Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-29
VOL. U.-NO. IS.

inns OIL And this loss we must expect to I'M
uefSo IN AL subsequent wars, unless ne provide
= post oi our own in the Pacific ocean. But it
Is not ships of war alone, and their prizes,wbic
we are 20 lose for want of such post Our
merchant vessels need the same accommodation
both IN peace and war. The numerous vessels
engaged IN the whale fishery. in the commerce
oi The Northwest coast with the Islands of the
racine ocean, and even with China and Japan.
Demand this accommodation; and not govein-
"ent upon earth, save that of these y. States
would hesitate to grant it. To gain post in
,he same sea. Russia has endeavcred To open a
maroon IN the frozen regions of KaU,tskatka and
among The sand banks OF OiSotsky. To gain
inns very Columbia, England is rssortinp TO eye-
rs trick of diplomacy TO the violation of treo;;as
ana TO the audaCity Of menacing war; vet the
congress Of the United States hesiiates DELAYS
10 take possession fits own, and endaneers IFS
Htie Oy negiectiDg 10 enforce il. In their blind
and contradictory opposition, some gentlemen
represent the mouth Of the olunbia rs unfit
Tor the purposes of navai station; hut the re-
pn;t OF Mr.. Provost, and the anxiety of the
hrlt!sn To obtain it, conclusive refutations
Oh SUCH objections. Mr.. Provost saws:
." ne hay Is spacious, contains several anchor
ing places IN Il efficient depth of water. and is
o. no means so difficult OF iugress as has been
! represented. Those enjoy ing The exc usive
commerce have probabl, cherished an itnt.ies-
slo2 So favourable tu its continuance craving
out OF lhe INCOMPLETE survey of Lieut.. rough
'on, made under the orders Of Vancouver in
/ 'S|. 1t Is tue that there is a bar extt ncing
across tie 'gr', 1T each * = mi, OF " hici are.
, al tines, appalling breaker; bul 1t is equally
tr"e uat Al oilers al the io,e est tides depth of
: t"cHtJ one feet Of water, the tide rising feet
/ I" ICE ia tWenty-four hours throughout pas
! sage, exempt trom them, OF nearly league in
. W'u1 E he 6l"S'on' carrying more guns han
me 'h'atio, encountered = change ofwfnd While
IA Ire CHANNEL, was compelled 10 let go the an
choE, and when again weighed, to tack AMI beat.
III order To rcaca the harbor vet found aereatter
aeFth' aRi met with no difficulty either then or
! on leaving the hay. The snrvey marked G..
may DC relied on for its accuracy. The bea-
rings uLtances, and soundings, were taken by
apt Hickey, who was kind enough to lend
nic!Self to the examinations, and TO furnish me
"''n this result 1t IS the more interesting as
IL shows that with the AID of buoys the access
10 'esSes OF almost any tonnage NAV be rem
oer2d secure. In addition 10 this. II is suscen
''oie OF entire defence, because ship, after
! passing The bar. 10 order to avoid the break-
! inS OI ire sea on one Of the banks il
ooh@ed TO bear up directly Tor the knoll forming
'he cape, at all tlines, to approach within ss,ort
u'''a'ce o. Us base, and Gosi frequently then TO
"hch'i. Ahus stall battery, erected on this
point m conjunction witt the surges on the op-
Poai'e SIDE, would 50 epdaneer the approach as
10 ue.er ar enemy, however hardy. from tie at
'e''iit. This outlet, tie only one between The
"1th and SD degrees OF north latitude, embra-
: ces The entire range of country from the ocean
TO the mountains, and its anterior unites he adj
vantage ot a water concentration througbout.
oS Means OF the many streams tributory 90 the
columbia, two of which oiscifb opue rr,osite
TO each other, within twenty five ieaenes of the
port are nayiga5ie, aid nearly CT equal nsayni-
! tuGe with this beautiful riyern
=. IN opening communication between the
'aiel OF the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean.
! HIS was the object of Ml. Jefferson il, sem
d!eg Lewis lark 10 explore the line OF the
missouri ana Columbia rivers. That great
man Always iht'2 upon beneiltng the human
race had conceived Ire yIard idea of a com
Inefciat intercourse With india upon this line
. oi communication. BGi Lewis and { Iarke were
e%P'0rers, without guides, and often fell ON the
most difhcuit and crcuitCus routes SIbse
4ucnt adventures have been more successful.
In passing tue Ridge Of the Rock, Mountains.
| Lewis and Clark wandered u or 1909 miles.
over ROCKS, Preclpces, and mountains in get
! ing rom the tails of Missouri 10 tie Forks of
Clarkeo River; points which are onlv $50 trile.
apart, and between which there Is a well beaten
/ Indian and Bufsloe road, over good ground. and
through country Astounding with grass, game.
and horses Ia fact there is 60 difficulty in any
part ut the route. The furs taken in the Rocky
Mountains will descend the oiumbia Ia the
Pacific ocean and thence cross the sea TO hina
/ The same vessel can bring return CARO- of
Last lu5ia goods, and can ascend the { oIun,bis
to the head Of tide water So miles The Great
Falls can be passed by q portage of 100 wards
on the left hank. and 1900 90 the right: bnt din
ring the periodical floods in the months of AnrI
May, aDd J6ne, they can be passed without anv
portage at ALL Vessels NAV be lifted over tie
fall by vast kock, neither made nor filled no
the houds Of man. MIR. Il. explained this nbe.
pomenon, one of tie most grand and striking in
the works Of nature. The Great Falls hsda
pitch OF thirty eight feet perpendicular. Imme.
dlateiy below, the river spread ont into basin
Of three miles diameter. The river issued from
this basin through channel narrower than ibat
by winch It entered. The consequences was
tlai ~ every annual food the basin filed nm.
the Teiiuent current rolled back upon the FaIl.
buried II, and presented four feet of smooth wa,
ter where, in the absence of the flood. there
We pitch OF thirty eight. The passage tbroupb
the mountains free from Difficulty. FIR
eight months 10 the year, snow aud sleiphs may
be relied upon. From the foot of the NOM.
talns issued tie Missouri river, nayipabIe. Win
ont The slightest obstruction 10 IFS junction With
the Mississippi, Two thousand five hundred and
seventy. i've measured miles. Mr. b. then adj
verted to two circumstances, which would EaciI-
itate the introduction of East India goods ppon
The line OF tue Columbia and Missouri rivers.
b'St the goods TO be introduced we're of LITTLE
weight, small bulk, and great value secondi,
me fiyer to be dscented was short; the one to no
deScended was long, And he EXPRESSED the rnoet
cenhdent belief, that, in one year after the Or
cupatIOn of Colombia, the rich productjsns nj