The men who labored for this era of improvement are practically unknown, with the exception of two or three who became prominent because of special ability or renown gained in other lines of activity, like Clay and Calhoun. It is not important here to attempt to catalogue them; the work they did by voting for the so-called American System was of critical importance; but, still greater, in so doing they were showing a braver, more optimistic, more American spirit and a high faith in the fundamental good judgment of the people. It was, without doubt, a dangerous extreme to approach, possible of wanton violation in unprincipled hands, and a precedent of very questionable tendencies. But it was of immeasurable importance that such moral support as just such acts as these afforded should have come at just this time; and, could we read the result aright, it would be seen, possibly, that much of our commercial success found its origin at this very moment, and came into being because a number of men at this crucial time gave an impetus to private adventure and private investment that was almost providential in its ultimate effect on our national life. Losing their individual identity in the common promotion of temporary measures of infinite national advantage, they will be remembered only in a vague, impersonal way as men who honored their country by trusting in its destiny and believing in the genius of its growth. INDEX "ADAMS," 295 Adams, Herbert B., 78 Adams, John Quincy, 244, 344 "Adventure Galley," 119 Alleghany Portage Railway, 251-255 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 304, 317, 318, 329 American Fur Company, 310, 311 _American Historical Review_, 320 "American System," 345-358 Ashburton Treaty, 330 Ashley, --, 311 Astor, John Jacob, 282-297, 343 Astoria, 282, 289-296 BACON, James H., 201 Baltimore, 36, 241-244, 248, 255 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 36, 77, 243-245, 248 Bartleson, Colonel, 331 Bartlett, --, 189 "Beautiful Spring" (Schönbrunn), 141 "Beaver," 294, 295 Bensons, The, in Oregon, 333 Bethlehem, Pa., 133, 134 Bliss, --, 189 Block, Captain, 296 Bonneville, --, 311 Boone, Daniel, 29, 30, 89-101 Boonesborough, Ky., 96, 101, 116 Bouquet, --, 284 Bourne, Prof. E. G., 320 Bradford County, Pa., 138 Bridger, James, 311, 335 Brown, George, 242 Buffalo-New Orleans Road, 352-354 Bullock, Leonard Henley, 90 Bunch of Grapes Tavern, Boston, 112 Burnett, Peter H., 331 Bushnell, --, 206 Butterfield, --, 336 CALHOUN, John C., 322, 344, 358 Calk, William, 96 Canals, 35, 36, 209-232, 239-245, 247, 249-254 Carroll, Charles, 77, 244 Carter's Valley, 99 Cass, --, 189 Catholic missionaries in Oregon, 314, 319, 326, 333 Catlin, George, 304 Chastellux, Chevalier de, 62 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 76, 215, 240, 243-245, 247-249, 352, 356 Clark, George Rogers, 100, 151-178, 261, 329