The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-22

time food, raiment, fuel and shelter.
wealth, such freaks Of nature, and her magnificent
display of vegetable forces In that tropical country
were well calculated TO strike the mind Of any untrA
yelled youth, especially one like the young sailor
Richards, who had been brought up Ia the plain,
quiet life Of Virginia farmer with wonder and
amaxement.
lie had seen the sun at high noon standing in the
north, and casting shadows to the south. He had
been in those stormy and distant ATTITUDES where
daylight itself was but the longest meteor OF long
night. He had a river that turns about ut
times and runs up stream. He had taken in at one
view the vegetation o. the three zones and there
fore, wondering which of all these things appeared
to him the most curious, said the other day-Pray,
Mr.. Richards, what, during this interesting trip OF
yours in the valley Of the Amazon, struck you with
the most force, as being the most curious thing or
remarkable circumstance met with in all your
travels -
The most remarkable thing SIR Why, that such
country as that OF the Amazon should, in the mid
die Of the nineteenth century, be wilderness"
Whata commentary | thank that noble young
tar with all my heart for this most glorious Gescrip
ton OF q glorious country. Language OF greater
force and compass or of more eloquence not to be
found anywhere. That the men of the age. the
statesmen OF Europe and America, the spirit Of CON-
mercial enterprise and adventure which marks the
times should ali have ignored such o country, such
soil and such climates, with such capacities, capa-
niites and resources as are there, Is and will here
after be regarded as the greatest OF wonders.
This Is the country, then. to which invite the
attention OF the convention, and towards which
wish to see the energies and enterprise of my fellow
citizens directed, that they may assist in developing
it. resources, and reap for themselves and their
country the rich harvests which commerce at no dis
t:lnt Gay is 10 gather there. | want it settled, l
want il civilized, | want it chrstianzed Turn
steam and commerce upon il, and all this will be
done.
Do You ask what the measures are that propose?
What tie point 10 which the convention should ad-
dress itself, and what the enterprise to which gentle
I'M their puerpinsI m
propose are, that we lay the foundations OF direct
trade and close commercial relations with Brazil,
and the Atlantic slopes OF South America generally,
and with the Amazon in particular, and that set
about it now.
The point 10 which the convention should address
itsef is the free navigation of the Amazon, and
the establishment OF line of mail steamers between
Para, NJ tie mouth OF that river and Norfolk or
Charleston, or some other Atlantic port OF the south
eTn States
Our trade with Brazil is already most valuable
The Mississippi valley is the great place OF consump-
ton for her coffee and she the great consumer Of
the productions OF the States represented in the
yeIiion.
And how is it, do you suppose, that our business
men, for the want of this line OF steamers 70 the
Amazon, carry their correspondence with Brazil.
aud all Of Atlantic South America Why, not
wthstandibg the mouth OF the Amazon is at oar own
doors and there is regular line OF steamers thence
10 Hio, yet the American merchant who wishes to
letter 10 that country must first send it to
England thence it goes by an English mail steamer
Rio, and thence it may turn north again and come
In Brazilian steamer to PernambUco, or even to
Para, or go up stream into Peru. BOLIVIA, dc.
quote from the morning papers the following
semi official announcement to the mails for BRAZIL
REDUCTION POSTAGE BRAnL--We are authorized
to hat hereafter tie single rate OF letter postage be
tween the United States and Brazi, via England will be
forty five cents instead OF eighty cents hereto
fore, pre- pa uent required
Thus you we are helping 10 support the steam
marine Of Great Britain with this heavy postage, and
by allowing Der TO fetch and carry cur Brazilian cor
dependence her merchants have two weeks or more
the start Of ours in al the markets Of that portion Of
South America
Now, by the establishment of this line TO Para
and it can 60 there in eight days and having it to
connect with the Brazilian line thence to Rio, which
runs twice month, we shall be able to get our let
tiers to Rio in about half the time that it takes
US through England. Thus this line would divide
mails and passengers both with the English, not on
ly from Rio and Brazil, but from Bucnos Ayres and
the whole Ia Plata country, tor from the mouth Of
that river to Rio there is also regular mail line or
steamers.
From Rio 20 England Is thirty days, and the
steamers GO, or did when | last inquired, once q
month. Now, il This line should run at intermediate
times II may land it passengers and mails at Nor
folk III that he the terminus Of the lne) in twenty
days nom Rio; thence in England, via Collins
steamers, III eleven mcre total thirty-onc There
fore, sailing two weeks before and after the English
line, the American line will turn these South Amer
lean merchants, who go by the English line OF
steamers 10 Europe to lay in their stak OF goods,
through this country; and being here, they VIII pro-
baby stop short and buy. Moreover, this line Of
steamers will gradually make us better acquainted
with the AmazoD; and finally, no doubt, be the
means Of establishing the most valuable aud impor
taLt commercial relations with that country. 1t IS
the cornerstone oil grca. direct trade: let have
ii !" right away.
To appreciate the situation and understand the con-
dition OF sister republics on the iBazon, We have
but 70 cast back and recoect the time when the
nr nth Of the Mississippi belonged 10 another power
& l-pp %
mp natural right. II was the Gilt OF God TO the
people whom, in His wisdom lie intended should in
haeit its valley, be they OF one or many nations
Money and troops were placed al the disposal OF the
Executive Of this nation to enforce This right with
regard to the Mississippi.
Brazil herself has just come out Of long and per-
picking war with Buenos Ayrcs, one q the objects
Of which this very question 70 the free navi
cation OF a river owned by more nations than one.
The La Plata was that river. Brazil owned some
Of its tributaries, the republic its mouth and she
fought II open, and so forced leT way down with the
high hand and strong arm.
but mon the Amazon, the republics own the upper
water the empire the lower; and Drazil keeps thoai
closed light notBithgtanding some OF those repub-
lies have thrown their ports open ~ the world and
invited al nations 10 up and trade with them.
BFJzl knows that, according TO al the principles
Of right, tie navigation OF the Amazon should be
nee Shall VIC force It open! No. Let rs try di
plomatc " sua-ion = Tor il may be opened pcacea-
bly, and we desire. above al things II cultivate the
relations Of peace and friendship with the nations of
This continent.
The proper course Of action therefore, for the
convention woCld 10 be % iavitt the attention
OF Tie government 10 the subject, OF command
ing interest among the diplomatic questions OF the
day.
we are the best customers Of Brazil Tor cohee her
great staple il would he well 70 remind her that her
coffee Is admitted into thi country duty free; and that
tins lact Is a commercial consideration which in IN
tune negotiations between tie two countries ought
moi to be f0rgCtton.
Moreover the Mississippi aud the Amazon are tie
two largest rivers IN the world. Hundreds Of millions
II commerce annually pas up and down the former
moi more than two millions come down tie latter
The navigation Of the former, therefore, i worth
many times thar that Of the latter. Shall the
free navigation OF lie Father OF Waters be offered
~ Brazil iD exchange oF the free navigation Of the
" King Oh Rivers" II it cannot DC had without
TLese are questions - 10 which, il my Judgment
il Is desirable aud important the convention should
express is views. Tic future Of TIL: country l. mag
nhCelt In casting about for tie elements OF pros
petty which are 70 enbellisn that future many are
the scenes o. national wealth, power and greatness
which loom up in the distance Ike land-falls at sea-
cFr ttrr,f