The daily union., 1854-11-11

enton OF your honorable bodies is invited to the present
condition OF the Amazon and its nayigabe tributaries
and To those principles OF the international code that are
applicable TO the case in hand
The Amazon whether ii be considered in respect to the
volume OF water discharged by it, the extent of its
navgaDy, or the area OF country drained by it, IS the
largest the most majestic and mighty river in the world
The red man OF the forest calls the king Of rivers
The main stream itself is in the southern hemisphere
just the other side of the line its tributaries take their
rise in both hemspheres those side Of equator
flowing TO the south those the other the north until
| they reach the main stream and swell its tide
The basins of its tributaries many steppes leading
from the habitat of MOSES and chens the Andes down
TO the pampas of the temperate and the plains of the ord
zone, in the regions below.
The Mississippi runs south every it
parallels OF latitude There is change of climate for
every parallel and every climate enches the commerce of
| the main stream with lbs peculiar fruits.
Its tributaries drain the parallels that the main
stream drains, traverse the same climates that the main
stream raverses They therefore swell the amount the
variety of the agricultural products that the main
| bears on its bosom to the
On the other hand, the Amazon east; and though
the main stream itself may be said to parallels it
descends from steppe to steppe and raverses de-
sends from the mountains climate after climate and that
in such quick successon-for they are literally piled
up one above the ohethat is astonished rather at
the variety than with the quantity OF the productions
that delight upon its banks.
But its tributaries unlike those Of the Mississippi which
come from the east and the west flow from the north and
the south. They are nnumerabe each one drains its
plateau which, in the first place has soil and climate pc
cullar TO itself and its elevation. On its the
stream it parallels of latitude and each crossing
there is a new climate and virgin SOIL which teens with
the richest and rarest of fruits in great protuson
With this physical arrangement and these double tides
of climates those of each tributary differing from the rest
and those of the main stream differing from all the great
Amazonan watershed is endowed with capacities and
pabtes for production and commerce such the world
has never yet realized and to which there is the
face of this earth no parallel
The main stream itself affords uninterrupted nayiga-
ton for vessels of the largest class from the the foot
Of the Andes distance of than 5000 miles, while its
tributaries some Of which larger than Missis-
t,oc ~ tho ,,c,p
tans and afford water for steamboat navigation to
known extent and to places in unexpored regions of abu
| lous wealth.
| The Amazon and its navigable tributaries wash the
shores OF five republics and empre-the empire
ing below, and at the mouth both banks the republics
owning in part the main stream and most of its con-
| huents
These streams afford the only practical channel of
municaton between the Amazonian provinces of these
republics and the The Andes efectually off all
commercial communication between them and the Pacific
Peru has offered lands seeds, and the implements of
husbandr with free passage the mountains to
any emgrant who will agree to cross over and settle in
that country
But when the emgrant toil-worn and frosted by the
way reaches this wilderness Of wealth he finds himself in
the condition of the sailor in his valley of diamonds
transportation back the mountains is simply i'm
possibility andas for his descending that mighty river with
the hard-earned fruits of honest patient labor the ord
nances Of Brazil deny him the privilege contravening
thereby the benecent decree Of the Great Lawgver of the
Universe which, wise tell us made the air, the sea-
and running water, the common property OF the whole
world Thus the Amazon is not only shut from commerce.
but the nation holding its mouth shuts it out from all set
| tlement and civilization.
For centuries it has been in the hands of the Cath
oc Christian people, and for centuries the policy of their
rulers has been neither it themselves permit
others to use it.
In the valley of the four crops of corn are pro-
duced in year. and the harvest Of many other fruits is
perpetual.
Ii is computed that the territory which the policy of
Brazil thus shuts up against mans capable of
tainng even with round of harvests population
nearly large as that which nhabits the whole
earth.
With the population of Belgium to the square mile the
valley of the Amazon would support 0l66OoOO inhab-
itans
The dry land placed here by the Creator for
use. The policy which shuts man out from it is
ally and monsrosy. As for the laws of nations and
their application the Amazon that river presents case
altogether peculiar strong, clear and rumpet-tongued
With tho exception OF the St Lawrence, the Amazon is
the only river in the world the navigation of which is de-
MED to the riparian States by the nation commanding its
outlet And here the is worse because It's only
shut to commerce. but to civilization, and to mans
Your memorialists believe that declaration by the Con-
gress of the United States TO the principles Of right and
justice which in such ought govern would have
the most wholesome influences peaceful and happy
settlement of this question.
1t is eminently American question, and such the
copyeuQn desire to bold it, and wish it to be treated
/ This is emncntiy an American uuestiou--a question
scarcely less interesting the citizens of this country than
it is to the people of the riparian States and to the pro
ceedngs of this Congress therefore the people of the Uni
ted States cannot look with indifference It's object is
treat of the navigation for all time come of the largest
river and the greatest extent of inland navigation in the
world and should this Congress assemble it is presumed
that the government of this country will not manifest in
difference as to its deliberations proceedings.
But these republics assembled in an Amazonian Con-
gress do but little of themselves The of
Brazil necessary to give effect their resolves They
weak she is strong They their part, not pre-
pared to force the mouth of the river and Brazil hers
is using force keep shut That that empire will
ay liberal course of policy proposed by the repub
lies with regard 70 the navigation o. Tho rivera withn her
| borders is not to be supposed.
Brazi! exhausted the arts of diplomacy In her efforts to
induce these republics to combine with her in closing up
that forever She has protested to Peru for keeping
the faith Of treaty spuatons with England and the mi
ted States in the matter of theirrght to trade with Naut
and wherever in Peru the favored nation may be per
mted with its vessels Her policy for centuries has beer
keep the Amazon closed and since the five riparian
pubc would not league With her to keep il shut it is not
likely that she will unite with them to throw it open.
Happily for the rights OF humanity, tee interests of
and the advancement of civilization the Importance
Of this great question Is rightly understood by three
least OF the riparian States, viz Bolivia, Ecuador and
Peru They have, by their decrees already
by Bolivia Of January 1885, that by Peru Of April 1853
shed rights and privileges the Amazon only TO the
citizens of the United States but to the people of the whole
world.
They have established the freedom of the seas upon their
naygable tributaries Of the Amazon. They have invited
the world TO come and use tiese Y4sreto settle upon
their bNnkso subdue the wilderness there rnpiea.sh
the solitary placesto make those lovely countries their
homes and to enjoy perfect freedom Of trade for all time
Here is boon to the world therefore, neither Brazil
any other nation has the right to oppose that world
in the enjoyment of good throw herself
in the way of civilization of human progress TO
aaop. any policy adverse to the rights of man.
BY these aecrcs md the enlightened course of policy
a