i04 On the Natural Boundaries of Empire^. 



Of all those who live within sight of the Blue Mountain, 

 probably not one in a thousand have ever visited its sumniit. 

 These few were the ambitious inhabitants of the plains, but 

 even they could not establish a permanent residence. 



The range of mountains between the New England states 

 and Canada, are a better boundary than the St. Lawrence. 



The inhabitants on the opposite sides of a mountain^ sel- 

 dom think alike on any subject. 



This may be accounted for in the following manner. 



The sun never shines equally, on the two sides of a moun- 

 tain at the same time. An inhabitant of the north, looks 

 upon the mountain, and beholds it enveloped in shade. An 

 inhabitant of the south beholds it resplendent in light and all 

 the landscape enlivened by the rays of the sun. How can 

 two individuals who see the same object in such different 

 points of view, ever be brought to think alike on any sub- 

 ject. 



Again, the temperature of the air is always different. A 

 native of the South visiting the country to the north, shivers 

 with cold, while all around him are gay, lively, and happy. 

 How can people who feel so differently in the same climate, 

 ever be friendly subjects of one government. 



There is a shield placed on the summit of every moun- 

 tain, one half is painted white, the other is painted black, 

 the inhabitants on the opposite sides, look upon the same 

 shield, but cannot agree as to its color. 



The effect of this has been perceived in the councils of 

 more than one of the United States. 



In Pennsylvania, I have been informed by a member of the 

 Legislature, that, on many questions, the opinion of the mem- 

 bers is known from their residence on the east or west of 

 the mountains. 



The same fact is confirmed as it respects Virginia by the 

 author of " Letters from the south" he says the mountain 

 called the Blue Ridge not only "forms the natural, but the 

 political division of Virginia. That on the East, is called 

 Old Virginia, and that on the West, New Virginia, the 

 inhabitants of these several territories, occasionally exhibit 

 a considerable degree of hostile feeling towards each other. 



" All the considerable states to the south of New York in- 

 clusive, have two distinct and separate local interests, or rath- 

 er, states of local feeling. The eastern and western sections 



