New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-12
WAR AND GUANO.

arms impends in regard to the r1ght Oh inc
nations Of the world, and of the American
nation in particular, to take and use the
ordure of the birds that flock In countless
numbers over the Pacific, and make their
abode. when off the wing, on two desolate
islands near the coast of Peru. But war
upon paper has been commenced IN rela-
tion thereto, and our Government is already
party to 1t.
The case stands thus. 1t has been some
time known to our navigators, that large
supply of guano exists upon the Lobos
Islands, lying off the coast of Peru; one
large island at distance of some twenty
miles, and n group Of smaller ones fall
under the same general designation OF
Lobos or Seal Islands,) at n distance OF
some thirty miles. The ever curious glance
of American enterprise, always taking the
direction which promises good look for
the main chance, has been striving to dis
cover how the produce of these desolate
and uninhabited spots could be turned to
profitable account. But since 1888, or
Whereabouts, when Peru began to discover
the value Of guanofo Incorporation, thatpower
has stood guard over the Lobos Island, and
forbid all persons from touching their pre-
ciOus deposits. Our nayigators, though
sorcly tempted in more than one
instance to poach upon this desolate domain
and steaIthily bring away venture there
from, have yet let their discretion control
their cupidity, and have always reluctantly
resisted The lure. But at length Down
easter by the name of Capt James c.
Jewett, being moved by that spirit that
ever inhabits the breast of true Yankee,
and feeling, as every true Yankee feels,
that it is only by asking questions that one
can find out, asked Mr.. Webster whether
IA citizen of the Universal Yankee Nation
might not properly 90 to the Lobos Islands
and get what bird-manure he liked. This
was in June last. The Secretary prompt
" responded, within two days time, in
letter which we have published. Though
strong, and to the point, Capt. Jewett
and his hackers did not embark fully
in the contemplated enterprise till they
had received assurances in writing
from the Secretary of the Navy
that orders had been sent to portion of
our naval force in the Pacific to repair to
the LobOs Islands, and that they were of
such nature as would afford "ample pro-
tection' to the ships that might be sent
thither for guano. Whether the parties
engaged in the enterprise were any way APP
prehcnsive that the first Minister might be
subsequently inclined to take steps back
ward, that they should thus wait for the
Secretary of Wars orders, we have no GER
tain knowledge. That the parties in ques-
ton, however, We're inclined to incur some
hazard we feel assured from the fact that
at least ttcO ships were dispatched before
the letter of Mr.. Webster was sought and
received. The number of vessels already
despatched for the LobOs Territories by the
movers of this enterprise is twenty
Besides their regular crews, two hundred
men, and twelve nine-pound cannon have
been sent in tenders of the expedition.-
What the U. S. frigate Rariton, under
Com McAuley, cannot do to protect our
ships from the Peruvians, it is expected the
twelve nine Founders will accomplish
Upon the letter of Mr.. Webster and the
question of jurisdiction raised therein, we
do not feel called upon to enter at length.
What is done, is done. Our Government
has committed itself to the position that
the Lobos Islands do mot belong to Peru,
but TO anybody and everybody that wishes
TO use the valuable deposit that covers
their arid surface. Mr.. Webster takes
the ground that Peru does not hold the
islands by occupation, and that the right of
discovery probably lies with the Ameri-
cans-Captain Morrell, of the American
schooner Wasp, Il young and enterprising
navigator, who was sent from New-York
on voyage of exploration, in the year
1899, having been seemingly the man who
. first discovered them.
We confess our surprise at this declara-
ton of the Secretary, in the face of the
fact that Spanish geographers and Spanish
maps of the last century describe and de-
lineate the Lobos Islands, and that Capt.
Morrell in his narrative of his voyage no.
where pretends to have discorered those