AMERICAN QUARTERLY REVIEW.

No. XII.

DECEMBER, 1829.

ART. I.—THE PUBLIC DOMAIN OF THE UNITED STATES.

1.-Report of a Select Committee, of the House of Representatives, at the Second Session of the Twentieth Congress, on a Motion to distribute the Proceeds of the Sales of Public Lands among the several States, in proportion to their population. 2.-Reports of the several Land Officers, pursuant to a Resolution of the Senate of the United States, passed the 25th day of April, 1828.

WHEN We consider the unexampled rapidity with which the western states have acquired population and importance, we are surprised, not only at that fact, but at the inadequate ideas which have heretofore prevailed as to the magnitude and resources of that country. We are a travelling and a calculating people, and it seems strange that those who visited the western wilds in early times, should not have foreseen the events which have since transpired. That they did make golden reports we are aware; but contrary to all experience, those reports have fallen short of the truth, and all that has been dreamt and prophesied in relation to this region, by its most sanguine admirers, has been more than realized. When a few hunters, encamped in the forests of Kentucky, heard the report of the battle of Lexington, and gave that name to the spot where they reposed, how little could they have imagined, that within the duration of one human life, a town of excelling beauty, and a population remarkable for its cultivation, would spring to maturity in those shades-or that in the

eople, must have rendered the trade in that direction precari1s, by subjecting it to expensive duties, and frequent interrupons. Setting these difficulties aside, New-Orleans was not then. it is now, a large commercial city; it was a small town, witht capital or enterprise, and reported to be so fatally unhealthy, at its future growth was considered as entirely improbable. And tly, the navigation from that place, to our northern ports, on Atlantic coast, was, as it still remains to a considerable ext, dangerous and expensive.

The communication through our own interior was quite as romising. The Allegheny ridge formed a barrier, which then almost impassable. The width of this chain is seldom than sixty miles; and it presents in its whole extent a se 3 of mountains, cliffs, and chasms, as wild and hideous in their earance, as they seem insurmountable in their character. No etical man of that day, imagined the remote probability of structing a good road through this district. To climb its preices, to hew down its rocks, to throw bridges over its gulphs, pass its headlong torrents,-in short, to enable the traveller ourney with ease and rapidity over this Alpine region, has n the recent work of genius and enterprise, and the result of pirit peculiar to our own times.

The purchase of Louisiana, the free navigation of the Missispi, the increased importance of the New-Orleans market, the provements in the coasting navigation, the New-York canal, d the turnpikes which cross the mountains at various points, ay be set down as among the causes which have led to the rad growth of this country; and it may be added, that many of ese events were as unforeseen as they have been eminently reat and advantageous. Some of them have all the brilliancy I splendid achievement, and all of them have contributed to inrease the wealth, and elevate the character of the nation.

The introduction of steam-boats upon the western waters, deerves a separate mention, because it has contributed more than any other single cause, perhaps more than all other causes which have grown out of human skill, combined, to advance the prosperity of the West. The striking natural features of this country are, its magnitude-its fertility-its mineral wealth-the number and extent of its rivers. The peculiar adaptation of the country to commercial purposes, is evident. The richness of the soil, and the abundance of all the useful minerals, combine to render agricultural labours easy, cheap, and greatly productive. The amount of produce raised for consumption, and for export, is great; and the people are therefore not only able, but liberally disposed, to purchase foreign products. They do, in fact, live more freely, and purchase more amply, than the farmers of any other cour "v. The amount, therefore, of commer

wilderness beyond them, a population would grow up within the same period, superior in number to that which was then contending for independence! These things could not have entered the head of any but a poet, or a madman. And when more intelligent men, with better opportunities, explored this region, after the germes of its greatness had begun to expand, even they had but faint conceptions of its destiny. We will endeavour to assign a few of the causes why this country was thus underrated, and why it has outstripped the largest calculations which were made in its favour.

