_ of the
_increase_ of our national wealth. This debt, then, does not exhaust our
capital, but effects only a small diminution of the rate of
augmentation.
If we look at the causes of this vast increase of our national wealth,
they will be found mainly in the enormous extent of our fertile lands,
the vast emigration from Europe, and the constant addition of new States
to the Union. Thus, from 1850 to 1860, four new States were added to the
Union. These four States were almost an untrodden wilderness in 1850,
but in 1860 were rich and flourishing States, with a population of
638,965, and an aggregate wealth of $331,809,418. Within this decade,
from 1860 to 1870, at least six new States will be added to the Union.
This is evident from a reference to our present Territories, as follows:
Dacotah, 95,316,480 acres.
Nebraska, 48,636,800 "
Indian, 56,924,000 "
Idaho, 208,878,720 "
Washington, 44,796,160 "
Nevada, 52,184,960 "
Utah, 68,084,480 "
Arizona, 80,730,240 "
New Mexico, 77,568,640 "
Colorado, 66,880,000 "
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Total, 800,000,480 acres.
Here then are Territories with an aggregate area of 800,000,480 acres,
sufficient for twenty-six States of the size of New York. In all these
Territories but one, the precious metals are found in great abundance,
and the railroad to the Pacific, with numerous branches through this
vast region, together with the greatest advantages of our new Homestead
Bill of last year, is settling these Territories with unprecedented
rapidity.
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