The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-09-20

er ulu tne hlgnt appear so long in clearing
away from the horizon; for this horizon was
to Columbus and his companions a. second
creation of God. The dawn, as it spread
over the sky, gradually raised the shores of
an island from the waves. Its distant ex-
tremities were lost in the morning mist. 1t
ascended gradually, like an smphitheatre, from
the low beach to the summit of the hills,
whose dark-green covering contrast strong
ly with the blue heavens. Within a few
PAGES of the foam of the waves breaking on
the yellow sand, forests Of tall and unknown
trees stretched Nay, one above another,
over the successive terraces of the Island
Green valleys and bright clefts in the hol-
lows afford half glimpse into these mys-
teries wilds. Here and there could be dis
covered few scattered huts, which with
their outlines and roofs of dry leaves looked
like beehlves, and thin columns Of blue
smoke rese above the tops of trees. HALF
naked groups of men women and children,
more astonished than frightened, appeared
amongst the thickets near the shore, ad-
vancing timidly, and then drawing back,
exhibiting, by their gestures and demeanor,
as much fear as curiosity and wonder, at the
sight of these strange vessels, the previous
night had brought to their shores. v
Columbus, after gazing in silence on this
foremost shore of the land so often deter
mined by his calculations, and SO magnif-
Gently colored by his Imagination, found it
to exceed even his own expectations. He
burned with impatience to be the first Eu.
ropean to set foot on the sand and so plant
the cross and the flag of Spain, the standard
of the conquest Of God and of his sover-
eigns, effected by his genius. But he re-
strained the eagerness Of himself and his
crew to land, desirous of giving to the act
of taking possession of new world SOL
emnity worthy of the greatest deed, per-
haps, ever accomplished by seamen, and,
in default of men to call God and his angels,
sea, earth, and sky, as witnesses of his con-
quest of an unknown hemisphere. He put
on all the insignia of his dignities as Admir-
al of the Ocean, and the viceroy of these fu-
ture realms; he wrapped himself in his pur-
pie cloak, and taking 10, hand flag en-
broidered with cross, in which the initials
of Ferdinand and Isabella were interlaced
like their two Kingdoms, and surmounted
by a crown, he entered his boat, and pulled
toward the shore, followed by the boats Of
Alonzo and Yanes Pinzon, his two lieuten-
ants. On landing, he fell on his knees, to
acknowledge, by this act of humility and
worship, the goodness and greatness OF God
in this new sphere of his works. He kiss
ed the ground, and which his face on the
earth, he wePt tears of double import and Of
a double meaning as they fell on the dust of
this hemisphere, now for the first time visit
ed by Europeans; tears of joy for Columbus
the overAowing of proud spirit, grateful
and pious; tears of sadness for this virgin
soil, seeming to foreshadow the calamities
and devastation, with FIRE and sword, and
blood and destruction, which the strangers
were to bring with their pride, their knowl-
edge, and their power. 'f2 10 .
| TWAS the man that shed these tears but
it was the earth that was destined to weep.
Almighty and eternal God,' said Columbus,
as he raised his forehead from the dust, with
Latin prayer, which his companions have
handed down to US, "who by the energy of
the creative world has made the ornament,
the earth, and sea, blessed and glorifed be
thy name in all places! May thy majesty
and dominion be exalted. forever and ever,
as Thou has permitted thy holy name to be
made known and spread by the most
humble of thy servants in this hitherto un-
known portion Of the empire" He then
baptized this land with the name of Christ,
the island of San Salvador. His lieutenants,
his pilots, and his seamen, full of gladness,
and impressed with q superstitious respect
for him whose glance had pierced beyond the
visible horizon, and whom they had Offend
ed by their unbelief, overcome by the evi-
dence Of their eyes, and by that mental su-
periority which ever-awes the minds Of men,
fell at the feet of the Admiral, kissed his
hands and his clothes, and recognized for q
moment the power and the almost divine ma
ture Of genius; yesterday. the victims OF
his obstinacy, now the companions Of his
, success, and sharers in the glory which they
n had Knocked. Such is humanity, persecut-
ing discoverers, yet redping the fruits Of
their inventions. r. '...'', ,. ..,. y.
H. TIE GOVERNOR OF NEBRAsKA.- Hon.
Francis A Burt, Of South Carolina, Govern
or Of Nebraska Territory, is now in Wash.
: ipgton, making arrangements to proceed to
d Nebraska and assume the duties of his Office.