The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-06-24
THE AMAZON.

Ahe president OF Inc NepuO!lc OF Teru "ao
issued very important decree relative to the
navigation of the river Amazon and to the
privileges granted to foreign settlers The
decree declares that in conformity with GER
tain treaty stipulations made with Brazil, the
navigation Of the Amazon, as far ms the port
Of Nauta, at the mouth of the Ucayli, is open
to the commerce Of her subjects, and that all
other nations having like treaties, are placed
on the same footing with Brazil. II states
that the exploration Of the rivers which run
into the Amazon, will be made by the govern
ment, with steamers to be constructed for the
purpose. No duties for exports or imports
from the said port Of Nautn and from Loreto,
except municipal dues, will be required on
merrhapdiza or rati'" ,roducts,
The portion of this decree, says the Rich
mond Despatch, relating to colonization is by
far the most important part of it, and if it
bears not within it the germ of n second Tex
as revolution, we were never more mistaken
in all our lives. 1t empowers the governor
general to grant to all colonists from two to
four fanegadas of land, rescrvng larger
grants to be made by the government itself.
All small grants must he settled within
eighteen months or are void. Longer time
is given on the larger or government gives to
all persons arriving at the ports of Nauta or
Loreto, for the purpose of settling the valley
of the Amazon and its tributaries, not only u
free conduct to their destination, but also the
nesessary seeds and implements Of husband
ry. 1t provides n national ship to convey
foreigners and settlers to their destination
and exempts them for twenty years from
taxes, contributions, clergy dues, and the use
Of stamped paper, permitting them, in the lat
ter case to use common paper rs they may
think proper. The new settlers arc to estab.
lsh their own municipal regulations, and, un-
til Congres. can legislate on the subject,
their own judges and courts of justice Also
1t is difficult to conceive more favorable
colonization law.
That the country will be filled up by YAM
KEGS in short space of time, we presume will
BE- doubted by none who know the rowing
propensites and transcendcnt energy Of that
people. In these days it is hard for the i'm
agination to conceive any scheme so brilliant
that realization does not follow hard upon
the heels of conception. When Lieut.. Maury
first unfoldcd the gorgeous promises held out
by the great valley Of the Amazon, there
were few who did not think he had imported
his IDEAS from the land OF dreams. This de-
cree marks the commencement of an era
which will AS certainly witness their fulfill
Incnt as the next age shall see the Pacific
united to the Mississippi by bands of iron. II
was the dream OF some wise statesmen of our
heroic age, that all North America would
some day be under the rule of the Anglo.
Saxon race. Wrctched, decrcpid, dying Mex.
leo on the South, and the British Provinces
on the North, stand now between us and this
mighty destiny. But the wave will not stop
at the Isthlnus of Daricn; it will roll on until
it shall have swept the entire Western Hem.
isphcrc, from the frozen ocean to Cape Horn.
The President of Peru has given an opening,
and all that the Yankee wants is to get his
hand in. Time, perseverance, resolution, will
most nssuredly, in all cases, enable him ia
Introduce his whole body afterwards
Whether all this is to be for the good of this
Republic or the world admits of doubt too
serious for US to discuss. All we wish is 10
call attention to the facts.