Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-04
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE AMAZON AND THE ATLANTIC SLOPES OF
SOUTH AMERICANA VII

which the resources OF this great Amazonan
are to be developed and the and steps whic
the policy Of commerce suggests for securing to the wo
the free navigation Of the Amazon.
The trumphs of commerce are peaceful; its achieve
ments are seen in the spreading of civilization in tn
march of civil and religious freedom and in the dispen
sation of thrift prosperity and wealth among nations
well as to individuals
From the statements which have already made al
must 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 be made to blossom the rose. We have
therefore but to let loose upon it the engines of com
mercethe steamer, the emgrant the printing press the
axe, and the plough--and it will TEEN with life.
There is line of steamers from England to Rio. The
French getting up ane and the stock has been taken
in it, from Marseilles to Rio. Brazil has line from the
mouth of the Rio de la Plata via Rio to the mouth OF the
Amazon. The mouth Of the Amazon is half way between
Norfolk and Rio Ipettoned Congress, at its last SEES
sion for the establishment Of line Of mail steamers from
of southern ports to connect with the Bra
xian line at Para and thus put merchants in direct
steamship communication with Rio, Buenos Ayres, and
Montevideo, and SO draw US closer to the Amazon
The committee to whom the subject was referred re-
ported in favor of it, and brought in bill for its
plishment. 1t was however, not acted upon.
line from the South still more important and necessary
The tyrant Rosas has been expelled from the continent
the navigation of the Rio de Ia Plata and Of its
best tributaries have been opened and made free to the
world This Government with most praiseworthy zeal
is fitting naval expedition to explore those streams
and to make known their navgaby and the commercial
of the countries drained by them that mer
chants may know how send what to SELL and what to
buy there.
Brazil has contracted for two lines of steamers the
Amazon from its mouth almost up to its sources These
Amazonian lines to run-one monthly between Para
and Barra the mouth of the Rio Negro distance Of
nine hundred miles, the other connecting with this at
Barra is to ply between that city and Nauta, in Peru
distance of three thousand miles from the
Pong up the Mississippi" would, in comparison to the
present employed for navigating the waters Of
the Amazon and La Plata be considered rapid travelling
Here, therefore, is the of in the
business and the of those and
the first merchant steamer she poughs up those
jesc streams with her rich cargo of foreign merchandise
will be the signal for revolution in the trade and traffic
as has been carried on there
Three millions of dollars worth of produce comes
down the Amazon to Para.
The Peruvian portion of the upper Amazon !" where
this line of steamers is to CO. sis said Caselnau, who
then his way home, after travelling through the
farest parts of South America the Peruvian portion of
the Amazon is the most beautiful country in the world
its fertility is proverbal There is found the famous
silk tree, which produces staple like cotton to the eye,
but silk to the touch There the labor of one is
worth and half yards of coarse cotton stuff
the month-so abundant the fruits of the EARTH SO
the fabrics Of the shop and oom and far has
that country been removed from the influences of COM
It's now just about to be brought within them
But what the opportunities which Americans will
have for getting fair share Of this business which
the free navigation of the La Plata and the introduction
Of steam upon the Amazon viii give rise? Treply, very
small unless this southern line Of steamers the Amazon
be established otherwise all the intelligence from Brazil
and the La Plata all the advices concerning the markets
viii 60 direct England and TO France by their
and them after the merchants there shall have had
days weeks the start of their American
competitors in taking advantage of that intelligence,
viii arrive here in the United States by the Cunard
Collins line of steamers from Liverpool.
Now and then American clipper, happening at thu
mouth of the river, in the ong at Rio at the nigh
time may chance to bring intelligence to the United
States than it go to Europe and then come
over by steamer. But that is uncertain.
The navigation Of the Rio de la Plata is achieve
ment and commerce is chiefly indebted Brazil for it
Honor to Brazil therefore. 1t is gem in the
the Emperor which, If it be furnished not will make his
reign illustrous.
Rosas held the mouth the river La Plata Brazil Banda
Oriental Paraguay and Bolivia, (all independent sove
reigntesl owned naygable watercourses which empted
into it but Bosas would allow any Of these Powers
to follow those through his part Of the river
the sea. Brazil made war with him, drove him out O
the country and the first fruits Of the victory the com
nercia world is about to receive is the free navigation
those noble streams.
With quarrel more just than that wicked one abou
opium, Brazil in her triumph, followed the generous
ample Of England in opening the ports Of China wthou
any claim to exclusive privileges
Brazil has not opened the ports Of populous
try as China but she has opened the Of
with which will in few years be valu
able than it is with China
These arrangements about the La Plata navigation
not completed They are thought to be in a fair way
adjustment; and, therefore, in giving honor to whor
honor is due, give it to the Emperor Of Brazil upo
the supposition that untoward thing viii occur
thwart the measure
But the commercial world has been sparing Of its com
neAdatons Of Brazil for her seeming beraty with
gard TO the free navigation Of the La Plata They say
and have, alas but too much reason for saying-tha
there was no generosity, no lberaty, sign of an
fairness whatever in the Of Brazil with regard
the navigation Of the La Plata. Bolivia Paraguay, an
Banda Oriental, they say had each as much right a
Brazil to claim the free Of the La Plata for getting
with their merchandise and it, upon the fall Of Re
sas Brazil had then attempted to extort from Buenc
Ayres any exclusive privilege in the Of those water