, 1862-05-19


1t WIS very clear, long oeEorv this war co.n.
mtneed, tlat-the Western States in the upper
valley CT IL: Mississippi, are destined nEsnn
distant psriro, to exert controlling influence
On On, tie roli:ils and pal'eG ii LIZ s,na:1s.
me Wes' crn campaigns de'nonstcat>; t'l,t the
sWarmlr. populatfon aud ;s.'aud:css sscl.Eh OF
WHICH ihat magnificent region must soon be
the sent, will notsbe its OILY element Of paw
ef Itc yigor, pluck, and military spirit of
t:ae western people, cvirce an cucry3-of char
acter which will be very sure to make the
most effective use Of their other means of in
Gutnce. The satne cau=ts which make the
american people, us the whole, the most en-
erEs5etic nation on the globe, make the inl1abi-
1ahts oi tic 'EtSt the most energetic portion
u 1he'~ ~Aln. ican people. He are al emf
grants and their descendants, md emigration,
especlally to new country, betokens enter
Prise and hardihood. But the people Of the
west who have gone thi.aer from the cid
S'atts are emig1ants from emirratcd coG1rau-
n1lits,-a more hardy ottshoot from stock
witch originally bElyed tile p=rils Of the
wilderness ard the privations of new settle
menss. Tie population Of that great section
possess III a degree never surpassed the moral
force which fits them to exert commanding
Influence; and they will be sure to imprcss
themselves On the country with 4 power more
than commensurate with the prcponderent
wealth and numbers which tley will possess
1tEg btfore the close OF the century.
Tie future destiny Of the country being
mainly III the hands Of the populous, ener-
getlcs and enterprlsing West, it IS not difficult
70 predict some uf the great outlines of our
history and policy. The immense fertility OF
that Ttgien,. Which makes it the garden and
granary Of thc world Will always cause asri-
culture to remain its leading interest,
The tlst want Of an agricultural Community
IS Nal ksts for their productions, and facilities
OF access to them. In the latter respect tue
west is as much favored By nature as in tn:
sSnbsrant e: fertility Of its soil Its States
magnificent river, and the broadcast
lakes on the globe. It is rs certain as any
thing can bc in the future, that the tropic il
productions Of the Ghc countries about the
Gnlf Of Mexico aud the South american re-
I,nb:lcs will be imported into the West through
tho Mississippi River. So energetic aud pow
esfula people will consent to no obstructssns,
viii pay 10 tolls, will never consent to hold
lhis great highway Of commerce at the will OF
foreign power. They will e1aiEn it a5 til .ir
Property, and they will compel the National
Coy c1nmcnt to depart from its former policy
sId make liberal expenditures for the ul-
lroyen,ent Of its navigation. II fighting is
Necessary to accomplish the first part Of this,
they rot sces all the fighting elcmcnts. If fp,-
Htcsu l''nucncc is necessary to h. cxrrled for
the latter, their growing political weight will
G1Ic item all they need.
1t Is equally easy to see that the West will
exert 81 Controlling inluenee on the action Of
our Government in respect 10 the arraay.-
msfta BY which the present Reciprocity Treaty
Win Canada must be replaced. The West
VIII consent to 40 contraction OF commercial
facilities, for it is contrary to herin1crest. Tie
use OF the CANDIDA. canals ard raj! ways in
treases the competition BY which the price OF
freight is reduced, and gives to the Western
asricn;turist better price for his crops WI
confidently. predict, therefore, that the basis
OF reciprocity will be enlarged, and that COM
1ntIcIal intercourse between this country and
ihe British provinces will become treer when a
!! Lew treaty is substituted for the nusatisfac,
tory one now in operation.
The manncri in which the influence of the
West is likely to be cxcrttd i'll moulding The
genius OF our institutions is more interest
ing question, on which We will not now touch.
lie Intimate commercial relations and con.
slant intercourse which the West will hold
bo1h with New England aud the South, will
perhaps tend to make it tolerant Of extreme:
Of opinion, and render what is destined to bs
the controlling influence of the Government
favorable to moderation, and the rceoncilia
tiun Of turing interests and ideas