Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-14

COI1TleTCIdI .
This spot then began exhibit the wonders of which
commerce is capable. From trading station 1t be-
came opulent city, the capital OF great empire,
the seat of science and the arts, the rival of Rome
Rome would bear no rival. One Of the most power
fu of the emperors (Aurelian) carried the arms OF
the empire against the "ci!y Of commerce." Palmyra
subdued its trade diverted 10 other channels
and the ruins of temples arrest the admiration of the
traveller the SPOT which once the seat OF so
much power and magnifcence. (Volney)
After the conquest of Egypt by the hlahomcdans,
the people of the Roman empire was shut out from
the port of Alexandria. This gave rise TO the Open
ing of new channel for the India trade. Constan-
tnOple became its emporium. This route lay through
the Black Sea to the mouth of the river Phasis; up
that river and by land carriage of five days to the
river Cyrus, down if TO the Caspian across this
sea $50 miles, TO the mouth of the river Oxus; up
that river 900 miles, to the city of Marcanda, now
Samarcand; thence across the mountains 10 the coun-
tries upon the river Indus, eastward by journey
of eighty hundred days, with the Bacrain camel,
through desert countries and wandering nations which
considered the merchant their prey to the western
provinces of the Chinese empire (Piny the elder
This route, though long and perilOus, made Consan-
nope the emporium of the India trade for all Christ
nations for several centuries after the conquest of
Egypt by the Mahomedans; and made 1t the seat OF
wealth and power for many ages after the downfall OF
the Roman empire.
~. Modern Channels- Constantinope continued
to be the emporium Of the India trade TIL the 10Th
century. The Veneiians and Genoese engaged In II.
They established trading houses in Constantinope,
and rose to power and pre-emnence from the profits
of this trade Their fleets commanded the seas, at a
time when fleets were yet unknown to the rest OF
Europe and the citizens of these republics displayed
magniiicence in their living which surpassed the
state of the greatest monarchs beyond the Alps (Rob
erlson) From Venice and Genoa the commerce of
Asia spread into the north of Europe. Bruges and
Antwerp became its ennPorid, and retain to this day
evident signs of the wealth and splendor to which
they attained. This the longest and most peril
Gus route which the commerce of India has been
conducted Ii is truly astonishing 10 think OF II.
From Bruges and Antwerp, to Genoa and Venice
thence TO Constantinople; across the Black sea (;
across the Caspian up the river Oxus to Samar-
cand, the limit of Alexanders march towards the
northeast of Asia and at Samarcand it seemed that
the journey was only beginning, there commenced
the voyage overland with the Bactrian camel, through
desert regions and nations of robbers TO be continued
from eighty to hundred days to arrive in the west
ern provinces of China, where the most valuable
productions of the east were then found Yet so great
were the profits Of the trade that under all these
disadvantages the cities of Consantinope, of Venice
and Genoa Of Bruges and Antwerp, became the seats
of learning and refinement, Of luxury and magnifi-
ccnce Of maritime and military power, when all other
parts of Europe sunk In poverty and ignorance,
darkness and barbarism.
Towards the end of the fifteenth Gentry, the Cape
of Good Hope was doubled A new route vas then
opened into India. The Portuguese, who made this
discovery, became the masters Of the India trade,
destroyed the fleets Of the Turks and Venitians which
were launched upon the Red sea TO keep. open the
ancient channel through Egypt, und established a
commercial empire in India. Portugal then became
of the most powerful nations by and land,
and Lisbon the centre Of European wealth and COM
merce.
l. II r
by Cape Horn has since continued TO be the route of
India.
The Portuguese did not long retain their monopo-
lies. The Dutch became their competitors, and soon
after, their successors, in the India trade. Portugal
declined to its original insignifcance. Holland rose
to wealth and power by and land, and Amsterdam
became the princi pal mart of Europe.
The English followed the Dutch, and have sur
passed all their predecessors in the successful pro-
secution of the India trade. A company of their
merchants have erected empire In India, main
tanned fleets and armies, subjugated vast empires,
dethroned powerful monarchs, disposed of kingdoms
and princpalties other merchants dispose of bales
of merchandise and with the riches thence derived,
England IA spot no larger than one of Sates) has
been able to contend, snglehanded, against the COM
bined powers of Europe, 10 triumph over them, and
to impress her policy, less, upon every quar-
ter of the globe.
One other route among the modern channels of
India commerce remains to be mentioned. 1t is the
line followed by the Russians from the city of Mos
COW to the frontiers of China. By this route the
Russians carry on trade with China worth three
or four millions of dollars per annum, in which the
productions of the respective countries are bartered
against each other almost the only instance of trade
by barter which any nation has carried on with the
people of the east but sufficient TO show that there
articles for which the Chinese will barter the rich
productions of their country. This route is often
10 IF civ
thousand miles in length; sometimes by the river
Wolga, the Caspian sea aid the river Oxus, and
thence land by the ancient route from Constan
tinople which increases the distance, but relieves in
degree the labor of the voyage, by substituting
for part of the way, water for land carriage.
Servilely following the Europeans in almost every
thing the people of the United States also follow
them in their route to India. They quit Asia, as it
were, leave it behind them to sail thirty thousand
miles, doubling formidable cape, and Drawing the
dangers of the empestuous sea, to arrive in country
which is only few days sail from their conti-
nent. They do this because the people of Europe,
who can do no better, have done before them. In
the meantime the efforts Of the English discover
northwest passage TO ASIA should convince them that
even the Europeans would not submit to circumnav-
gate the globe in their voyage to India if a western
route could be found through around the northern
parts of the American continent Still with all the
dangers added the length of the voyage, the East
India trade Is the richest vein OF American commerce,
and soonest leads to the most splendid fortunes con-
vncing proof of what it would be, if a was
opened, exclusively American, Short safe, cheap and
direct and substituting trade in barter for the pres
ent ruinous drain of gold and silver.
V. Nec route proposed for the people Of the United
States by the Columbia and Missouri riuers.-Colum-
bus the first who conceived the idea of going west
to arrive at the East Indies. His discovery of Ame-
RIGA was owing to that idea. He was in search of a
western passage the of Asia, when he
arrested by the unexpected intervention of the
American continent Nor had he any idea that he