Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-03
ORIENTAL COMMERCE, GEOGRAPHY, &c.

A Paper, Geographical, Political, and Commercial,
on the Independent Oriental Nations, &c., pre-
pared at the instance of the Department of State,
is now before the public in pamphlet form, sixty
three pages octave, from the pen of AARON H.
PALMER.
Ihe reading Of this memoir must sustain the truth Of an
observation which have long since made that the science Of
geography was in many most essential respects extremely
deficient may be repeated, that in maritime geography
or photography the deficiency most apparent But light
is rising and spreading the earh and if its
sion, the United States has splendid part act in the
heightened and glorious day opening modern nations
What Mr.. Palmer calls oriental nations" be un-
derstood relating Europe Western Asia, and Africa
but they occidental regards America. FIVE glance
chart of the earth, with America in the middle space,
this giant truth becomes demonstrabe and suggests another
truth that chart Of the earth published in America ought
to be constructed any other pan By Of such chart
the whole extent of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans with their
nnumerbe seacoas opens to the eye and the idea has
only be suggested give conviction that the Of North
America occupied by the United States destined become
the enrepo of the EARTH To the people who and
in all time nhab that zone, the nations
the side of Europe, ASIA and Africa may be
peated and be oriental whilst the immense
gons of Eastern Asia and oceanica mus, be occidental
The above remarks theoretical they, the
ary gain importance from the progressive advance Of popu
laton, political power, and artificial Of land tanspor
taon on North America. due attention the context Of
history will show that al improvement is development and
that the present the offspring Of the past Such analysis
wlead another conclusion; that is that leading prn
ce has existed and served the Of human
action in every great revolution. The the great
theatre the world, with very few exceptions,
that they are resis,by npeled by principle of
power according to our accredited chronology, Solomon
began his reign LOIS years before the Christian era
years past, The institutes Of Moses promulgated up
wards of four centuries anterior the reign Of Solomon
But ages anterior the residence Of the family of Israel
Egyp; that country sustained civilized agrculu-
raj manufacturing, and commercial people. From every ray
Of light afforded by history, Southeastern Ass and that vast
nsuar group Of the Pacific adjacent that continent
was the eagerly sought for of wealth. in the ages pre-
cedng and following that Of the Pharaohs has been
all intermediate time, and remains be to the year $780,
10 reach that fountain, and crafty the thirst for wealth.
has not only stimulated individual exerion but has and
tnues to have, and we may say safely have
powerful influence national policy amongst the Atlantic
nations The expression may excite some momen,ary sur
prise but no rational doubt Of its correctness when we say
that the general theory "6y ehat means 10 reach India Jv
nec and aeie ros Influences and modifes nation
al policy in the United States Of North America at this in
san steadily and rressby, If so than has
ever done elsewhere in any age place.
The few but rich pages of Mr.. Palmers memorial have
shown the immensy Of the theatre II not one word too
much to soy that woed laid Open whole nations