January 7, 1850: “Song…Westward-Ho!”, by anon, published in the Milwaukee Daily Sentinel.
The Excelsior Society of Milwaukee celebrated migrants from the Empire State. Wisconsin—She has received from every clime the best elements of population; from New York the noblest features of her constitution and her laws.
The Stars are rolling on above,
The Earth rolls on below,
And Empires, like the Planets, move;—
Huzza, for Westward-Ho!
Around the world, in search for space,
The moving millions roam;
The rolling seas their resting place,
The Wilderness their home.
From Famine, Pestilence, and War,
From Tyranny, they fly;
Wisconsin, for their Guiding Star,
And Liberty their cry.
And here they stand, a faithful Band,
Sons of the “Empire State;”
Here met to pledge their Father land,
Wide-torn from it by Fate.
New-York!—Our bosoms swell with pride
Her glorious name to hear;
Whatever Land we love beside,
We’ll give to her—a tear.
Excelsior!—The motto gleams
Bright, in the rising sun;
Each new-born State shall catch its beams,
And press for glory on.
Excelsior!—The name we bear
Leads upwards to the skies;
It made our Fathers what they were,
And bids US, higher rise.
Roll on—roll on, ye Stars above,
Roll on—the Earth below;
Great Nature’s Order, is, to move—
Huzza, for Westward-ho!