The daily union., 1852-12-11
From .hs New York Times.
The Amazon.


series OF articles on the Amazon and tributaries
which has recently enyened the columns OF the Wash
ngon Union, is understood 10 be from the pen OF Lieut.
Mauy. The author has obviously studied the topic with
con aiore fondness, assisting with knowledge OF winds
and currents, and meteorological phenomena which very
few possess with the thoroughness the
compllshed lieutenant We told of lhe diverse ef.
fecls OF trade winds upon the southern American con-
nent why The cllmatology OF The north differs so widely
from that OF the centre and south and how a happy
combination OF natural causes rains down uson the val
ley OF the great Amazon elements OF perennial fertility
wealth. and loyelness, which no other land earth
joysin equal degree The there are mol sick
ened by alterations OF half-years OF drought and half
years OF deuge-remleni ysliatons, like cbills and
fever The old poetic evees OF eternal spring real
lied in all their splendor
'of all that is most beauteous. imaged there
In happier beauty more pelucid streams,
An ampIer ether, dviner air,
And FIELDS Invested with pnrpursai gleamsj
Climes which the sun, who sheds the brightest ray
Earth knows, is all unworthy 10 survey"
The temperature ever genial and kindly; the soil sx-
uberan responding 10 the call OF The busbandman In
lavish plenty and without discriminating in the least be-
tween exotic and esoerc vegetation the growth OF the
plant from the seed the full in the full year, unsus
pended by any unioward skeyey influence. The region
OF the Amazon is indeed the garden OF the earh-wbee
three four crops OF any grain may be readily grown
in the year; where trees bear all the fruits of all climates
and every paradsIaca condition OF vegetable life hves
srs9ny where diamonds glitter in the ground and gold
and silver thicken The dust where the air vocal
with the music OF birds, whose pumage outshines the
iris in the spendor OF lis coong The fancy OF The sur-
diesi mathematician may well ihaw and gush out rapln-
rousy, as does that OF the enthusiastic lieutenant
The extent OF the Amazonan garden is likewise mar
vellous Used as we are in this western world TO the
most unbounded physical magnudes, we are neverthe
less startled at descriptions OF stream which drains
circle OF territory OF two thousand miles in diameter, and
flows for four thousand miles and is hundred and
eighty miles wide al the mouth and is Ted by two hun
dred tributaries some of which equal the Mississippi in
size, and into which the tide flows upward six hundred
miles It vast inland sea- all the more valuable.
commercially, for the proximity of its shoresoceans
min lu .a ~f
dlum burden 10 an incredible distance. The whole popu
ation OF the globe might colonize in those delightful
wildernesses, living easefay on the slightly aided growth
OF the soil, and extending their lives, so equabe and
healthful the climate, TO pararchal length and energy
And while the region is universally tempting its reIa
tons to our own commercial system peculiarly nti-
mate 1t Is branch OF that scheme OF inland waters
of which the main trunk is found in the MEXICAN and Ca
bbean seas, and the branches, the Mississippi, the Rio
Grande, the urnoco, and the various smaller estuares
dlschargng in that great BASIN Lieutenant Maury has
elsewhere proved by competent testimony that the currents
OF the Mississippi and Amazon converge some point
not far south OF Cuba; and that the North American fiat
boat and The Amazonan left TO fate and the tides
would eventually greet each other at that rendezvous
To the United States, then, rather than TO any other
people, does the wealth Of the Amazon belong
But the enthusiasm of Lieutenant Maury in the con-
temptation of this wondrous cline is mingled with morl-
caon and regret Brazil is the mistress of those golden
oods and locks them up as if too precious for the OF
anybody She neither employs her advantages nor opens
them 10 others There is old prejudice, unworthy OF
the posteriy of that Vasco who gave the whole world
new way TO India after Columbus had tried and failed,
which forbids The admission OF shipping the lest
foreigners slip in and carry off the fabulous wealth of the
banks. There has been veteran aversion 10 foreign in
specion- The, great Humboldt, during his South
American travels, was warned officially against enter
ing the empire Of Brazil. The mouth OF the river
is always guarded Permission desired by the govern
men OF the United States to survey the stream was
readily refused. The innumerabe productions OF the
Brazilian uplands are carried on the backs OF mules
Tor hundreds Of miles overland TO Rio and Para
instead Of being loaied down the river, a, hundedth
part OF the cost The republics OF the west-Bolya,
Ecuador. Peru-ownng the headwaers of the river, are
obliged by Brazilian obstnacy TO turn westward and send
their exports tedious thousands OF miles around Cape
Horn In short, through The wretched absuidy OF Bra
zi, the immense resources OF the Amazon have only
been betrayed TO through the Illicit observations OF
pose, and Lieuenants Hernaon and Gibbons whom gov
eminent privately instructed TO descend the river, use
their eyes and report results Lieut. Herndon now
preparing his story twill doubt infame cupdity
But what then?
Brazil rules the region, and has her own way OF doing
il; absurd and offensive one, but one we may not rem
edy. The day has gone by for spreading religion or
anything else BY The sword, say what will OF China
and Japan expeditions. Violent and dciaoria methods
may do when applied TO nations without The pale oil
but they not toerabe within it. 1t is
not seemy 10 propagate commerce by violence al
though there be few of which commerce does not
secure lions share oil the profit Its attitude is properly
defensive and while II watches jealousy all invasons
aud ior lear o evil precedent resents them, ii does
ute 10 aggressive measures, and deliberate speculation
II blood. Brazil be left 10 her own time and hu- |
nor Her disposition tc-ls ward is not so friendly as il
night be, or the long wanted commercial treaty we ask
or would have been conceded long ago With that dis
,ouragng fact in sight is foolish 10 hope for ANA
lonian favers The Eden Lieut Maury describes and
covets will no doubt be 10 this country all he can rea-
sonably wish to have It, The gradual Developments OF
lime, II nothing else, will bring II about; and our chill
lren, not we will have the benefit OF it. Our interest
S reversonary. Poserliy will enjoy the reality, and |