When they allowed their judgment to become so warped by their dissatisfaction with the traits inevitably characteristic of the earlier stages of frontier development that they became opposed to all extension of the frontier; when they allowed their liking for the well-ordered society of their own districts to degenerate into indifference to or dislike of the growth of the United States towards continental greatness; then they themselves sank into the position of men who in cold selfishness sought to mar the magnificent destiny of their own people.
Blindness of the New Englanders as Regards the West.
In the northeastern States, and in New England especially, this feeling showed itself for two generations after the close of the Revolutionary War.

On the whole the New Englanders have exerted a more profound and wholesome influence upon the development of our common country than has ever been exerted by any other equally numerous body of our people.

They have led the nation in the path of civil liberty and sound governmental administration.

But too often they have viewed the nation's growth and greatness from a narrow and provincial standpoint, and have grudgingly acquiesced in, rather than led the march towards, continental supremacy.
In shaping the nation's policy for the future their sense of historic perspective seemed imperfect.

They could not see the all-importance of the valley of the Ohio, or of the valley of the Columbia, to the Republic of the years to come.