The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-08-27
[ErOm he CinciNMl0H NnnpnreH.
The River Amazon.

1t was announced IN our paper few
days since that party Of young men
were about leaving the United States to
make settlement on the river Amazon
IN South America. 1t is supposed by
many that this is but the advance quad
OF an emigration that has Tor its Ultimate
object the appropriation OF that country
to the uses and purposes Of the Anglo
American. However this may be, the
fact is sufficient to awaken curios tv,
and lead 10 inquiry into the resources
| Of that almost unknown region-a re-
g'on lying under the tropics, and teem-
ing with the rank Iuxurian ce of equa-
toraIal prolusion.
The Amazon rises IN the Andes, on
the western coast Of South America, nd
flows into the Atlantic, traversng the
entire breadth OF that division of the
globe, through country almost iabu-
louS IN ITS reSourceS---animal, vegetable
and mineral. The mouth OF the river
is under the control Of the government
of Brazil, by whose policy its nav:a ion
has been closed not only to foreign ma
tons, but to those also Inhabiting the
country OF the upper Amazon and its
tributaries. Peru aud Bolivia lie on the
upper tributaries, and as they are rich
IN all the productions OF the tropics, in
minerals, IN fabrics OF all descriptions,
the commerce naturally seeking an out
let through that river is Of an extent
and importance almost incredible.
There are several large river empting
their waters into the Amazon navigabl.
Tor the largest steamers, and penetrating
regions unknown to commerce and arts,
Astounding in natural riches, and all the
elements of an immense commercial
traffic.
Although the climate is tropical, yet
IT differs from the climate of SIM lar lat
itudes in Asia or Africa. Speaking on
this ST. bject, Lieutenant Maury say ''that
one seated at the loot of mountain
and surrounded with the luscious fruits
OF the tropics, may, casting his eye up
towards the snow-capped peak above
him, take in at:'one view the whole
range of the vegetable gamut. Begin
nIng with the chlromoya, the pine-ap-
pie, the orange, and the vanilla, as they
cast their fragance around, he passes
through, as he ascends, groves of the
olive and the vine, the peach and the
pear, until finally, having completed
the vegetable notation in the order of
production through the torrid and tenn
perate zones, he reaches the frigid, and
with its cap of snow he finds the sum-
nit crowned with the moses and the
lichens the Polar regions.'
Peru and Bolivia have asked the in
tercession of this government with Brazil
for the opening of the river to the free
navigation Of the world, or rather to
their commerce, and the question is now
agltatlng the commercial circles of this
country as to the law of nations as ap-
pllcable tn the case. II is contcndrd
that the countries occupying the sources
of a river have the right TO the use OF
! that river for the transit Of their produc-
tions TO the markets Of the world This
view Of the case has the weight of au.
thority in its favor as well as all rules of
equity arising from the natural rights of
man, and the physical barriers which
surround nation in its intercourse with
the world.
Speaking Of the right insisted upon
by the United States in the negotiation
Of the treaty OF Client for the free navi.
cation Of the Mississippi hv the people
Of the United States, Mr.. Wheaton, the