Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-25

Sea are such as to compel every vessel that
trades 10 or from the mouths Of those'two
rivers-and from al parts of the Gulf and
the Caribbean Sea, whether freighted Cor
Europe. Africa, or India, or even Rio
Janeiro, or South America itself, to pass
the very offings of our Southern ports on
their way to market.
From the Gulf Of Mexico. all the great
commercial markets of the world are down
hill. A vessel bound from the Gulf 10
Europe, places herself in the Gulf'Stream,
and drifts along with ii, at The rate, for
part ofthc way, of SO or 100 miles a tiay.
Ifher destination be Rio, India, or Cali
fornia, her course is the same as far North
as the Island Of BERMUDA
And ~tcnihere shall be established a
commercial thoroughfare across the 18TH
mus, the trade winds Of the Pacific, will
place China, India. New Holland, and al
the Islands ofthat Ocean, down-hill also,
from this Sea Of ours. In that case, the
whole Of Europe must pass by our very
doors onthe grcdt highways TO the mar
kets, both ofthe East and West Indies.
This Mesopotamian Sea 'is'the summit
level OF navigation. The rivers run into it
ard carry the surplus products Of their
valleys and then the currents of the sea
. and the winds are SO arranged by nature
that they waft'therh dow'n-hilI AMI down
strcamto The great markets Of the world
1t seems startling, but it is true, that the
winds and currents Of the Sea, are such,
that the shores Of the Southern States. Of
Florida and the Cu.olinas, are onthe way
side of vessels bound from the Amazon,
the Oronoco, and the Maglalena to Rio
de Janeiro, as well as to Europe The
way out to the high Seas, fiom ihcm and
from the Mississippi is, practically one and
the same.
Norfolk and Charleston may be called
half way houses, from the Amazon, and
the Gulf to New York, England, Europe,
and all the ports of Africa, South Amer
lea, India and around'Cape Horn.
Moreover, who ever heard of Brazilian
searhen or the mariners ofPeru." In or
der tic become scamen, people must use
the sea. TO use it, familiarity with it
from 'boyhood. is prerequisite, and pre-
4 liminary TO that is a deeply articulated
shore line, a Sea front richly indcn,ed
with bays, guifs. harbors, ,promontories,
Nc, thus bringing the inhabitants and the
Sea IN close proximity to each other.
Now, lot any one cothpare the stiff, rig
id shore line of the Southern Continents.
and their almost Isleless coasts, with the
finely articulatcd and beautifully contras-
| ted shore line of the Northern Hemis-
Phcre. and he will perceive that nature has
decreed that the seat of Maritime power,
strength ana greatness shall be in the
Nosthern,not in'the Southern Hemisphere.
Another requisite TO constitute a seafar-
ing continuity 'isa niggardIy soil, or 9th
or causes Of a scanty livelihood to the la
boring man. If the Mississippi valley
does not produce seamen enough for its
own commerce, much less wi, that of the
Amazon with its softer climates and more
benignant soils.
Therefore, whatever, be the extent of;
the business which the Amazon may have
to offer to commerce, the Carrying of it
must be done t,y sailors, from our own side
of the Equator. Why may they not.bc Vir-
gina or Carolina Sailors! These States
have along the Sea shore, pine barrcns poor
enough TO drive men, wotnon and children
all to sea, for living.
Thewinds for us,in the hinazoman trade
are free 10 go and free to come, .und we
of the Atlantic coet are the only people
for whomthey are favorable both ways
The voyage from the Capcs of Virginia
'crf from Charleston to the Amazon is the
most certain as 10 length of time, that is TO
be found between any two ports in the
Atlantic ocean.
One otthe inducements therefore, which
fhe South has 10 establish commercial re-
lations and business lies in that direction.
is that of competing in her own vessels
and with her own sailors for the carrying
trade Of that magnificent water shed.
The proposition therefore is, to establish
line of Steamers from Norfolk, Charles /
ton or Savannah TO the mouth Of rhe ANA 1
zon. !
Para is the city at its mouth. 1t has
nosv population Is or 10000. There
is line Of Steamers already in operation
from Rio to Para
From Savannah to Para, the distance
is about $500 miles; from Para to Rio
2leo The Baltic" would perform the
passage from Rio to the United States, or
from the United States to Rio in 10 DAYS. |
The time occupied now ihgoing and com
ing by sailing vessels is 90 days.
The effect of such communication
would be to turn the whole current of cor.
rcspondence and travel Of the Atlantic |
Coast Of South America through Norfolk
or the North American terminus of the |
line. No European nation could compete
with us for it, for their distance from Para
is double ours.
Our present CONNER ce with Brazil and
Rio de la Plata is more valuable than our
commerce with any of the countries of
Europe except Great Britain and France.
Para, at this tine, affords foreign COM
merce enough to give freight to feet of