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a superior forco of Austrian marine, and threatened tlieir destruction 

 unless Koszta should be delivered up — redressing national insult upon 

 the spot — he did an act of duty, which at a step advanced this govern- 

 ment and its policy to a position that fifty years of unvarying success 

 in diplomacy would not have done. The truth is proclaimed, that hero 

 " the free spirit of mankind" is vindicated. We are but working out 

 our destiny; and the same Power that guides the wild fowl's trackless 

 flight through illimitable air, is guiding this people in their prosperity 

 and mission. 



Pre-eminent as has been the political and social advancement of this 

 country, it holds no comparison with its material and natural de\'elop- 

 ment. The able French author, De Tocqueville, says : "America is a 

 land of wonders, in which everything is in constant motion, and every 

 movement seems an improvement. * * No natural boundary seema 

 to be set to the efforts of man ; and what is not yet done, is only what 

 he has not yet attempted to do." There are those now within the 

 hearing of my voice, that well remember when Western New York 

 was considered the outer verge of western civilization. The settlement 

 of Michigan and other great Western States is yet more recent. With 

 the exception of a few French settlers, and a still smaller number at- 

 tached to the army, and surrounding our forest forts, the life, soul, and 

 strength of the west are the growth of the last few years. The rest- 

 less energy of our people has hewed from the forest, States — has built 

 towns, villages and cities, and startled the ever retreating savage with 

 the rushing rattle of the railroad car. In this brief time we are sur- 

 rounded with all the necessaries and many of the luxuries of life ; and 

 in every element of material prosperity we are in advance of any peo- 

 ple in Europe, and compare favorably with the most prosperous of our 

 sisters of the confederacy. 



As the underlaying rock sustains and keeps in place the earth's sur- 

 face, so agriculture underlies and is the ground-work of our material 

 prosperity. The agricultural class comprise three-fourths of the people, 

 and represent three-fourths of the wealth of the country. They are the 

 first producer of food and clothing; their products foiTQ the great 

 bulk of the nation's expoits ; and examine all the operations of trade 

 and commerce, and their intimate and absolute dependence upon com- 

 merce will be apparent. If the earth did not annually yield of her 



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