Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-21
OUR TERRITORIAL ACQUISITIONS.

To those " no remember the Intense national
Jearning exhibited a few years ago for foot
hold in the West Indies-the irritation and
heaTt-ourning displayed because foreign Pow
srs held there the Key 10 the ulf, to the NJ outh
Of the Mississippi and to the Isthmus transit,
while the United States, with her SURPRISING
Interests at stake, had rot an inch of land even
for coaling staiion-to those W no remember
further, that our feverish solicituds to gain
some such foot-hoId carried us nearly to the
point OF hostilitIes with Spain when that
Power obstinateIy refused TO sell US what we
wanted. to those, say, tho remember all
this, n certainly seems odd that now, when by
peaceful diplomacy the acquisition Of VIVA,
was so much desired can be gained without a
drop Of blood shed. and for s bagatelle In the
way OF price, an opposition should display
itssf in every form OF depreciation and rfdI-
cule. The squibs about Mr Stewards pur-
csases of iceoergs, torn ADDE'S, and earthquakes
are Innumerablel Some OF them are merely
gTo'esquely droll, as in the case of "Mark
IVAN suggestions uncle who goes to ST
Thomas in quest OF bucolic quietness, and is
hrst thrown on shore two or three counties
inland, ship and all, by hurricane, and in
urn has his orickyard undermined by q vol.
caro- ana ms farm Knocked on end by en-
earthq uake; but for the most part the ridl
IL. A
place Of argument, to defeat the proposed
purchase. Secretary Seward, however. can
anord philosophic smile at these ebullitions.
on the doctrine that they are privileged to
laugh who win, and he, probably, has NO fear
tnat ne VIII not be backed up in his Territorial
acquisitions by the American people, who be-
heye IN having plenty of elbow room, terrific
rally. There are few full blooded Americans
VINO do not devoutly believe in the doctrine
tnai this country Is to absorb, not only Rus
sian America, but all the British pos1eszions
IN North America, and not only the Danish
Islands, but all the other islands of the West
IEdies, Spanish, British, French, Dutch and
swedish: and there are few VINO do not look
upon the recent negotiations of Mr. Seward
TOT the acquisition Of territory north and south
as the initial steps in our career OF "maaifes,
oesuny- So fixed Is the feeling, In behalf OF
terrHorial expansion, in the national heart
that II 10 not to be questioned or disputed: and
any party or set of men putting themselves in
opposition to this Irresistible current of opip
ION must 90 under This has beea shown I'm
the case OF every accession Of territory by the
nlted States-Louisiana, Texas, California
&c,-snd will be to the end of time.
AS regards the derision thrown upon the
recent purchases by our Government it in
curious to note with what exactness history
repeats itself In looking over some news.
paper files OF 1sO3i. the time of the I.ouisisn,
purchase, recently, we were struck by the
'miisTliy OF the line OF opposition made to
'Aa' purchase that Is now made to the pur-
cnaSe OF me Russian and Danish territory.
Inc purchase Of Louisiana by Mr.. jefferson
assaAea In every form of squIb, epIgram
oosgereif parable. and parody. Mr.. Jefer
son recital of the resources OF thar territorv-
ITS saline springs, fertile lands, its importance
as commanding The Mississippi river, was lam.
Pooned and derided in almost Identical tsr,s
win those now used in reference TO the ALASKA
ana 81 Thomas purchase. 1t was a maIarisI
swamp IT'S prairies were destitute of treas a.
'ekea~ion. We had been cheated by giving
SihoVoIeo for territory SO worthless ana
Pesuiehfiai that IL could never be inhabited
or put 10 any possible use: the purehsss
would lead TO complications ana wars with
ioreign powers and so on. The bug bear of
foreign war 20 follow upon the purchase. was
neio up pertinaciously. The New York coD..
"tsFc'o4 AoreTtaseT, of December I, Ists, criti-
cising me toasts given in honor OF Jefferson,
AT eeieoration by the Tammany Society,
quotes the eleventh Observation-Disclosures. tn,
bloodless acquisition of whose TERRITORY will
forn lasting monument to the wisdom, ~
Jenerson"-and says: perhaps this boast ia
the most unhappy OF all, because, after nav.
irg sl5OOo,00o for the country. we must fieht
IN order 70 obtain possession, and, instead OF a
'oioodless acq uisitIon,' we must look as Mr.
Je1erseh Philosophically expresses 1t, on a
'bioody arena"
Inc Commercial Adrertissr of Dec :, 1853, has
The tolIo wing.
The Intelligence hat the MARQUIS de Cas-
ruJo mas suddenly al appeared from Wash
inetcn, so that il Is dou oted whether his wife
khoWs where ne has gone, has occasicnsd con-
sioeraoie speculation. The moet prohanIe
oplnlon Is thar he has taken In high dudgeon
toe entrance upon Louisiana by force, and
THAT we must have tlvist with the SpaniardsD
IL was commended that the territory acou,r.d
would be not only val.eless but "a curse.,
and tnat it would be much wiser to avoid lts
IL hle'lon oy buying, not the territory, but the
iree navigation of the Mississippi. The Com
'aere'0i 4dreTtiseT of Dec. 1, IsN3 saws.
II ais - the economy OF the present admins
uAnsn Altnat was wanted m sht nave heen
80 80, 20 - nan me expense place of deposit
sho me iree navigation of the Mississippi
As 70 me country Of Louisiana, il can be moth
~ out curse, the mountain OF salt NOT Uith
.iandng."
Inc main artillery OF the opponents of the
purchase however, was ridcule. For tina
nosi part II Is too trivial and pointless for re-
production, but 1t was doubtless considered
ma. a. ne time similar opinion will per-
-'eA W INC EeaocI ulty years hence
upon the Newspaper satire now afioat imam
territorial expansion. The FEDERAL papers were
especislly merry upon Mr. Jsnersons noun
AIN OF salt In Louisiana. the theory having
been oroaehed that the Salt Springs emanated
rom some mounrair Of solid salt. Thsy sue.
rested that II was "Lo,'s wife maspined nv
process of time"
Inc albany SeH'taeI sduibbed the purchase
n an 'lndian Tradition as lately eommuni.
,ated 70 Capt. Leris by Logan, the ceIebrated
indian chief" to show how the salt came IN
louisiana The satire is not very smart bu, |
ne IN linus 10 shown by the amount OF ,pace- |
couple OF coiumns-giyen 70 the matter
Inc CorsnereiqI AdreTtsger Decem Der 4 Isas.
'ss me following. which 10 q specimen of
thousands OF squios and epigrams afioa, a. that
ame
.'heraststus OF old, TO eternize his name
me temple OF Diana all In a flame.
Dut Jenersoa lately OF Bonaparte bought
10 pickle ms lame, mountain of SAT-,
IL seems that salt from the nev rerri,orv
Tas displayed for the benefit OF the .coners
'u' they still refused TO believe. The sams
'aper quoted above says:
rev, IL Is believed, have yet run to see the I
,pet,nsn OF salt sent 10 his consort BY DR.
,s-ItCheiL now speaking In Congress Perhaps
-Ie NAY % suspicion that the salt did NOT
IN uom Loulsiana-or, IL it did that tnere
nc positive Information from vhat mar, ~ !
49,