COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW, PAGE EMBRACING A FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW of the UNITED STATES, ETC., ILLUSTRATED WITH TABLES, ETC., AS FOLLOWS: State of the Commercial World-United States Finances--Revenue and Expenditure of New York State Canals-New York Canal Debt-Debt of Pennsylvania -Quantities of Iron transported over Two Lines of Railroad, from Philadelphia to New York-Debt of Michigan-Michigan Railroad Earnings--Finances of Maryland-Debt of South Carolina-Kentucky State Debt-Kentucky Sources of Revenue-Amount of Bonds issued by the State of Georgia-Territorial Debt of Florida-Taxable Valuations, and Debts of the States of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland--Canal Tolls of the States of New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, etc., etc., etc................. COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. Chinese Tariff of Imports and Exports,...... 174, 181 Duties to be paid upon Goods imported and exported by the United States, at the Five Ports,...... 182 182-186 Brazilian Consulate Fees or Emoluments to be paid by National and Foreign Vessels, 187 Compend of the Tariff of Cuba,.... . 188 NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE. Port Adelaide, South Australia,....... 189 Sunken Rock-Chincha, or Guano Islands,...... 189 Rio Grande San Pedro--Decree of the Government of Cuba,... 190 190 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Imports and Exports of the United States, in 1844 and 1845,. First Trading Establishment on the Columbia River,.............. Arnold's History of Rome-O'Callaghan's History of New Netherlands,......................... 200 201 Kip's Holidays in Rome-Wilson on the Skin-Burdett's Chances and Changes,.... 203 Hemans's (Mrs.). Poems-Montgomery's Poems-Caldwell's Elocution,....... 204 204 205 205 205 Dick's Practical Astronomer-Mosse's Atlas of the Human Body,. Perdicarris's Greece of the Greeks-Warren's Physical Education,..... 206 206 206 207 207 207 208 208 208 HUNT'S MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE. FEBRUARY, 1846. Art. I.-THE UNITED STATES' CENSUS OF 1850 : WITH REFERENCE TO THE POLITICAL RELATIONS OF THE EASTERN AND WESTERN STATES. THE most important political subject before the American people, at the present time, is the approaching change in the geographical centre of power in the country. While we are intent upon minor interests, we are giving little heed to the fact, that, in a very brief period, the seat of the growing power in these states will be completely changed. Neither the annexation of Texas, nor the formal possession of Oregon, can be compared, in its influence upon the Atlantic states, with that numerical superiority which, at the very next census, will make the west the dominant portion of the Republic. Let no one suppose that this change will be rather nominal than reala change in the place of power, and not in the governing influences. Most important changes must take place, and these it behoves the people of the east well and early to consider. Commercial, maritime, and manufacturing interests, have hitherto had the principal attention of the government. A large part of our legislation has been directed to the fostering of one or the other of these interests, or to the settlement of their conflicting claims to favor and protection. Agriculture is, no doubt, at the east as at the west, the great business of life; but it is, nevertheless, true, that partly from want of concentration among those who pursue this occupation, and partly from the nature of the employment itself, these interests have received but a small share of consideration from the government. This state of things must and will cease. Agriculture is not merely one of the western interests; it is that which absorbs and swallows up every other. Manufacturers and merchants, from being congregated in cities and manufacturing establishments, exert, at the east, an influence out of all proportion-greater than belongs to their relative wealth and numbers. They act in masses, and their appearance is rendered, in this way, much more imposing, and their real power greatly strengthened. But manufacturers at the west are too insignificant to claim or receive a separate attention; and the moment this portion of the country obtains a clear and decided majority in the legislature of the Union, the interests of agriculture will assume a prominence to which they have hitherto made no approach in that body. Other changes must be expected to follow. The commerce upon the lakes, and the Mississippi and its tributaries, and the Gulf of Mexico, is, at least, as important, in proportion to the population, as the internal and foreign commerce of the sea-board. Yet, while a vast amount of treasure has been expended in the promotion of the latter, it has been with the utmost difficulty that any appropriation, however small, could be obtained from Congress for the former. In governmental expenditures the west has been regarded almost as foreign territory; and Congress seems hardly to have been aware that this far country had any interests to foster. The amount of outlay on a single work on the Atlantic-the Delaware breakwater-exceeds, if we are not mistaken, all appropriations of every sort for intercommunication, and for commercial purposes, for the whole immense region included between the lakes and the Gulf of Mexico, and stretching from the Apalachian range to the Rocky Mountains. In all this there must, and will be, a change. The current of the public money which, for half a century, has been setting east, will assuredly change its direction, and follow the population of the country. For every harbor appropriation, on the Atlantic, two will have to be made on the lakes. Every fort and navy-yard at the east, will require to be balanced by a western brother. The east will be fortunate if no stricter rule be adopted. A very decided change will also take place in the distribution of governmental patronage. The Atlantic states will not engross the higher offices of the nation. The two millions of western voters will require to be fully represented in all departments of the government. We are inclined to think that the extreme democracy of the west will be very discernible in Congress after the next census. With institutions somewhat more democratical than ours, the spirit of that section of the country is decidedly in advance of us in this particular. There is, there, absolutely no counteracting force. Wealth is, with us, much more unequally distributed; social distinctions more marked. Constant intercourse with the old world has a perceptible influence over the Atlantic towns; and there still remain some reminiscences, faint and fleeting though they be, of family, and family connections. At the west, the "spirit of the age" is so completely the ruling spirit, that very little concern is felt about the spirit of past ages; and precedents are discarded, the rather because somebody has tried them before. When this western characteristic gives a tone to Congress, the people of the east will find they have some lessons to learn, with whatever grace they can muster. The great proportion of foreigners in the population of the new states, following the law of reaction, forms an ultra and democratic element, which will be as difficult to manage as a newly released prisoner after his first draught of fresh air, and other intoxicating fluids. Look at some of the latest formed constitu tions-that of Iowa for instance-and see whether the force of democracy can much further go. Elective judges chosen for