6 



sober reason, to say, that our population will num- 

 ber its forty millions, that the pioneers of the " far 

 off West," receding from the rich prairies, and fer- 

 tile bottom lands of the Mississippi valley, will ex- 

 tend our frontier settlements to the Rocky moun- 

 tains, perhaps, even to the gentle waters of the 

 Pacific ; that the scattered tribes of the wilderness 

 will disappear, and the onward tide of emigration 

 continue to roll in successive waves, till arrested by 

 that insuperable barrier. What a picture is here 

 presented to the view of the philanthropist and 

 statesman. Forty millions of freemen, inhabiting a 

 country, extending through some twenty degrees of 

 latitude, and fifty of longitude, constituting one im- 

 mense republic. Grand, and imposing, as this pic- 

 ture may appear, is the reality improbable 1 Our 

 national debt is almost discharged, the treasury is 

 overflowing, the national domain renders its millions 

 annually, the ordinary revenue more than meets 

 the usual expenditures of government. These re- 

 sources, under an enlightened, and patriotic admin- 

 istration will be expended in facilitating intercom- 

 munication, in strengthening our national defences, 

 and in consolidating the union. Every year adds 

 to our united strength, and renders our political 

 existence, as a republic, less problematical. Yet, 

 however fair its prospects of future greatness may 

 now appear, they may be defeated. This splendid 

 triumph of free institutions may never be realised. 

 The hydra, disunion, may acquire the ascendency, 

 and this fair republic fall a sacrifice to her machina- 

 tions. Nullification, and its kindred heresies may 

 set the laws at defiance, and involve the states in 



