Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-14
Col. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Great North
American Route TO India.

COMMERCE WITH ASIA.-Sought after Dy all nallons-
Ancient channels of this commercials modern
channels-new route proposed for the people Of the
United States by the Columbia and Missouri rivers
Practcability Of this route-Preference due to IT,
in shortness of distance; in safety; in cheapness
of transportation; in substituting an exchange Of
commodities for trade in gold and slver-Other
advantages, In rendering the AsiatIc commerce OF
the republic independent Of Europe; IN giving to
the republic the command of the north Pacific ocean
in giving TO the republic the monopoly OF the East
India trade-Efect Of this monopoly on the wealth
and power of the republic-On the wealth aud
power Of England; the wealth and power
Of Russia cG the religious and political condition
of the people Of Asia-Efect of the military expe-
dtion 10 the upper Missouri In laying open the
new route-Efect Of an American fur company in
turning the East India trade into the new route
Project of a fur company with a view TO that OBJ
ject-Idea of the value and present condition OF the
fur trade in North America, carried on by the
English by the Russians, by the Americans
Certain establishment of the route Immediately,
with the aid of the American government. eventually
by the force of circumstances and the natural pro-
gress of events.
l. COMMERCE WITH AsrA.-Spices, aromatics, pre-
cious stones, porcelans, silks and tea the articles
of Asiatic Silver and gold the articles
with which they are purchased. From the earliest
ages Of the world the precious metals have flowed
into Asia and this drain, which has been inccssant
for several thousand years, has become still more
enormous in latter times. TIE Americans alone have
carried twelve millions to eastern Asia within the
last year, eight millions of which carried to
Canton and exchanged for tea, silk, porcelain and
cottons. This course of trade has occasIoned pro-
dgious accumulation of the precious metals in eastern
Asia for what is carried there remains there, there
being nothing in the commercial political relations
of the countries to create counter current, and bring
it back into Europe America. To stop this drain
aid substitute for it trade in barter would be an
object of the first interest with any country especially
c. L. Io,o
drain SO incessant and enormous. TO go further,
10 create change which would draw back part OF
the gold and silver which has accumulated in Asia,
would be commercial operation which no nation has
yet accomplished, and which would open vein Of
unrivalled richness Both of these operations are
practicable, not by the Europeans who have nothing
which they substitute for silver; or by the Ameri-
while they follow the track of the people of
Europe. Yet there are articles for which the Asatics
would not only give the rich productions Of their
country but freely exchange their gold and silver, If
brought into their market by any nation. These
articles FURs and BREAD Of the former Europe
has to send of the latter but little and if she
had any to spare her geographical position, the vast
distance which interyenes, would prevent its exporta
ton. America on the contrary abounds in both these
articles the first has been blindly abandoned to our
enemies; the second has not been carried to Asia
because the Americans serviely follow the track of
the Europeans, and are still remote than they
from the seat of commerce. The American navigator
sails to the east raverses 900 miles of sea- doubles
stormy and tempestuous cape, in order to arrive in
what called the East Indies. In the meantime what
the EAST Indies to the ancients are the WEST
Indies TO the Americans; for they lie to the west of
us, and but few days sail from our own coast The
western shore of North America and the eastern shore
of Asia, front each other the mild and tranquil waves
OF the Pacific ocean alone intervene in the broadcast
part the Atlantic, and in the narrowest
ut Behring's straits, only thirty miles apart. Instead
0f UOlnU IN thQ ct IN
to the west 10 arrive in Asia and taking that route
they would Immediately be able TO carry furs and
bread into the markets of ASIA the first of which is
now plaged from them by Engishmcn and Russians,
the latter would have to be raised from the fertile
banks of the Columbia river.
III. Sought after by all Nations. = During thirty
centuries the nations of the earth have ocked to Asia
III search of its rich commerce. Sacred and prOfane
history exhibit the picture, of merchants loaded
with gold and silver, trayersng the deserts on cames,
or the trackess sea in ships, in search of the rich
productions in the east. From the time of the PhG
nlcans to the English of the present day, the coun
tries of eastern Asia have been the chief theatres of
commercial enterprise; and the nation which shared
this commerce in the highest Degree has acquired in
all ages the first rank in the arts, the sciences, in
national power and individual wealth. And such will
probably be the the end Of the world. Nature
has made but one Asia, but country Astounding
with the rich productions which found in the East
Indies and while mankind continue to love spices
and aromatics, precious stones, porcelans, fine cot
TONS silks and teas the trade with Asia must continue
to be sought after the brightest jewel in the dadem
of commerce.
Ill. Ancient Channels Of this Commerce. : These
may be traced by the ruins of the great cities which
grew up with the possession of this trade and persisted
with its loss.
Tyre, Queen of cities" was its first emporium.
The commerce of the east centred there before the
captivity of the Jews in Babylon, upwards of six
hundred years before the coming of Christ, (RoRin)
She traded to Arabia, Persia, and India. Her route
was by the Mediterranean to the coast of
Egypt, over land to the Red Sea by the Isthmus
of Suez, and thence east, down the Red sea, by
Coasting voyages to the countries about the gulf of
Persia and mouths of the river Indus. The pos
session of this commerce made Tyre the richest
and the proudest city in the universe gave her the
command Of the seas; niade her trG6ckers the homo
rabies Of the EARTH" (Isaidh) and enabled her
chants to dispute with Kings in the splendor of their
living and the vastness of their expenses Nebuchad
nezzar King of Babylon, conquered Tyre, and RACED
il TO its foundations but he did found rival city,
and the continuance of the India trade Immediately
restored the Queen of the cities' all her former
degree of power and pre-eminence. Alexander con-
quercd her again, founded rival city The coast Of
Egypt, and Tyre became '' a place for fishermen to
dry their nets" (E,ekiel)
The Jews in the time Of David and Solomon sue
ceeded to the India trade. Their route the
which the Phenicians followed from Tyre, and their
country became the theatre of wealth. and their Kings
the arbiters of the surrounding nations.
In the reign of Darius Hystapes, King of Persia,
a new route was opened with India. 1t lay from the
borders of Persia through the Caspian sea, up the
river 0xus to the mountains which divide it from the
river Indus, across those mountains with the aid of
the Bactrian camel, and thence down the river Indus
to the countries about its MOUTH then the chief seat of
the India trade, and the limit Of the ancients in their