The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-20
From the New York Heraid, sept L.
The Amazon BaSi1A and ifs AdSaneeA
pc.-A New Rival to Liberia.

We published some lime aSo q -
a Brazi! newspaper upon the reports OF L'e e.
ants Msurx, Herndon and Gibbon, u. 5. Navy
ON The Andes 2pd Amazon basin. The writer o
rh,l criticism cenSurcd the glowing eccounls 1hus
of1icalIv spread before the world, OF the adVan
,aoes Of the Amazon and the immense field winch
could there be opened Iof The enterprise d"I
capital OF the American people. lie oec'aie GU
them for the most part ifnsory, ana "a'neu ''ie
creduous from placing faith in the ro"'a"'ic
writings OF the Chief OF the National Obst'V"'oi
and his subordinares. A copy OF Lieut. GIbboh
report has since been received by US, and we hnG
that he is not obnoxious to the censure Of having
given too glowing description OF the Amazon
as his work is strictly confined TO the Southern
tributary of that rver-not treating OF the main
stream at all. Commencing observations at the
division Of the naval party at Tarma, IN Peru,
and closing them reaching the mouth OF The
Madeira in Brazil, he has occupied essentially
other ground.
We understand the Navy Department has
granted permission TO Lieut.. Glbbon 10 publish
uuofficially, notes on the Amazon; and he is now
preparing a new edition of his interesting journey
through South America with these notes appended.
We have seen portion of this new matter, and
it embraces widely different opinion as TO the
commercial advantages to be anticipated from
opening the trade of The Amazon; II is Of no little
importance TO the public seeking the facts Of The
rectIy informed to the real nature OF the ad
vantages so pertnaclousl y pressed upon public
attention by Lieut.. Maury for two or three years
past. Lieut.. Gibbon, in his notes, remarks -
/ Owing to the present undeveloped agricultural
and commercial interests Of the valley Of the
Amazon, the people there hail The appearance and
feel thank full 10 the supreme authorities for
tons TO establish line Of steamers from Para TO
Nauta, in the territory of Peru. 1t is considered
that the present trade of The whole Amazon valley
falls far short OF The capacity for transportation Of
the two steamers now Oh that river,
The government of Brazil is dong more for the
people OH the banks the Amazon than they would
could do for themselves.
1t has been matter Of surprise that an European
PopuIalnn should have been lingering on the banks
of The Amazon for centuries. The experience Of
single India rubber gatherer ches that the
climate, soil, timber, animals and vegetable life.
are not such as 10 encourage the IaborIng white
man,
II we consult The narratives OF travellers and
notes OF actual settlers for years long past, we find
less industry among the whites OF the present day,
Ean vas krosn among he Portuguese and Span
ia rds their first settlement a lurge White popu.
Htion have passed HE entrance Di this fich and
productive basIn; and proceeded to the south
temperate zone. Spain, France, and Portugal have
been drained OF some surplus pupulatIon by CbII,
South Brazil, and the Argentine confederation
Slave owners native to the soil of Brazil, prefer
any other part OF the empire 10 that Of the valley
Of the Amazon and since the abolition of the
African slave trade. the demand in the southern
provinces has been partly supplied from the
province Of Para. So far as the black race have
been employed in the valley Of the Amazon they
and they alone have proved adapted 10 its climate,
soil and productions. They thrive better on the
tropical fruits of this fertile valley than their wild
African ancestors.
Judging the we'll formed black races-the clear,
bright eyes and sleek skins accompanied by an
almost perpetual smile they destined to oc.
cupy conspicuous position in the futurerdeyelope-
ment Of the valley Of the Amazon. Here is found
the climate best suited 10 the negro He works
the sugar plant and seems perfectly happy in
The MONDAY sun. He floats on the broad
surface Of the great rivers, and sings song
which cheers bin at his lsbor. Here he il
phibjous for he seems as coatenicd in the wafer
as ont of it.
There is no part Of The world in which nation
OF black people could possibly be al home
than on the banks Of the large streams OF this great
valley.
The south east trade winds Of the South Atlantic
Ocean blow from the land of the savage African
across the sea, and into the very mouth Of the
Amazon. The great oceans current flows from The
western shore Of Africa, and washes the eastern
side Of The A MACON basin.
The wild African blown oil from his oWa savage
shore, and left to The mercy Of the winds I'D the
waves. by laws which govern The sea- drifts to-
wards the shore of this country. On landing h"
finds climate very hot, bat more moist than that
OF Africa-hence greater abundance OF tropical
fruits, which delight his fancy, and this appears
to him a land of plenty. He leaves the dry, dusty
path through the deserts of Africa, and paddles his
canoe on the greatest river roads the surface of
the globe.
This is not a strange land to the savage African.
His forclathcrs came to this valley centuries ago.
They came simultaneously with the bite race Of
Europe.
Tile Northeast trade winds Of the North Atlantic
Ocean waited The emigrant ship from the shores
Of Portugal 10 the outlet Of this river. Here the
civilized man took under his care tho savage.
Though he did so for his own benefit, il must be
acknowledged he taught the wild negro The use Of
the plough the loom and the anvil.
The 'old country of this new continent is the
mountainous portion OF it. The ancient and power
full nations of South America were found there
We have no signs Of temple Of the sun in this
semi-annuaIly flooded country. There was no
great man like Nance Capac Mt the head Of a
nation Of warriors among the bushes, swamps and
a!llgators OF this portion Of the unfinished world
There was no Cuzco for the white man to appro.
pirate TO his own use, a government and re.
gion 10 overthrow.
There is very little danger OF misunderstanding
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