Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-09-16

ed; and this is always in the new and
uncultivated regions. They go from
every State and Territory, and from
every foreign nation in America, Europe
and Asia, because no established anc
populous State or nation can guarantee
subsistence and fortune to all who de-
mand them among its inhabitants.
The guarantees and signs of thei
coming to Alaska is found in the re-
sources of the Territory, which hav'
attempted to describe, and in the COZ
dition of society in other parts of thu
world. Some men seek other climes fo
health and some for pleasure. Alaska
invites the former class by climate
singularly salubrious, and the latte
class by scenery, which surpasses i
sublimity that of either the Alps, Tx
iAppenines, the Alleshanies Or the Rocky
Mountains. Emigrants from our owl
States, from Europe and from Asia will
not be slow in finding out that fortunes
are to be gained by pursuing here thu
occupations which have so successfully
sustained races of untutored men, Civ
/ i!ization and refinement are making
more rapid advances in our day than al
any former period. And the rising
Estates and nations on this continent
and the European nations, and ever
those of Eastern Asia, have exhauste5
or are exhausting their own forests anc
mines, and are soon to become largely
dependent upon those OF the Pacific
The entire. region of Oregon, Wasl ing.
ton Territory, British Columbia enc
Alaska seem thus destined to become 6
ship-yard for the supply of al nations
do not forget on this occasion that
British Columbia belongs within for
eign jurisdiction That circums ance
does not materially affect my calculation
British Columbia, by whomsoever pcs
sessed, must be governed in conformity
with the interests of her people and Of
society upon the American Continent
If that Territory shall be so governed
there will be no ground of complaint
If it shall be governed so as to conflict
with the inhabitants of that Territory
and OF the United States, we can al
easily foresee what will happen in thai
case. You will ask me, however, fol
guarantees that the hopes | encourage
will not be postponed. l give them.
Within the period of my own recol.
lection l have seen twenty new States
added to the eighteen which before that
time constituted the American Union
and now see besides Alaska ten Terrific
ries in forward condition of prepare.
ton for entering into the same great
political family. l have seen in my
own time not only the first electric tel
egraph, but even the first railroad and
the first steamboat invented by man
And even on this present voyage Of
mine / have fallen in with the first
steamboat still afloat, that thirsy-hvt
years ago lighted her fires on the Pacific
Ocean.
These, citizens of Sitka, are the qua.
rantees, not only that Alaska has fu-
ture, but that that future has already
begun. l know that you want two
! things just now, when European mono
poly is broken down and United States
free trade is being introduced into the
Territory. These are, military protec-
ton while your number is so inferior to
| that of the Indians around you, and
you need also Territorial civil Gov
eminent. Congress has already sup
| piled the first of these wants adequate
ly and effectualy. | do not doubt that
it will supply the other want during
the coming winter. 1t must do this,
because our political system rejects alike
anarchy and Executive absolutism. MOI
do | doubt that political society to be
constituted here, first as territory, and
ultimately as ii State, or many States,
will prove worthy constituency of the
Republic. To doubt that it will be in
tellgent, vrtuous, prosperous and on
terprising, is to doubt the experience
of Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, and
Holland and Belgium, and of New Eng
land and New York. Nor do | doubt
that it will be forever true in its repub-
lican instincts and loyal to the Ameri-
can Union, for the inhabitants will be
both mountaineers and seafaring men.
| am not among those who apprehend
linfidelity to liberty and the Union in
any quarter hereafter; but am sure
that if constancy and loyalty are to fail
anywhere, the failure will not DO in the
States which approach nearest to the
North Pole.
Felow-citizens, accept once more my
thanks, from the heart of my heart, for
kindness which can never be forgotten,
and suffer me to leave you with sin
cere and earnest farewell.