The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-25

produce TO New York and maskst. We therefore
do nos csrsto see the 81. Lawrence opened.
In South America il is right which Brazil has
asserted on the La Plata, even to the "ssitiSn
S0tso," .ben she was one Of the upper couutries
The United States, therefore, are committed to
this principle; and B-azu 10 committed to IL.
We have commended for it here on the north side
ofthe Trop'c Of Cancer; Brazil has fought for it
under Capricorn; and 80 must both stand up for il
together under the Equator >
But IN the case with on this side of the line,
there were never more toan two nations concerned
IN the navigate of single water course. Here
In South America there are dozen; and this makes
the care 80 much the stronger in favor Of liberal
policy on all sides with regard to this question.
In case of the Rio do Ia Plata, the up countries
which Rosas cut OF from the we're the Banda
Oriental Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, not to
ton Uruguay, Corrientes. Entire Rios, Santa Fe,
and some half dozen other States which were in
such an anomalous condition that one knew not
whether to class them rs nations anarchies.
In case OF the Amazon there are ave Different re-
publics in the uu-country, with Brazil at the mouth
OF the river; not of these five has the means or
the power to force her way down, and Brazil will
rot let them come down peacably Tho Amazon,
therefore, presents question for which, rs there is
no r'ver-basiD equal to It, there is no precedent.
We have the right from Peru to navigate her
tributaries. We can get to them Bolivia is talk
ing OF making hers IS Tree to all rs the sea Equs
DER 10 inclined to do the same; and both New
Grenada ard Venezuela will no doubt follow suit
the moment they are invited to do SO.
We have heard Of the question before IS to " free
goods and free bottoms But here the question is
whether Stree ports make free rivers"
Suppose the five Spanish American republics
should all proclaim ole or more Of their river teWns
upon the Amazon free ports to the commerce of the
world; and suppose that Brazil, instead Of o wing
two thousand miles or more Of this river after it
passes the borders of these republics, owned only
two miles: would any one pretend that Brazil in
such case, would have the right to control the
navigation of the whole river its valley bee ause
its mouth happened to pass through two miles Of
her territory, just before entering the seat
The doctrine that comedies to any one nation the
arbitrary right TO shut out other nations from the
highway of the world, is monatrous.
The arbitrary right even to shut one Of the citi-
zeDs OF this nation from the public highways is not
possessed by any of our governors Aud if his
neisbboFs must allow him free passage throus their
own lands to the common market way. with no Y
much more force does this humane principle OF right
atpy TO Dations and their right to follow throug b
nejghboriDg territory, the great thoroughfares
which Dature has constructed TO lead from the ia
terror of the land out upon the broad ocean, the
great highway of the world?
Bra I'll has more right, in consequence of her
two tho usaI d miles of Amazon between these peo-
pie AND the sea- TO shut them up and out from the
highways OF commerce, than che would in the sup
pesed case OF two miles.
TIE policy Of the United States is the "polcy of
commerce and we do not wish to be on any terms
with Brazil but those Of pes,e and good will We
buy now half of all her Coffee ard coffee Is her
great staple. She is good customer Of ours too,
and We value highly our present friendly relations
with her; but highly as we value them, we value
more the everlasting principles Of right
We want nothing exclusive up the Amazon; but
We are nearer TO the Amazon, or rather 10 tho
mouth Of it, than ally other nation, not even ex-
ctp,pg Brazil herself. if we count the distance in
time, and measure Rio dc Janeiro, and from Ne Y
York or New Orleans as the centres of the two
this miserable policy by nch Brazil has kept shut
up, al is continuing to keep shut up, from I2au's
from christian, civilized, enlightened m ans-use
the fair est portion Of GODS earth, will be considered
by the American people as a nuisance. not to say
an outrage
China wants to trade with us. but japan stands
by the way sde and shuts herself and out of the
world She is not in the fellow hip of nations, and
we send fleet there to remind her shat she cannot
be in the world and live out of it at one and the
same time. God has put the land she occupies on
this earth, and she cannot take it away by her
policy.
trade up and down the Amazon; but Brazil, worse
than Japan on the wayside, stands right in the
doorway, and says, "Nay. will neither use the
Amazon myself nor permit others to use it That
great up country shall remain o social and COM
mercial blank .
l. it the policy OF the great commercial nasions
to permit that? No, it is no moro their policy than
state of wars and not of peace, is their policy.
In fine, the people Of this country caunot look
with indifference st the policy Brazil has pursued,
and seems disposed 10 continue to pursue, with re-
gaJu 10 tne AmDZOn
She and her rulers have had it for three hundred
yesr and the first practical step towards sub living
it and developing its has yet to be TAKEN
Upcer these circumstances. it appears to me thas
Brazil, if she persist in her dog in-the manger
policy ~ith regard to the Amazon aud the countries
draiped by it. runs some risk of getting up dis
cussion among the enlightened and commercial ma
tons, US to what her rights are to the Amazon, and
whether they are not In danger of being forfeited
by non usage
This ceItsinly is the question Of the day. The
problem Of the age is that of the free navigation Of
the ADszop. ard the settlement Of the Atlantic
slopes of South America.
1t is to stand out in after times and among all the
great things which this ger Grafton has already a.
complisbed, as the achievement in its way Of the
nineteenth century Blu; 1t is not to be worked out
by the hand Of violence, the strong of pc YER
1t is for science, with its lights diplomacy with its
rlil-comnerce, with it's iDfuepcss--and peace,
with its blessings. to bring about such great result
as would be the free navie alton of the Amazon
the setten and cultivation Of the great Atlantic
slopes Of South America.
With many thanks, Mr., Editor, for lending 50
many columns of your valuable journal to me aud
this subject, conclude. Very truly, yours
INCA