The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-19
South American Affairs,
THE PARAGUAY TREATY.

By the packet from Rio, intelligence was received
on Tuesday, from Buenos Ayres, of April 3; and &C
cording to that Sir Charles Hotham arrived there in
ing concluded treaty with the President Of that
republic The chief provisions of the treaty are be-
eved to be the folowing:-Brtish subjects are free
to navigate the banks Of the rivers Of Paraguay;
British traders may settle and carry commerce in
any of their towns, instead Of being restricted to
Assumption, hitherto. Finally, they may marry
the daughters OF the countrya privilege from which
have been made with France, the United States and
Sardinia. This treaty will help to forward
the designs of Bolivia to promote the free navi
cation Of the rivers that run from her territory
into the Plate. Gould that navigation be opened
it would be something like spreading the adj
vantages conferred by the Mississippi on North
America, over South America. The Plate is
formed by the junction OF the Parana and the Uru-
quay From the Plate to Assunciop the Parana, with
its branch the Paraguay is navgable for 800 miles in
the dry season. by vessels drawing six feet of water
and in the rainy season by vessels drawing twice as
much. Beyond that 500 miles, it is navigable as a
canal for 500 miles, almost to its sources in the
mountains OF Brazil not far from Of the navi,
gable branches Of the Amazon. Into this stream
runs the Vermejo, which is navgable into the heart
OF Bolivia, upwards OF 900 miles from the Atlantic.
The Uruguay is navigable for 800 miles from its
junction with the Parana, and there the navigation
Is stopped by ledge OF rocks which does not affect
the level Of the stream. Were this impediment re-
moved-and the governments of Brazil and Buenos
Ayres are bound by treaty to remove 1.-THE river
would be navgable for 800 miles further. Thus, to-
geher there an interior navigation from the Plate
of at least 600 miles, and probably when the coun-
try shall be fully explored, of many hundred more
miles, opening up FOR the of the closey-pressed
people of Europe some Of the finest countries Of the
globe.
The population On the banks of these rivers is now
estimated at ECO 000 which scarcely redeems those
immense countries from the character of being I'M
tenanted by man. OF course for such an inland
navigation peculiar vessels would be required as
those tit for crossing the Atlantic would not be
adapted to ascend to Bolivia. There must be at some
place en- the Plate depot and convenience for tran
shipping goods to river craft for which purpose
MontevideO is the best adapted. 1t is good port at
the entrance OF the rver to reach it ships require
especial plotage; and it might become to the Plate
what New Orleans is to the Mississippi. But the
wretched political squabb!es in which the whole
Spanish race throughout these great districts have
been perpetually engaged, render them insecure,
keep them desoate, and insteaj Of swarming with
civilized men, they are the inconvenient abodes of
few halfed savages. in cattle and all the rude ma
terals OF great prosperity they abound but there is
wanting that spirit OF quiet and indomtabe industry
which can gather bread from the salt waves, and
convert q sterile rock into smiling gardens
The great empire of the South, extending through
more than thirty degrees of latitude, and in its
widest part through thirty degrees OF longitude with
a population Of about 5000 900, and a portion Of
faster than the countries the Plate. 1t is extend
ing its trade year by year, and may in the end alb
it is yet far from that contamination, and is already
too large for convenient administration. Unless,
therefore, some more European life be infused into
the countries the Plate-unless spare hands from
of which has already supplied some of the scattered
population on the Plate, go thther, and bring those
countries more in contact with Eurore they are like
ly to remain only Mathematical for ages
We mentioned the increase of the trade of the
Brazils in 1852, in our journal of February 10. We
are now informed that on the manufactures of Eng
lant two ffths of the whole customs of the
Brazils are levied We supply the multitude there
with cheap and good clothing. Three fOurths of the
cotton and three Of the linen consumed are Of
English manufacture. In 1851 the quantity Of silk
imported from France exceeded that imported from
England; but English silks had been gradually gain
ing on those OF France and in 1852 when they were
two and half times more than in 1861, they proba-
bly, exceeded the supply from France. In some arti
Giles the French and Belgians have very decided
periority. Clocks, perfumery kid gloves, prepared
shoe eather,are almost wholly supplied by the former
In paper, doubt owing to paper duties, we do
nothing and the whole supply is in the hands of the
French, SardDians and Belgians. So we send little
or no window glass; the Begans send nearly 1000
cases per annum, and probably our excise duties on
glass prevented us formerly from competing with
them, and allowed them to get possession of the
kct, which they are now able to keep, though our
duties have been abolished. We have no wish that
England should attempt to monopolise the supply
of every article. The attempt would be absurd, and
we are glad to other nations supplying GUS
toners with articles which they have greater facii-
ties for producing than we have; but when we have
at least equal facilities, as we have for the manuac-
ture of every kind of paper, and of every kind of
glass, that fiscal system is worthy of all condemna-
ton which, by hampering the skill Of our people,
transfers a market, part OF which at least they
should command, to Others
Brazil, however, has liberal tariff compared to
that OF Buenos Ayres, In which some oil the duties
are as high as 90 per cent Its rulers too are afraid
that the extension of the trade up the river would
be beneficial exclusively to Montevideo, and that
was one great reason for Rosas endoavoring to de-
than Buenos Ayres by the extension OF the river
navigation, but Buenos Ayres would also benefit by
it, and i is the height Of foolish jealousy to stop the
prosperity Of neighbor and With that yous own
pro- .erity, because 1t cannot be equal TO ais. Only
time and experience, srca as TIC OK IN pie of England
is now forcing on the Knowledge o. the world can
convince the people "a the Borders OF he Plato Of