The United States Taking the Lead in Civilization--Manhood Suffrage and Freedom of Worship--Humane Criminal Laws--Progress the Genius of the Nation--A Patriotic Report--State Builders in the Northwest--Illinois and the Union--Immigration--British Jealousy--An English Farmer's Opinion of America--Commerce and Manufactures--England Tries to Prevent Skilled Artisans From Emigrating--The Beginning of Protection--The British Turn on their Friends the Algerians--General Jackson Invades Florida--Spain Sells Florida to the United States, 246 CHAPTER XXX. The Missouri Compromise--Erie Canal Opened--Political Parties and Great National Issues--President Jackson Crushes the United States Bank--South Carolina Pronounces the Tariff Law Void--Jackson's Energetic Action--A Compromise--Territory Reserved for the Indians--The Seminole War-- Osceola's Vengeance--His Capture and Death--The Black Hawk War--Abraham Lincoln a Volunteer--Texas War for Independence--Massacre of the Alamo --Mexican Defeat at San Jacinto--The Mexican President a Captive--Texas Admitted to the Union--Oregon--American Statesmen Blinded by the Hudson Bay Company--Marcus Whitman's Ride--Oregon Saved to the Union--The "Dorr War," 253 CHAPTER XXXI. War With Mexico--General Zachary Taylor Defeats the Mexicans--Buena Vista--Mexicans Four to One--"A Little More Grape, Captain Bragg!"-- Glorious American Victory--General Scott's Splendid Campaign--A Series of Victories--Cerro Gordo--Contreras--Churubusco--Molino del Rey--Chapultepec--Stars and Stripes Float in the City of Mexico-- Generous Treatment of the Vanquished--Peace--Cession of Vast Territory to the United States--The Gadsden Purchase, 264 CHAPTER XXXII. The Union in 1850--Comparative Population of Cities and Rural Districts --Agriculture the General Occupation--Commercial and Industrial Development--Growth of New York and Chicago--The Southern States-- Importance of the Cotton Crop--Why the South Was Sensitive to Anti-Slavery Agitation--Manufactures--Religion and Education--The Cloud on the Horizon, 272 THE SLAVERY CONFLICT. CHAPTER XXXIII.