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

IoJNcLUsIos


shse are 70 be developed, and the measures and
eteps which the policy OF commerce suggests for
wsurng 10 the world the Aee navigation Of the
Amazon.
The triumpbs sf commerce are peaceful; its
achievements are in the spreading of civilirs-
tisI in the march Of civil aud religious freedom,
and In the dispsDsatiOn Of thrift, prosperity. and
wealth. among nations as we'll Is to individuals.
From the statements which have already made,
al nust admit that the valley of the Amazon is not
only great country, but it is glorious wilderness
and waste which, under the improvement and
progress Of the age, would soon be made to " bios
sem a the rose We have, therefore, but to let
Ieose upon ii the engines of commerce-the steamer,
the ensraDs, the printing press, the axe, and the
pleush-ard it will teen with life.
There is line of steamers from England TO Rio.
TIE French getting up line, md the stock has
been taken in it, from MarseiIles to Rio. Brazil
las line from the mouth Of the Rio dc Ia Plata,
vis Rio, 10 the mouth Of the Amazon. The mouth
81 the Amazon is half way between Nor 'olk and
Rio Ipetitioned Congress- ut lite last session, for
the establishment Of line Of maii steamers from
sone one OF southern ports to connect with the
Rraaiian line ~ Para, ana thus put our merchants
IL direct Ste amship communication with Rio.
DusSos AyIes, and Montevideo, and 30 draw as
slsser to the Amazon.
The committee 10 whom the subject was referred,
reported in favor Of it, and brought in bill for its
accoup lishmert. II was, however, not acted upon.
But since that. events have occurred which make
ebis line from the South still more important aud
necessary. The tyrant Rosas mas been expelled
from ,hs con'ipent the navigation Of the Rio de 10
Plata end some of its noblest tributaries have been
opened and made free to the world This govern.
1eIt with most praisewortsy zeal, is fitting out
naval expedition TO explore those streams. and to
make known their avi2aoility and the commercial
resources the countries drained by them, THAI
merchants may know how to send, what to sell,
BIazI has ont1acted for two lines OF steamers on
the ADszcD, from its mouth almost up To Its
sources rhefe Aua2onisn lines are to rgn-one
Eouihly between Para aud Birra ut the mouth of
the Rio Negro, a distance of nine hundred miles;
toe other, connecting with THE st Barra il TO ply
between I'll cSy and Sauta, IN Peru, a 0sianoe
o. NEAR three thousand miles from the sea Polling
up the Mississippi would, in comparison 10 the
NJ present ploy ed for nevig stin the waters
OF the Amazon and La Plata, be considered rapid
travelling Here. therefore. is tue commencement
OF a new era in sbe business and the commerce of
tbote two river basins; and the FIRST merch AIT
steamer, - she pousns up those majestic streams,
VIA her rich cargo OF foreign merchandise, will be
the signal for revolution IN the trade and traffic
that has be- cafgIed ca there.
Three pillions VI dollars worth Of produce now
Oenes down the Amazon 10 Para.
Tho Peruvian portion of The upper AmiZon,"
wbtYe this line of steamers is to go, . is" said
CAstsiDsu who Was then on his way nome after ira
Yelling through ire fairest parts of South America
-"he Peruvian por ION of the Amazon is tae most
beautiful country in the world its fertility is pro
bial" There IL found the famous silk tree, which
produces btsple se cotton to the eye, but silk
the touch. There The labor of one man is worth
but two snd a half yards of cotton stuff
the moDtn--so abundant the fruits of the earth,
scarce the sbrics Of the shop and loom, aud
10 'ar has that country been removed from the in.
AntDc.s of commerce IL is now lust about to be
brought within them
But what sre the opportunities which Americans
will have for get ing fair share of this new bust
ness TO which the free navigation of the La Plata
nnd the Introduction OF steam upon the Amazon
will give rise | reply, very small, unless tnis
southern line OF steamers TO the Amazon be estab
hsbed; Otherwise all the Intelligence from Brazil
and the La Plata, all the sdvices concerning the
markets, viii GO direct to England and to France
by theu steamers; aid then, after the merchants
there shall have had some ten days or two weeks
The start Of their American competitors 10 taking
advantage ot that intelligence, it will arrive here
the United States by the Cursrd or Collins line of
Btrsmers from Liverpool
Nov and then American clipper, happening AT
the mouth OF The river in the oing at Rio, the
night time, may chance to bring in Intelligence the
United StStes sooner than it Gao 60 to Europe aud
then come over by steamer But that is uncertain.
The free navigation of the RIO de 10 Plata is an
achievement, and commerce is chiefly indebted TO
BrsEii FOR it. Honor TO BAIL, therefore. 1t is
gem In the crown CT the Emperor. which, if 1t be
taynisbed not, will N AXE his reign illustrious.
Resss held the mouth OF river La Plata; Brazil,
Banda Oriental Paraguay, AID Bolivia, (all iode-
1ebdtnt sovere' gpties,) owned navigable water
esares which euptied into II; but Rnsss would not
allow any Of these powers to follow those waters
through his part Of the river to he sea Brazil
msde war with him, drove him out OF the country.
and the fret fruits Of the victory the com nercial
world is about to receive is the free navigation Of
these noble streams.
With quarrel more just than that wicked one
about opium, Brazil, In her triumph, followed the
generous example OF England In opening the ports
OF Cbins, without any claim to exclusive privileges
Brazil has not opened the ports OF SO popu,ous q
csuptSy as China, but she hiss opened the water
Of one with which com nerce will. 10 q few
yease, be more valuable than 1t is with China.
Tbese arrangements about the La Plata nayi ga
tiop net completed They are thought to be in
fair way of adjustment; and therefore, in giving
honor TO whom honor IA due, give it to the Empe-
of Brasil. upon the superstition that unto ward
thing viii occar to th Sart the measure
But the commercial world mas been sparng Of It's
concentrations Of Brazil for her seeming liberaGty
with regard to the free navigation of the La Plata
They say and have, alas! too much reason FOR say
inR-thst there was no generosity, no hberaty, no
sign Of any farress -hstever, in the course of Brazil
with regard ~ the navigation OF the La Plata Bo
iyia. Paraguay, and Banda Oriental they say, had
each much tight as Brazil to claim the free of
the La Plata LOT getting TO With their mercban.
disc; and II, upon the fall Of Rosas, Brazil had then
attempted 10 extort from Buenos Ayres any exc,u-
sive privilege in the OF these waters, she knew
that no. only would these repu olics-h next door
Beighbors- all bsve turned against her bat tina. the
three great commercial nations of the north would
have stepped in TO prevent any such exclusive aud
sefsh Appropriation of natures nigh Ways.
As pIoof that Brazil was not actuated by any
OF those really enlarR ed and liberal views which it
Is the policy Of CON merce to carry out, point TO
the Amazon. There Don Pedro is the Rosas He
kolds The mouth Of the Amszon-he shuts it up
Five sovereign aud independent nations own its
head waters, and all of them have provinces and
people upon the banks OF its navigsbl tributaries;
but Of them is allowed TO follow the course
of these navigable stresmi through Brazilian waters
% the sea.
Justice, the policy Of commerce, the sentiment of
tbe age all The principles of national Law, and the
rights Of people, in favor Of the free Of that
river by those five Spanish republics and il cannot
be laid that Brazil acted from principle in the case
Of the La Plata until she makes, of her accord,
the navigation Of the Amazon free.
Formerly there was a Rosas who threatened to
stand NJ the mouth Of our Mississippi aud We. who
then owned the bead waters only, claimed, and were
ready 10 sstert with the sword, our RICH. to follow