The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-19

livion has thrown her darkest mantle. II
We we're thus led into a ruined city of West
ern Asia, our minds would insanity be ex-
cited 10 inquire, by whom were these now
Wondering structures formed lnscrip-
lions and the stony forms before us would
soon answer our queries with plausibiliry,
ifDot with actual truth. But in Central
America we need not ask ,cho rere the build
ders ?" There has not yet arisen Twill
there ever arise y CHAMPoLLIoN to read
the hieroglyphics so admirably reproduced
by Messrs, STEPHENS and CATAERwooD 7
The names are past, the incidents are lost.
and. like the lost pages of an ancient classic,
human reason is powerless 10 restore them.
But if there is little of probability of our
ever recovering the lost pages Of this part
of human history, it is only necessary TO
read chapter XVII. vol. II. 10 be convinced
that Mr. STEPHENS has nationally dissipa!ed
much of error on the subject of American
ruins;
'.Since their discovery" says this travel
le-, "a dark cloud has been thrown over
them in two particulars. The first is in
regard 10 the immense difficulty and dam
ger, labor and expense Of visiting and OK
ploring them. 1t has been my object TO
clear away this cloud. 1t will appear from
these pages that the accounts have been
exaggerated, and, as regards Palenque and
Uxmal at least, the only places which have
been brough, before the public at all. there
is neither difficulty in reaching nor danger
10 exploring them.
"The second is in regard 10 the age of
the buildings; bit here the cloud is darker
and not so easily dispeed."
Mr.. STEPHENS is evidently an ardent,
persevering, and intelligent traveller, but,
happily for the cause Of rational informa-
ton, no lheorist who had first come TO the
conclusion that the American remains and
must of necessity have origin
ated from the continents of the Old World,
and then distorted his facts 10 sustain his
theory. On the contrary, he has in few
paragraphs demolished the theories Of 9TH
ers, and remarks ''ihat much learning and
research have been expended upon insuffic-
lent or incorrect data" He then goes on
10 give his opinion that tho American arch.
i,ecture, pictorial decoration, aid hierogly-
phics have no resemblance 10 what is known
of similar remains in Africa or Asia, and
completes his observations with the follow
ing conclusion:
.sThere is, then, no resemblance in these
remains to those of the Egyptians; and.
failing here. we look elsewhere in vain
They are different from the works Of any
known people, of new order. and entirely
and absolutely anomalous: they stand
lone.
"a invite TO this subject the SPECIAL atten-
ton of those familiar with the arts of other
count les for, unless am wrong, we have
a conclusion far more interesting and won
derful than that Of connecting the builders
of these cities with the Egyptians or any O.
Their people. 1t is the spectacle af people
skilled in architecture, sculpture; and draw
ing, and, beyond doubt, other more perisha-
BILE arts, and possessing the cultivation and
refinement attendant upon these, not deriv>
cd from the Old World. but originating
and growing up here, without models or
masters, having distinct, separate, Inde-
peudent existence; like the plants and fruits
Of the soil, indigenous.
The writer of this notice has himself ex-
amined an immense number of those re-
mains, the ereclions of an extinct and un-
known people, who, at some fargone age,
inhabited the great region between the
Canadian sea and Gulf af Mexico, ahd
comparing the representations il STEPHENS
Central America with his own recolcctions,
is confirmed in long formed opin on, that
the works scattered fro T Lake Erie 10 Nj
carsgue were performed by tie same peo-
pic. The works IN point of mass or skill
do not differ more than do from each Other
the remains of Europe, Asia, and Africa
The pictorial representations Of the human
face given by Messrs. Stephsns and Gather.
GOOD, prove 10 full conviction that the Peo.
pie, al whatever age they existed, were o.
that race we call Indian.
81 am inclined TO think" says Mr.. Sieph.
ems, "that there are not sufficient grounds
for the beliefoi the great Antiquity that has
been ascribed TO these ruins; that they are
not the works of a people who have passed
away, and whose history has become un'
known; but opposed as is my idea 10 all pre-
vious speculations, that they were construct
ed by the races who occupied the country al
the time ofthe ivasion by the Spaniards, or
of some not very distant progenitors."
The author supports these very ratIona
opinions by the condition of the remains
at this time, the rank luxuriance OF the soil
the excessive tropical rains, and the still
sound though exposed wooden beams al
Uxmal. These conclusions have a singu
lar coincidence with. an opinion expressed
in my hearing by the late William Macfurt
the geologist.
"Not one remain of statuary or architec
tdrc," said Mr., Malcure, "could remain II
existence in the American climate for suci
length of time as those Of Egypt and otheI
Eastern countries"