limited periods; two dollars daily pay for legislators; all charters repealable at the will of the legislature; these form some of the items of these constitutions. That the spirit of unadulterated democracy-understanding by this term something far other than the enlightened freedom which is contemplated by our Constitution-is exceedingly prevalent in that wide region called This spirit the west, is but too clearly proved by the Mormon contests. fully received, demands that the will of the people, to-day, should be the law for to-day, in spite of any musty antiquated records called laws, and the like, which are merely the opinions of people who lived years ago; and like the precepts of our religion, well enough for those times, but not at all adapted to ours. Hence the undisguised murder of Smith, with the absolute impunity of the murderers, notwithstanding the Governor's pledge of honor for his safety, and his strenuous efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. The people of Illinois have gone on to burn out a population of fifteen or twenty thousand people, consuming house after house with systematic deliberation, in order to rid themselves of a portion of the people whom they do not like; and there is no power in the state to stop them. The constitution, the laws, and the magistrates, are as if they were not, The sovereign will of the people—that is, their will for to-day, is not to be resisted. Such is the actual construction of the doctrine of majorities in the second state of the west. In Michigan a serious attempt is making to do away with the legal profession, by allowing every one, without distinction, to practise in the courts of law. Should this measure succeed, as it is very likely to do, the profession held by De Tocqueville to be our strongest barrier against unlimited democracy, will in that state be at an end. But the constitution of Iowa, the practice of Illinois, and the attempted innovation of Michigan, are introduced here, not as of themselves of great importance in this connection, but as showing the ultra-democratic, or anti-conservative spirit of the new region. Let no one suppose, such being the elements of western political power and tendencies, the relative strength can be shifted westward without producing a marked influence upon the action of the federal government. The doctrine of majorities, and of numerical force, is coming upon us with perpetually increasing power; and it were marvellous indeed if it were not to exert itself with vast effect in this its most ample and lofty sphere. The predominant views of that section which makes the government, will go far in determining its action. The power of the west-as yet only talked of—is to be felt, and felt, too, as the grasp of a giant. One most important result, for which we must be prepared, is a change in the disposal of the public lands. Great uneasiness has, at various times, been manifested, both in Congress, and elsewhere, upon this important subject. The United States, it is said, being out of debt, and having an abundant revenue from commerce, do not need those lands; while the states in which they are situated do need them. Much is said of the natural right of any one, who sees fit to occupy and improve wild land, and make it his own by cultivation. It is farther asserted that, if such land have any owner except the occupier, that owner is more properly the state than the general government. These doctrines find, at the west, willing advocates and ready listeners. No man is so popular as he who talks largely of state rights, and harangues against the encroachments and usurpations of the general government. Believing that the present mode of disposing of these lands, by the government, is best for the settler and for the states themselves, and only just to the people of the old states, we look with some apprehension on the greatly increased power which the next census will place in the hands of those interested to make the popular doctrines available. In a long letter from Iowa, published last year in the Ohio Statesman, it is stated that "claim-laws," (neighborhood agreements as to unsold government lands,) can be made effective, if necessary, "against Uncle Sam himself." The writer states a sad truth. Congress will, in all probability, be assailed in favor of admitting the validity of "claim-laws," by the strong argument of its inability to resist the enforcement of them. 'This side of the question has now a strong western advocacy in Congress; the census will back that advocacy by a strong western vote. With regard to our foreign relations, we do not perceive that western predominance is likely to produce any important changes, except of a commercial nature. European powers will have no inducement to disturb us. The possessions of England, on our continent, are too far north to be coveted, if we except some portions of Canada, and these portions are fast filling up with citizens. Future opposition to the English government, in that quarter, will probably proceed from within; nor will any important aid be obtained from our borders until the contest shall be far advanced. It is not at all likely that such will ever have influence to prevail with our government to move in their favor; nor that the British government will ever make a national matter of individual aid to Canadian insurgents. The intervention of the great lakes, and a cold northern region, are strong securities for peace in that direction. Elsewhere, the Texan experiment will be repeated, and successfully, whenever it suits our people, or any portion of them, strong enough to occupy, forcibly, a weak neighboring territory. Our government may countenance them, as it is charged with having done in the former case; or, it may make a proclamation against the overt acts of its citizens, as it has sometimes done on other occasions ; it never has been, and it probably never will be, successful against a strong sectional movement. The western influence will be in favor of an economical administration of the government. It will look favorably on neither a large army, nor a large navy. The former will be opposed as unnecessary, and the latter as sectional; and the west will prefer meeting danger when it is present, to the expense of guarding against that which may be only imaginary. Should the contingency actually arise, however, the west will meet it with the greatest liberality and heartiness. No part of the nation will be found better furnished with stout hands and eager hearts. It may be interesting to some of our readers to see exhibited, somewhat in detail, the calculations upon which we base our opinion of the predom- . inance of the west at the next census. Washington was made the seat of government before the acquisition of Louisiana, and before the existence of a state north of the Ohio river. At that period, three-fourths, at least, of the population, were east of the meridian of Washington. At the last census, not more than three-eighths were east of that meridian. This statement may appear surprising to some of our readers, but a comparison of the census of 1840 with the map, will convince them of its accuracy. By the next census, fully two-thirds of the population will be found west of the same meridian, at which period the Valley of the Mississippi, including the country of the lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico, will, for the first time, have a numerical preponderance. These three great divisions are properly ranged under the western head, in distinction from the eastern, or Atlantic states. They have peculiar facilities for intercommunication by |