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and commercial importance of enlarging the Illinois and Michigan
Canal and improving the Illinois River is presented in the report of
Colonel Webster to the Secretary of War； and now transmitted to
Congress。 I respectfully ask attention to it。
To carry out the provisions of the act of Congress of the 15th of May
last； I have caused the Department of Agriculture of the United
States to be organized。
The Commissioner informs me that within the period of a few months
this department has established an extensive system of correspondence
and exchanges； both at home and abroad； which promises to effect
highly beneficial results in the development of a correct knowledge
of recent improvements in agriculture； in the introduction of new
products； and in the collection of the agricultural statistics of the
different States。
Also； that it will soon be prepared to distribute largely seeds；
cereals； plants； and cuttings； and has already published and
liberally diffused much valuable information in anticipation。 of a
more elaborate report； which will in due time be furnished； embracing
some valuable tests in chemical science now in progress in the
laboratory。
The creation of this department was for the more immediate benefit of
a large class of our most valuable citizens； and I trust that the
liberal basis upon which it has been organized will not only meet
your approbation； but that it will realize at no distant day all the
fondest anticipations of its most sanguine friends and become the
fruitful source of advantage to all our people。
On the 22d day of September last a proclamation was issued by the
Executive； a copy of which is herewith submitted。
In accordance with the purpose expressed in the second paragraph of
that paper； I now respectfully recall your attention to what may be
called 〃compensated emancipation。〃
A nation may be said to consist of its territory； its people； and its
laws。 The territory is the only part which is of certain durability。
〃One generation passeth away and another generation cometh； but the
earth abideth forever。〃 It is of the first importance to duly
consider and estimate this ever enduring part。 That portion of the
earth's surface which is owned and inhabited by the people of the
United States is well adapted to be the home of one national family；
and it is not well adapted for two or more。 Its vast extent and its
variety of climate and productions are of advantage in this age for
one people； whatever they might have been in former ages。 Steam；
telegraphs； and intelligence have brought these to be an advantageous
combination for one united people。
In the inaugural address I briefly pointed out the total inadequacy
of disunion as a remedy for the differences between the people of the
two sections。 I did so in language which I cannot improve； and
which； therefore； I beg to repeat：
〃One section of our country believes slavery is right and ought to be
extended； while the other believes it is wrong and ought not to be
extended。 This is the only substantial dispute。 The fugitive…slave
clause of the Constitution and the laws for the suppression of the
foreign slave trade are each as well enforced； perhaps； as any law
can ever be in a community where the moral Sense of the people
imperfectly supports the law itself。 The great body of the people
abide by the dry legal obligation in both cases； and a few break over
in each。 This； I think； cannot be perfectly cured； and it would be
worse in both cases after the separation of the sections than before。
The foreign slave trade； now imperfectly suppressed； would be
ultimately revived without restriction in one section； while fugitive
slaves； now only partially surrendered； would not be surrendered at
all by the other。
〃Physically speaking； we can not separate。 We can not remove our
respective sections from each other nor build an impassable wall
between them。 A husband and wife may be divorced and go out of the
presence and beyond the reach of each other； but the different parts
of our country cannot do this。 They cannot but remain face to face；
and intercourse； either amicable or hostile； must continue between
them。 Is it possible； then； to make that intercourse more
advantageous or more satisfactory after separation than before？ Can
aliens make treaties easier than friends can make laws？ Can treaties
be more faithfully enforced between aliens than laws can among
friends？ Suppose you go to war； you cannot fight always； and when；
after much loss on both sides and no gain on either； you cease
fighting； the identical old questions； as to terms of intercourse；
are again upon you。〃
There is no line； straight or crooked； suitable for a national
boundary upon which to divide。 Trace through； from east to west；
upon the line between the free and slave country； and we shall find a
little more than one third of its length are rivers； easy to be
crossed； and populated； or soon to be populated； thickly upon both
sides； while nearly all its remaining length are merely surveyors'
lines； over which people may walk back and forth without any
consciousness of their presence。 No part of this line can be made
any more difficult to pass by writing it down on paper or parchment
as a national boundary。 The fact of separation； if it comes； gives
up on the part of the seceding section the fugitive…slave clause
along with all other constitutional obligations upon the section
seceded from； while I should expect no treaty stipulation would ever
be made to take its place。
But there is another difficulty。 The great interior region bounded
east by the Alleghenies； north by the British dominions； west by the
Rocky Mountains； and south by the line along which the culture of
corn and cotton meets； and which includes part of Virginia； part of
Tennessee； all of Kentucky； Ohio； Indiana； Michigan； Wisconsin；
Illinois； Missouri； Kansas； Iowa； Minnesota； and the Territories of
Dakota； Nebraska； and part of Colorado； already has above 10；000；000
people； and will have 50；000；000 within fifty years if not prevented
by any political folly or mistake。 It contains more than one third
of the country owned by the United Statescertainly more than
1；000；000 square miles。 Once half as populous as Massachusetts
already is； it would have more than 75；000；000 people。 A glance at
the map shows that； territorially speaking； it is the great body of
the Republic。 The other parts are but marginal borders to it； the
magnificent region sloping west from the Rocky Mountains to the
Pacific being the deepest and also the richest in undeveloped
resources。 In the production of provisions； grains； grasses； and all
which proceed from them this great interior region is naturally one
of the most important in the world。 Ascertain from statistics the
small proportion of the region which has yet been brought into
cultivation； and also the large and