124 SPEECH OF HON. JUSTIN S. MORRILL. 



There are evils in an extremely dense population, but except in 

 cities, our country as yet has reached no such point. The rural 

 population is nowhere crowded. The new Territories, sparsely 

 settled, naturally desire accessions. Their unoccupied spaces 

 furnish none of the means to support a State. If they suddenly 

 make drafts upon the old States to fill their vacant spaces, the 

 aggregate wealth and power of the country is weakened, for not 

 so much is contributed to the new as has been subtracted from the 

 old. The dispersion tends to destroy, not markets merely, but 

 that skill a dense population, by a division of labor, always assem- 

 bles. Whatever advantages were held under the old condition of 

 things have been abandoned, while whatever advantages may re- 

 sult from the new order of things, arc yet distant and impercepti- 

 ble. 



It is the destiny of many young men of the East to find homes 

 in the West. They can only be retained on the Atlantic slope 

 long enough to receive their education, and that will not repress 

 their enterprise for travel. Foreign emigration and eastern com- 

 bined, will bring gray hairs into the western prairies full soon in 

 the life of a nation. " In every nook of the world where any good 

 is to be got," it is said, " there is to be found a Scot, a rat, and a 

 Newcastle grindstone," and perhaps it might be added, a Yankee 

 and ajacknife. Our young men will go, we expect them to go, 

 but let them go laden with the spoils of the school house and col- 

 lege, a capital worth more than gold, and then they will prove of 

 priceless value to our common countr^'^, wherever ultimately 

 located, proudly and forever wearing the name of an- American 

 citizen. 



It is of the highest moment that at this time we make no blun- 

 der in the guidance of the industry of the country, when all its 

 resources must be taxed more severely than ever in all our previous 

 history. While we are compelled to place most unusual burdens 

 upon the people, none of whom can escape, let us pass one act 

 they will all hail with delight. If the}'' are made to carry weight 

 let them have some chance to increase their sti-ength. The people 

 are called upon unceasingly to do something for their Government 

 and they do not fail to respond because it is their Government, but 

 it would not chill their patriotism if the Government should for 

 once do something for them. 



Undoubtedly agricultural chairs or professorships should be 

 founded in all our colleges and universities. Every man owns or 



