The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-03


ses 10 the free navigation of the Amazon ilsefto the
rsht Of the people OF the Uaed States TO send their
eamboats 10 that riyer 10 ply up and down il. aud 10
Inv and sell, and get gain on the banks thereof,
hereof they do upon the waters OF their own Mis-
.issippi Commerce, go far climate and soil are con
cernsd in minsierng 10 It's wants and in impzrng health
and activity 10 its Influences based upon an exchange
the produce OF latitude for the produce OF another
and for the simple reason that the planter who grows
sugar in Louisiana does not wish 10 exchange il for
Brazil or any other sugar. he may exchange il for Bra
I'll coffee, for BAIL anything else that is not sugar
For this reason Europe for hundreds of years past has
been struggling for the 'oi the East" and
for no other than that ATTITUDES and climates and
consequently wants and produce. that are not TO be
found or satisfied in Europe abound in the East
In commercial sense, the valleys that are drained by
the "Father Of Waters, and the liking OF Rivers" as the
Amazon is called are compliments OF each other--what
one lacks The other supplies. Together, they furnish
all those natural products and staples which complete the
Is OF articles in the circle OF commerce As in one
sense The Gulf OF Mexico is but an expansion of the
Mississippi rye so. commercially speaking the Carib
bean Sea is only expansion into one sheet of water
for the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Magdalena
These two arms Of the the fountains OF the
gulf stream and the people of the Mississippi valley have
bat 10 roll away the commercial stones which lie over
this fountain and then they and their chdren's children
may taste OF lis sweets and drink oil its riches and there
shall be none TO drive them away.
The right of our people to go with their Mississippi
steamers into the Amazon WILL when exercised, draw
emgrants that valley who being there will become
our best customers and The proper impulse is
given to their and the industrial pursuits we
shall then find there at our doors, instead of away the
other side of the world, all the productions Of the East
10 short, the East sense, will be brought within
eight ten days sail of New Orleans, instead of being
removed TO the distance Of four five months off, as il
now is.
Several nations as Bolivia Peru Ecuador, and Brazil
are the owners Of the Amazon and its navigabe tribua-
RES. Brazil, however is the principal owner. All the
lower Amazon is hers, and she has given none of the
upper countries, ye the right OF way through il TO
and from the sea.
The question then, do the people who represent
ed in this conventonnay, do the people OF the United
Saesset any value upon the right to steam and trade
up and down the navgable streams of that magnificent
water shed AL present the country is for the part
a wilderness OF bowling monkeys and noisy parrots
its boundaries nged with settlements but only here
and there when you leave the outskirts of the valley,
and begin to penetrate into the INTERIOR are the traces of
civilized man to be found.
To obtain this right is the work of diplomacy But
the States and people who have been invited TO this
yenion may by their action influence that diplomacy.
They want nothing hut what is right and if they ask
they are also willing 10 give.
Brazil may be invited TO give the free navigation OF
this river away boon 10 civilization and make it
common to the world. But is not 10 be supposed that
Brazil will part with jewel of such exceeding great
value without consideration.
Is il worth having9 Shall il be bought with a sum of
money Or shall the free navigation of the Mississippi
be offered Brazil in exchange for the free navigation of
the Amazon'
By our own laws, an English vessel the vessel OF
any other nation at peace with us, free sail up
the Mississippi river. TO land and take in cargo at ST.
Louis and with il 10 down again. she is TO go
up the Chesapeake bay Baltimore, the Delaware
Philadelphia.
But do such foreign vessels go up 10 ST. LOUIS No.
Why Because when they arrive at New Orleans with
their eargoes Of foreign merchandise, which they have
brought the they find il cheaper 10 send il
in one OF our river boats than 10 take il up themselves
and therefore, though foreign vessels by own laws
may go up and down, yet the free navigation of the
Mississippi TO this extent has proved of practical
value TO any OF them Would they go up further if they
could
Sill the time was when the free navigation OF the
Mississippi river question Of deep and absorbing
political interest 10 us and may infer, therefore, that
certain degree Of jealousy with regard TO il still fingers
in the public mind. Therefore, the proprey in
opening the question at this time and on this occasion
and in this place.
Admitted upon the Amazon with their boats our peo-
pie would desire participate there in what is called
with us the river trade" for considering that the
habits OF The Amazonians not at all aquatic, it is not
by any means probable that Brazilian enterprise would
be sufficient TO supply the boats and boatmen requisite
for this river trade. She cannot do il now.
But prepared 10 lei Brazilian capital and Bra.
lillian subjects compete with people for the bust
ness-the river radeof Mississippi walers' We
should ask nothing of Brazil which not willing TO
render Brazil Are prepared therefore, TO offer TO admit
Brazilian subjects 10 an equal participation with
czens OF the trade OF the Mississippi rver condition
that she will admit citizens TO equal participation
with her own subjects in the river trade OF the Amazon
and its tributaries
That is the question which desire 10 draw an ex-
weston of opinion from the convention because be-
se that that opinion being regarded the opinion OF
&people OF the Mississippi valley, would have bear
Ip0n the subject one OF practical nature and OF
laanOunt importance.
suppose that the United States should declare that the
ozens and subjects OF all nations should have the same
hight 10 build and launch boats the Mississippi river
That people havethai the right to take freight from
one landing town 10 another, and to trade up and down
he river, should be perfect and complete TO the
foreigner, OF whatever nation as il is TO the American
eiizen-what would be the efectl
Such surrendering Of the coasiing trade" the
river trade may be properly called, might possibly induce
few foreigners TO send over their capital and build
boats. But these boats, 10 compete with our boats
would have TO be manned by our own watermen, and
oficered by our own people. Among them would be ex-
pended all the money required buJ run and keep the
ofelgn.owned boats in repair True, such law might
interfere with American owners.
But instead Of sHch privilege being offered to all