Year: 1861

The position taken by western either
on the dissolution question presents tht
case in its strongest light It is seriousl,
asked how the whole country watered b,
the Upper Mississippi and its tributaries
with its millions of people now and hun
dreds Of millions yet to be, is to obtain ac.
cess to the ocean and the commerce of th,
world, if the Union is to be divided intt
separate and inharmonous states or con.
fcderacies. The north hvestern states, ricI
IN agricultural resources, demand and mus
have an outlet to the nations of consum-
ers, and they are not to depend upon tht
caprice of or treaties with states having nc
common sympathy withihe great valley OF
Ncrth America, for that outlet. The north
and east can reasonably deny the right o
Independent of the United States, and lying
across the mouth of the Mississippi. That
territory was purchased of France for ff-
teen millions of dollars, contributed by the
people of all the states. The same reasons
which were urged for the acquisition of the
Louisiana Territory during Jefferson's ad-
ministration would hold good in case OF
the secession of the southern states. 1t
was urged in the commencement of the
present century that the valley of the Mis-
sisippi must have a free outlet through the
mouth of that noble river, and that for
eign nation holding command of that
mouth was incompatible with the interests
of the United States Now that the states
most affected have grown populous and
wealthy, the reasoning is felt with still
more force. The interests of all the states
north of the Ohio and the Missouri demand
that no independent government shall COM
mand the mouth of the Mississippi. France
Id wise thing when she parted with her
claim to Louisiana for fifteen millions. A
few years longer and It must have been ab-
sorbed by the United States perhaps with
ont the raymeat of dollar. In the natu-
raj order of things Louisiana must have
fallen TO the American people who were
pouring over the Alleghaaies. The wants
of the great valley demanded it. The same
natural right still exists and will not be sur
rendered by the northwest. Those who
have persisted in demanding the acquisi-
ton of Cuba as a key to the Gulf ought
TO be able to see much stronger reasons for
recognizing the claim Of the northwest to
the free navigation of the Mississippi
which can only be .efectually guaranteed
by the whole river remaining in the pos
sessession of one harmonious nation.


Through the inventions and enterprize of
the age the valley of the Upper Mississip-
pi has been brought by the aid of steam
into close connection with the free sea
beard states, and it might be expected that
the afinities existing between the east and
her western children would bind them to-
gether iu one family. But if self-interest
be the ruling motive for secession, much
stronger reasons exist why New York
should be an independent state, than can
be urged by any southern state whatever.
The duties collected on imports in the city
OF New York would be more than enough
annually to support the government, and
all the north western states, would in 3
greater or less degree become tributary to
the Empire State. But this state of things
cannot be honestly permitted, If New Y ork
hss by her grand canal and her railroads
built up ne west so has the west built her
up in turn. One is entitled to tae good
will and cooperation of the other in the
same government. The interests of one
are the interests of the other, to some ex-
tent. and the interests of one should be
maintained by all, whether those interests
lie at the mouth of the Mississippi or else
where.