Forty years ago, it was known that the western lands were fertile, and watered by fine rivers, and settlements were made on the eastern side of the Ohio and Mississippi. But the inhabitants were exposed to the hostile attacks of the Indians, who occupied the whole region to the west and north, except a few spots held by the French. The hostile dispositions of the Indian tribes, and their superiority of numbers, rendered it dangerous to explore any part of the country in which they hunted, and impracticable to visit large portions of it. It was therefore but partially explored, and immense districts, which are now considered in all respects the most desirable, were then totally unknown. As the Indians retired, that country came into notice, as a fine landscape is disclosed by the gradual rising of a curtain. The parts that were settled were continually subject to invasion, and the inhabitants dreadfully harassed. The most shocking enormities were perpetrated; neither life nor property was safe; cattle were driven off, houses burned, fields ravaged, women and children murdered. Such atrocities no longer occur; the powerful arm of our government, and the mild influence of its pacific institutions, are felt from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, and on the remotest frontier the dwelling of the pioneer is sacred. The murder of a white man by an Indian is now of rare occurrence, perhaps as rare as the murder of white men by each other; and the massacre of a family is no longer apprehended. This happy change has taken place since the last war with Great Britain; and we may attribute the rapid growth of the western country within the last fifteen years, partly to the security with which it has been explored and made known, and the safety enjoyed by the people, who have thus been enabled to spread over the surface in every direction.

The country was at first difficult of access; indeed, for all the beneficial purposes of commerce it was almost inaccessible. The port of New-Orleans, and the country at the mouth of the Mississippi, were held by Spain, by whom our right to navigate that river was denied. Had the latter privilege been conceded to us, the possession by a foreign power, of the only port of entry, and place of deposit, which was accessible to the western

people, must have rendered the trade in that direction precarious, by subjecting it to expensive duties, and frequent interruptions. Setting these difficulties aside, New-Orleans was not then as it is now, a large commercial city; it was a small town, without capital or enterprise, and reported to be so fatally unhealthy, that its future growth was considered as entirely improbable. And lastly, the navigation from that place, to our northern ports, on the Atlantic coast, was, as it still remains to a considerable extent, dangerous and expensive.

The communication through our own interior was quite as unpromising. The Allegheny ridge formed a barrier, which was then almost impassable. The width of this chain is seldom less than sixty miles; and it presents in its whole extent a series of mountains, cliffs, and chasms, as wild and hideous in their appearance, as they seem insurmountable in their character. No practical man of that day, imagined the remote probability of constructing a good road through this district. To climb its precipices, to hew down its rocks, to throw bridges over its gulphs, to pass its headlong torrents,-in short, to enable the traveller to journey with ease and rapidity over this Alpine region, has been the recent work of genius and enterprise, and the result of a spirit peculiar to our own times.

The purchase of Louisiana, the free navigation of the Mississippi, the increased importance of the New-Orleans market, the improvements in the coasting navigation, the New-York canal, and the turnpikes which cross the mountains at various points, may be set down as among the causes which have led to the rapid growth of this country; and it may be added, that many of these events were as unforeseen as they have been eminently great and advantageous. Some of them have all the brilliancy of splendid achievement, and all of them have contributed to increase the wealth, and elevate the character of the nation.

The introduction of steam-boats upon the western waters, deserves a separate mention, because it has contributed more than any other single cause, perhaps more than all other causes which have grown out of human skill, combined, to advance the prosperity of the West. The striking natural features of this country are, its magnitude-its fertility-its mineral wealth-the number and extent of its rivers. The peculiar adaptation of the country to commercial purposes, is evident. The richness of the soil, and the abundance of all the useful minerals, combine to render agricultural labours easy, cheap, and greatly productive. The amount of produce raised for consumption, and for export, is great; and the people are therefore not only able, but liberally disposed, to purchase foreign products. They do, in fact, live more freely, and purchase more amply, than the farmers of any other cou" "v. The amount, therefore, of commer