Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-30


They have torn mo and bleed"
We copied yesterday ftom-the Panama Herald
statement to the effect that treaty had been made
between the United States and Ecuador, by which
the latter ccles her sovereignty over the Galapagos
Islands to the United States for three millions Of dol
lars The New York Herald observes that il sees no
reason for doubling that this important information is
substantially correct; and that, if the terms and
ditions not yet finally decided upon the question
is under consideration and the ultimate anne Ration
far from improbable. 1t processes to base its opinion
upon the following circumstances
ls Because the Galapagos Islands are the resort of
large number Of American whaers, and would become
very important naval stations aud moreover large depo
sits and nitre are said to exist there which would
he OF the utmost value to the agricultural interest And
the policy ofhe present Is evidently to nc.
ue by purchase important positions beyond the limits of
the Union, is manifested in the Cuba the S,nd
witch lsl,nds al island in the Mediterranean Sika an
island in the Chiua seas, &C., &c.
ely. Ecuador is bankrupt and wants moaey to pay her
debts and three millions of dollars woui be of mora use
TO her than the islands in question: which are no. only
used as place OF binishment for q few convcts.
SdIy Bcause, in consequence Of report made on the
Slst oil july last by select COMMITTEES OF the House OF
Representatives, appointed spon the memorial of c-
zrns OF Delaware praying the intervention of the govern
men, Of ths United States in the Gusno tr.i with Peru
Com missioner was sent out TO Peru sui the south
n
sonnby infer that he has power the ACQUISITION
81 any slinds containing guano deposits and that Com
missioner, we believe, has visited ,uajcr.
Ably General Viamil, tho Ecuadorion minister a,
WASH ngto Ia the proprietor Of OF the rgcst the
islands aud has for time been anxious to sell
anu natural to suppose that he would have brought
the subject before the notice of the Government of the
Government Of the United States.
Putting all these circumstances together we d., not
therefore hesitate in believing the event probable
The Galapagos Islands, as is generally kncwn are
situated about FIVE al, hundred miles from the coas of
America, and lie Immediately under the equator The
archipelago ss at priuciple islands. Of which FIVE
exceed the others in szs-namely Alhenar. Inief,ti
gable, Chatham, Nirhorough aud James tho smaller
ton
TIE climate Is not excessively moi, % might be sup
posed from their position, does mu;s rein fall but the
clouds hang low and though the lower parts sterile a,
an cieSaon oil thousand feet aud upwards il possesses
toerably uxu.ant vegetation.
The islands are all volcanic, and Darwin whom we
quote there be less than ca,ers
throughout the group They generally very sterile and
water Is exceedingly scarce; soe of the islands
is known exist.
The animals insect, and pl,nis of these islands in mos,
instances differ from all others known they are very
lew IN number and except tortoses and few Wild MIG.
OF no use to man, There numerous good srbors ana
the negh5oring abound win wales which ,uses i,
to be much equeued hy whaers Excellen, h is c.ucht
close ID the Shore and mentioned before in ia
Journal! there is fishing es;ihl sh'rc Of about thirty men
on the islands, who dry the Ash and fird a ready market
Tor them in Peru Nire is said to exit and a,tery we
nave hear ui large deposits OF guano 'er ihirtv
miles in length by two in breadth and over 10 feet in
depth, hn Darwin expressly that there i. a reurka
bic scarcity OF aquatic birds ;hs group ard captains Of
vessels " no have visited them all that they never
knew of the cx stcncc of any,
Such the Galapagos Islands they n, present exist
but il they fall into the bands OF the AurloSaxons is
imprOhab BILE that their energy p.ricrce and ain
convert them into fruitful ,orehouse ard
ing place f'F the m rner who ravcrscs the Pacific.
T., l..
chant Of this city cheerfuy give place to the sub
joined communications which lately appeared in the New
York Journal OF Commerce. L. calls attanton to a SUB
ec in which merchants and others in all the cite. are
Interested, aud therefore deserves consideration.
THE LETTER BoXas AT TIE PosT OFFICE
TO the Etitor1 Gfthe Journal IF Commerce.
GEsrLEMEs A suggestion in one of tie papers. tina.
the Of the post office boxes was about 10 he ,scd
!r IN four TO six dollars me TO thin kug Aud
had no sooner begun than the question arose what are
those boxes tor! Probably worthy Postmaster would
r'py,-''ier the convenience Of those who receive their
mail matter from them" But let u. look AT this for
moment. Fist cf all then, assume that il is the i'm
pcra'vc duty OF the government To make arrange
nents m this great commercial city, that all letters ard
papers shall he delivered expeditiou,ly as possible
regardless OF the expense which never bear any a
preciahie proportion TO the loss which would from
delay 10 the delivery Assuming this, ask suppose tue
"hoe system OF paying for boxes to be Terminated
Tomorrow, how could the Government do its work so
cheapy and oxpedtiousy as by continuing justhe
system! IL tue arranged alphabetically IL
would require three delivery clc X, 10 one nov cuoyeI
o. else the merchl and binkers, wbvse
enormous, aud requires answering received
might wait all dag, andihen go away unserved. sides
this the present system OF rvicc tho post Office
another way customer in and looks at bis box
ana teFe IL nothing in 1t. he goes away without
bling Any Now let the Clerks. at the Apb ,beticll
Deliveries, tell us how much time they waste in vain
searches. And then let Imagine this done for oil the
orfy-sx bnnd:ed and firms VINO no receive tb cir
/ I.r..
were to decline paying for to morrow some
ke tho same system would be preserved from sheer
necessity uniess perbnps The government, from vindc
yeneS at this dmnu:on Of it, revenue should SCI ou.
to puntsh us by rnnousy slow delivery. That course
would not last long.
Tho fact is this whole system Of char ,ing for boxes is
4 neon impo.on unworthy 0i great anI rich govern
neot, and ought forthwith to be aboIi,1si. Toe cost Of
uig them up is mere bagiolle. and yet the
iy has been paying $4,000 year for their nae and Il,
snos cooly proposed TO raise this to 900 Tor what
IVA Pot pli;e could 10 wiihou:, unless IL proved ut
,,awn recrcant 10 Ia duty.
ftrSss excused ON the score OF privie cuoii,y
:, g Pot VI tsier p,cEsiod the reu. : but the
Va. hbls inteffofed, ~ iniie this petty ssinjle a
1nii resnii.p, by compelling him account f,r tho
and BIacE All oes 1t not require every who re-
=, R,sneh ana PrBny extra for the expense OF de.
iszs r'sio' striped 'rs'son thi. oagh, to pay
tiers Plain and Printed When no piys his postage, hq
rder MOO sis nd wo tho rholc expense, bob OF
Plaid vslen,is, ,a' differently. All the letters
~ manster,fhlsfs at 0frysry miii to out Of box
A. Of Tho , ssIs cstsr at oo with.
p''' %saa&S \ TO- s 1S5 .s TO ss
"a gSaI EnN.li,EEn'e G0i..s.-hs~ $.
60. ~ tern'Naher' and standard Rules, fsr ,iie.
asa, mys sim ofne 6i,cai StH g"H' 4 4 ~.
geusE" con Hnuni CA-gs.-y lSyant Ro.eVo-J n
''5s ''r ''1y '''' ''''''''' VIZ" ao',. :, Q
GSs.,. =; "a. ,oss' kash D'y ard New
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