ur borders from all lands the millions who have long
groaned under despotic governments, and who now turn to this broad
territory of freedom as the avenue of hope, the Utopia of the nations.

The most discerning minds have been intuitively impressed with the idea
of the future greatness and power of this government. In view of the
grand results developed and developing, the discovery of America by
Columbus, not four hundred years ago, is set down as the greatest event
of all secular history. The progress of empire to this land was long ago
expected.

Sir Thomas Brown, in 1682, predicted the growth of a power here, which
would rival the European kingdoms in strength and prowess.

In Burnaby's Travels through the middle settlements of North America, in
1759 and 1760, published in 1775, is expressed this sentiment:--

"An idea, strange as it is visionary, has entered into the minds of
the generality of mankind, that empire is traveling westward; and
every one is looking forward with eager and impatient expectation
to that destined moment when America is to give the law to the rest
of the world."

John Adams, Oct. 12, 1775, wrote:---

"Soon after the Reformation, a few people came over into this New
World for conscience' sake. Perhaps this apparently trivial
incident may transfer the great seat of empire to America."

On the day after the Declaration of Independence, he wrote:--

"Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated
in America, and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided
among men."

In 1776, Galiani, a Neapolitan, predicted the gradual decay of European
institutions, to renew themselves in America. In 1778, in reference to
the question as to which was to be the ruling power in the world, Europe
or America, he said:--

"I will wager in favor of America."

Adam Smith of Scotland, in 1776, predicted the transfer of empire to
America.

Governor Pownal, an English statesman, in 1780, while our Revolution was
in progress, predicted that this country would become independent, and
that a civilizing activity beyond what Europe could ever know, would
animate it; and that its commercial and naval power would be found in
every quarter of the globe. Again he said:--

"North America has advanced, and is every day advancing, to growth
of state, with a steady and continually accelerating motion, of
which ther