204 



TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



Years. 



Miles. 



Eighteen hundred and forty 



Eighteen hundred and forty-two . 

 Eighteen hundred and fortj'-eight 



Eiirhteen hundred and fifty 



Eighteen hundred and sixtj' 



2.167 



4.H62 



G.491 



S.S27 



31.1^5 



Thus it will be seen that in the ten years immediately preceding the 

 last date — eighteen hundred and sixty — over twentj-two thousand miles, 

 or at an ayerage annual rate of oyer two thousand two hundred miles, 

 were built and put into operation, making an aggregate extent of more 

 than thirty-one thousand miles of railway in the United States, or oyer 

 six thousand miles more than would be required, if placed in a line, to 

 encircle the globe. 



But the agricultural productions of our country' exhibit, too, a marked 

 activity and advancement. The yield of wheat amounted, in eighteen 

 hundred and fifty, to one hundred million four hundred and eighty-five 

 thousand nine hundred and forty-four bushels. In eighteen hundred and 

 sixt}' it rose to one hundred and seventy-one million one hundred and 

 eight^'-three thousand three hundred and eightj'-one bushels. All other 

 agricultural products exhibit similar or proportional results. 



But how is it with our manufactures ? We will examine the latest reli- 

 able authority on that point. The Superintendent, in his preliminary 

 report on the census of eighteen hundred and sixty, says: 



" The total yalue of domestic manufactures, (including fisheries and the 

 products of the mines.) according to the census of eighteen hundred and 

 fifty, was one thousand and nineteen million one hundred and six thousand 

 six hundred and sixteen dollars. The product of the same branches for 

 the year ending June first, eighteen hundred and sixt}', as already ascer- 

 tained in part and carefully estimated for the retnainder, will reach an 

 afTirreirate value of nineteen hundred millions of dollars. This result cxhib- 

 its an increase of more than eiyhfy-six per centwn in ten years. 



I have made these references to the manufoctures, railroads, agricul- 

 ture, population, and wealth of the United States, in order to show that, 

 in material development we do possess the inherent and unmistakable 

 elements and prestige of permanent progress. This is no fancy sketch, 

 but a reality so apparent to every one tliat he who runs may read. It 

 cannot be denied that the late civil war which threatened the exi.stenee 

 of our govermental fabric, was a heavy blow to our prosperity. And let 

 us hope that, as the past can never be recalled, so ma}- fraternal war 

 never return to deluge our happy land in blood. Let us regulate our 

 actions and policy upon the principle that, 



" Peace hath her vietoriei?, 

 !No less renowned than war;'' 



and may that Providence who guideth the destinies of nations inspire 

 us with prudence and wisdom to establish our future career upon the 

 solid foundations of truth and justice, as the only true way to preserve 

 enduring peace. Nothing short of the preservation of our national 



