The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-09-25
THE GUaNo QUESTION.

The extracts from the London Times winch
we yesterday published, will give the reaoer
I. very good general idea Of English sentiment
~;,b regard to this question. The Eng lish
are more directly interested IN this matter 'han
INV other nation whatever. Peru IS indebted
many millions to English merchants, and the re-
venue derived from the guano trade was one Of
the principal means on which she depended to
nav off the debt. There can be little question
that interest has considerably tinged the color
ofpublc opinion in England.
1t has been decided, however, by an Ameri-
can Secretary Of State that all the world has
the right to take guano from the island of Los
Dos. An American fleet Of merchant vessels
has sailed to obtain il, under the promise OF
an American Secretary of the Navy that they
shall be protected. The Peruvian Govern
ment, in the mean time, is in state OF high
evaporation. Ii threatens destruction to every
American vessel which shall invade what they
declare to be their undoubted rights. They are
landing guns, building forts, and enllstng men.
They threaten, in the event oil war, to turn
loose a swarm of privateers upon our Callfcr-
MIA commerce. All this may be mere idle talk,
for the Spaniards, and their descendants, are
incorrigibe boosters. But it raises a very grave
question, and that is, is not the government
bound 10 protect the guano feet under the cir
cumstances2 We say il is, beyond all ques-
ton. These ships have gotten into this predi-
cament upon the faith of MIR. Webster's OPT
MON. and the orders of Mr.. Graham to Commo-
dore McAuley.
But is the guano trade worth contest with
Peru? Certainly it is, if any trade be worth
the cost Of war, though we do not regard
costs as any thing where honor is involved
According to the New York Express, there are
$4,000 tons of it consumed annually in the
United States. At $50 ton, this would give
$750,000. The Peruvian agents in New York
and Baltimore sell it at SAG the ton, thus rea-
lizing the sum of 100000 for themselves and
principals. But this is, comparatively, but a
small portion of benefit derived by the nation
from the guano trade. Its great advantage con-
sists in its power to regenerate our worn out
lands-to make four stalks of wheat grow
where one grew before-to make our vi hole
country blossom like the rose-and to create
in every neighborhood sources of wealth which
might render emigration to California, for the
sake of its gold. the merest of follies. The
importance then, of this trade, has not been
and cannot be, over-estimated. We know of
mono other more important with which this
country has any connection.
That Mr.. Webster was perfectly right in the
conclusions which he drew, we have not doubt.
ed for moment. 1t is the wild state of Lobos
its distance from the coast-the rare presence
of human beings within her prec:Hcts that has
made her what she is-a treasure worth bloody
war. But for the conditions mentioned, the
millions upon millions of birds that have been
frequenting it, probably from the foundation of
the world, would long since have Disappeared
Possession and settlement would have driven
them off at once, and would thus have put an
end forever to this source of continued wealth.
That the Spanish, or its successor, the Peru
Wan Government, ever occupied, Or offered to
occupy it, before tue immense treasures it CON
cealed were brought to light, we do not see
the slightest shadow of proof. That our
guano fleet may be protected, we hope and be"
lieve, for the government is committed, and can
not back out with honor