The daily union., 1854-10-18


its proportions sh majestic and its power to defend
the truth and ecuperate for other conflicts and yicto
res beyond all doubt And this is the democratic party
THE AMERICAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION
II now about fifteen months since the expedition under
Dr. Kane heard of last He was then just entering the
Ders Trap the whaers call it, at the most northern
portion of Bains bay. Two hundred and sixteen ice
bergs in view from the deck OF his little vessel
Through these and unnumbered groups of others beyond
them he was to thread his way into Smiths sound; and
thence if Providence favored, into the Polar sea-
All afterwards to depend the phases OF that un-
visited region If by boats forced through the hoaung
iceeds or by sedges drawn by dogs he could push on
ward till he had crossed the great drift current that sets
towards the Atlanticthat current which baiied Sr Ed
ward Parry carrying him far back in the twenyiour
hours by southern progress as he had over e
moving ice in an opposite dreconDr Kane hoped to find
memorials at least if the relics of Sir John Franklins
psrty 1t is plain those who have studied the oceanic
phenomena of the arctic circle that the lost navigator
must have been mbedded in yed ice to the west OF the IN
LET through which he passed from Lancaster sound or
else his vessels have yielded this current ana their re-
mains are to be looked for the track which country
men intended to explore
The season of 1853 was uncommonly open one The
reports of the whaers unanimous as to this ana the
immense ceelds in the Atlantic during the last six months
prove the same fact for the which encountered by
pavieators OFF our coast always that which aetacl
ed by the arctic summer of the year before 1t TO-
gether probable therefore that the little company of the
Advance when they had reached the furthest north
which is deneatea our charts found the way sun an
opep one to those for whom dangers and difficulties were
calculated things.
The season of 1854 on the other hand has been
commonly close one 1t the declaration of all who have
visited North Bain during the present yearwhalers,
transport ships and steamers under the conduct of British
there neither hope chance
for any yesse Of Sighting her way the barrier that
blocked up Smiths SOUND
This fact explains why gallant aoyentefs have not
returned as they proposed do At the time IT fur
nishes ground of anxiety for their immediate safety
They are beyond the pers of the polar approach and their
stores carefully husbanded and reinforced by the hunt viii
no doubt enable them to live and labor till another
summer Their great risk is the character OF the season
which is to come Should that also be close they
may themselves need the same office OF charity they sought
to render to Sir John Franklin
1t is this last suggestion which anxious TO present
to the American people and to their representatives. now
reaHSemte;
to join with us in doing So
The little party numbers nineteen souls embarked in
sagle vessel to which the government of the United
States has contributed nothing but some half dozen o-
GERS with limited share of their equpmen and the or
ders under which they sail In all other respects i Is 3
private expedition The vessel and her garniture are con-
trbuted by the gentleman who furnished forth DE Haven
aoa Mr. Peabody contributed some $4,000 10 its out
fit the different scientific associations Of the country at
New York Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston aided the
young commander in making up the rest Ne 1t is strictly
an American party and whatever of honor II may achev
or has achieved belongs and will belong TO the country
under whose official counenapce it sailed.
II may be commended too gallant party. Us mem
hers are Young men the oldest of ihem the commander
not hrty-wo years of age when he sailed yet most Of
them tried men, boil, in battle and in storm They are
carving ssithout more than the ordinary pay of their
grades some of them without any pay at ALL and more
than one contributing from his personal neag 70 the cost
of the expedition They are in word crusaders in .
cousa of rescue without the possible imputaton sim
gle one Of them OF any other than an ennobng motive
They have thrown hepscves out, as iorlorn hope, to
redeem the pledges which gyea yeers ago by the
onal executive and the question is not now 20 be asked
whether they shall be left without support and the flag
they carry be abanaoned 10 its fate
The only real subject Cor discussion is the of
cung them This is simple enough
The season during which it is at all practicable 10 'ra
verse Melville bay the more southern part OF the
Greenland coast extends from the beginning OF June to
the middle Of August During this period and under fa
voriug circumstances vessel like the Advance mpeled
by sails might pass from the mouth OF Smiths sound to
the limited States In some ix weeks In perhaps half that
time, or little over propery-preparea steamer could
mass from the United States the southern edge of the
barrier that now shuts in little party " tue ice OF
North Ban should then be found relaxed few days more
would be sufficient for exploration by such steamer
reaching very the noto and for the almost certain
reunion of the parties IT, on the contrary the ice
should be found unbroken AT the mouth OF Smiths sonnd
an exploration by sedge parties such as have been re-
sorted to SO successfully in Wellington channel would be
the indispensable and Only Of eiecting rescue
There win not be the difficulty in following the