Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-25

from the Appalachian Mountains west
ward until i intersects the first along the line
Of the great river. This valley Is shut in
oy the third great plain descending from the
North. The first plain is traversed by the
Red and Arkansas rivers and their various
tributaries. The second plain is trayersed
by the Illinois, Ohio, Cumberland and Ten
nessee, and their tributaries. On the east
we have the Atlantic slope, comprising a
little more than one-seventh of our terrific
rial possessions. On the west we have the
lofty plateaus and basins as well as
the Pacific slope. These comprise almost
one-third Of our domain. Our continent is
provided with five great water systems; l,
the Atlantic Ocean system; 2, the Lake sys-
TEN; 3, the River system; q, the Gulf sys-
TEN; 5, the Pacific Ocean system. They
connect our own people together, and,
whilst separating US from, at the same time,
connect us With; the world. And each af-
tords nayigabie advantages sufficient to
build up a first-class commercial power.
Taken as whole, it is universally con-
ceded that no continent on the globe
affords so many natural advantages for
the wants and uses of man as does
North America, But more especially
must we look TO the Mississippi Valley
the central plain of the contineut-sfOr the
great mass of the resources of our country.
In territorial extent that grand valley sur
passes in area all other formations of the
kind on the globe, and is much greater than
the combined area of the Atlantic and Pa
eific slopes. No other continent has so great
an area of agricultural lands as it, and none
so rich in natural wealth. Its soil in rich
ness and extent is beyond comparison. Its
coal fields and iron deposits are by far the
greatest and the richest in the world. sits
river navigation" said Benton, sis the most
wonderful on the globe, and, since
the application Of steam power to
the propulsion of vessels, possesses
the essential qualities of open navigation"
Mr.. Reayis continued to depict the great
future of America, and then argued that
such mighty nation should have a capital
equal to its power and importance. Such a
capital was now demanded by twenty mil
lions of people, and if their request vas
not granted, thirty millions would demand
it at the clOseOT another decade.
Mr.. Reevis continued: In a business
point of view, the public buildings at
| Washington are inadequate to the wants Of
the government. In a moral point OF
view, Washington is unfit to be the capital
of this great nation. These two we'll
known facts, coupled with a universal con-
viction amongth people in all parts of the
country, that the capital will be removed at
some future day, and strengthened
by still another selfevident truth, that i'm
mediate removal would not be injurious to
the Government, establishes beyond ques-
ton that immediate removal is demanded
by the highest interests of the nation. Let
US celebrate our hundreth anniversary with
a new capital, and the Inauguration Of the
new Republic, whose all-embracing rule
shall be the new liberty which this nation
has given to mankind. Let us 60 forward
in our continental mission, carrying out the
designs of Columbus and Humboldt, apOs-
tOlic citizens of our destiny. Let us rise
above everything sectional, personal or local,
and move forward in our national purpose
to the peaceful conquest Of the continent,
Let us rise to the grandeur of the conception
of one vast continental Republic, yielding
/ to one beneficent law, and which shall be
adorned with its browning hOnOr-a cOnti-
mental Capital worthy the nation, the symbol
of whose power it is: great in its character
as the nation whose design il accomplishes;
fixed in the center of the States; overlook
ing the nation. the nation itself the sovereign
of its power, and the Capital part of the
nation; with peerless dome reaching the
heavens, and around whose earthly splendOr
ages will reYolve in obedience to eterniIy's
command, and in unison with the reVolu-
tiOns of magisterial States around one CEN
! trail moving heart.
Mr.. Reavis concluded with a brilliant
Z peroration and was warmly appauded.