraces nearly
every variety Of climate, producing
tropical truite,. and even cotton IN 3
snail Way In The South, and the
best winter grains in the North. By its loca-
tion it is free from many Of the difficulties
tliat must attend the present slate of public
Affairs, and Is daily sought as home by re-
spectacle families from every part Of the
country, south and north, cast and west More
and more Its lands are going into the hands OF
small holders, and farms Of forty and eighty
ncrcs arc sought, where the poorest settler,
tonF or five years since, thought be must have
hundreds or Thousands. The fertility Of sol
auo when We couple the equally eurpeisfDg in.
crease Of population with It's agricultural pro
ducts, and reflect that upon the principles nd
vanced BY slr Archibald Alison In his profound
Esaay On " Population" aud Adam Smith II
the ~ ealth Of Nations" both predicate the
Foundation OF manufactures aud commerce
upon euIplrs products OF soil, We may antici
pate Tor the future not only the maintenance
Of IT. past adyances 1T an agricultural State,
but the introduction Of new md subsidiary
ayocztions Of the people, that will fully Inafn
tain It's relative advances in the linz AZ state
exhibited by the late census.