Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-22
THE NAVIGATION OF THE AMAZON.

'lrton L. Ilmcs)
We are informed by the President, In his message that
tress With Uruguay aud Paraguay the free
navigation Of the great La Plata several Of its rbu.
tory streams, but that efforts orcn the Amazon
our commerce have not been attended with similar
GEES. However, MIR. PERcE refers to the arguments
set forth In former message, in favor OF rco transport
along the magnificent Mississippi of South America, and
expresses the hope that cordial relations with Brazil
may yet insure their acceptance and bring the ncSotis
tons still pending with that Empire to favorable termi-
nation.
desire as nation, to commercial wealth and in
huence, we'll the Development OF South American
prosperity and civilization shall here briefly review
what has already been done towards procuring then aud
present few reflections Of general bearing upon the whole
question at issue between aud sister States oil the
Southern Continent.
While in some quarters, there has been almost will
full blindness the mighty benefits that must result from
the free navigation Of the Amazon the countries
,hrounh which it hows-NswGraOsds, Peru, Boliv. and
Ecuador. at early period OF their history manifested
desire TO draw hther the capital, intelligence and en-
terprse OF other lands aud prepared to throw
the Of their beautiful regions to emgrants om
Europe and the United States During the year 1885,
trsnspired which have in some degree modified
least retarded the fuhlmeu Of these Intentions la
that year, Brazil concluded treaty With Peru, sipula.
ting the contribution of 100000 by each Government
for the purpose Of establishing line Of steamers the
Amazon. This scheme was afterwards remodeled. The
American Government stepped in, and made similar
treaty With Peru securing to itself the same advantages
accorded by the latter to Brazil.
Al that time Americans had already obtained coutro
ding the concessions they requei we're merely sustsn-
ing claim aud asserting tho prceminencc of their
,gc and their skill Tho obstacles to be encountered
the OF regular colonization, were such as the An-
xlo Saxon character alone seemed able cope with. Not
only the rude uIuraroe OF nature stubborn op
ponent Of the pruning hand, but the Incidence of those
who born the soil has, until tho latest yeats,
seemed incorrigble.
As early the year 1851. there treaty granting
the right Of nav the streams tributary the
Amazon. aud couutrymen awaiting themselves Of
it, a
The latter power hoping 10 counterfeit an rnercc which
seemed her 40 formidable, nj once granted to ccria
Mr. De Souza the exclusive right the Tree
Of the river for period OF thirty along with ao
siy Of $4,000 per aunum i'll addition TO the SO Ovu
furnished by Peru IL is evident that this
amounted Sxclusou OF every commercial nstuu in
the world, particularly the Cnci States, .tom inesl
mible privilege 0ui Govcrnn.eut could NOT ol course
submit to this policy in silence but Immediately appealed
to the treaty with B1v, and Peru and claimed the right
TO navigate the upper course OF the Amazon.
The Echo iu P.c,fqre, paper well informed upon
such topics, thus tue present posture oi this arsu
ulent between the United States a;.i BAIL.
alas Is azi within whose limits the mouths OF the AM
SION embraced, the right 10 shnt out the United
States from the navigation OF that ver, when the coun-
tries waterei by aud its tributaries have Sranted the de
sired privilege This question has been pending for
past without sny satisfactory solution. The Amer
Government not without reason, prs;ends iha, Bra
z.l proprietor OF but portion OF the river has no
right alone il matter which equally concerns Pc
ru Ecuador, Bolivia and New GauadI WatereJ they
are the Amszon and its tributaries. One of the great
pomals;s ct tie United Saics-no less person than
Henry C.as-Vcry Sluy urged the right Of Tree ulviSa
ton, but his ctnis fail, Il before ir,sl obstacle.
"iitucrced 10y the example AMI the pressing repre-
sensations OF BIsZ the Peruvian Government accedei to
the OF tie SGuzi Treaty, aUd nsde
against the Americans. Should tue Other Spanish Re
pubcs accept The same coid lions, there can be Io
oabt that the SJuzI scheme, II maintained moOop
oily and free from competition, will turn GU! 10 be com
rtcly E.ptoducIivt II Is Only by the energetic and ST
mua:souS -porIiiun OF the Spanish Republics AID the
great commercial a;ion+. shat the colonization of the
Amaz)n's banks can t.ciei. The BRAZILIAN Govern
has the will the energy necessary 10 hs
accomplishment o! great results; 1t resiss but ia rain
TIA" adviuCcof civilization, which loudly calls for the
openBg OF the Amazon aud its tributaries; those vast,
aud ieTuc piiuS but await the hand o., yield
without elr', the most abundant products. The
oftnc United - ties III such Question: vii! he the
OF the entire world; it will open new to trid'
Lands OF uimlcned wealth to the tide OF immg :iion aud
ia. Spanish Republics elements Of national opu.
lcncr hitherto urknosn."
This grand contamination, may adj to the above
eloquent ples could scarcely have been thus oag delay
cd, nal tie OF the discovery OF gold upon tho baIk
OF the Amazon been confirmed. Commerce would have
forced IL way hisher ns 'Enrn.rabe iulets aud,
los, Bmz Sou,! have been compelled to rela1ush her
exclusive position.
Yet, the remaining Inducements sufficiently great to
attract the Of tue world moment when capital
and trade, alarmed il their ancient csdes and gush
ing upon our hitherto i4voed shores, and seeking
neS regions TO be.utiy aud couqIeE. The exploring
ped ton conducted uGder the o; Government has
seenly excited public curiosity and but glance the
report O. Mr icIdon is needed convince any reader
of the PrJa.e sriy aud luxuranr. that dsti guh
vas, regions lared 10y the mightst river The globe.
Taking its source in Peru, short distance flom the
silver aud quicksilver mines OF Cerro py>cG the Amazon
waters Peru, Bolivia aud New Grenada with its branches
ros maj .sticaiy through the whole breadth OF Brazil
ani ic 9Th mngles lis With the tide Of the
!auiic, after OF nearly 800 miles The bound.
less iorj5:s that lis banks with their virgin growth
only here aud liners, at far intervas cleared
around wreiched lnda mission under the direction
Spanish priests and governors usually Of Indian lineage
Population il scInty; cultivation next TO nothing, and
trade confined 10 few articles such vanilla beans and
snsiparla, which the soil produces without tilage, and
which the Indians exchange for commodities OF the
est necessity. VT the Amazon is navgabe nearly its
sources, aud daring certain Of the year open
that FAR up TO Vessels OF considerable tonnage.
Pending the Drgoti,iops between Feru and Brazil
puohe! article strongly Urging the advantages this
gea enterprise and endeavorlng TO fix the Of
our faTscenS merchants upon ths field OF promising
adventure Since then, the importance OF the sub
has been Increasing every moment, aud should inter
Sst4 10 the S)u American question entrusted 10 able
hands AID sustained by tue iLvor Of people,
well IL the active perseverance, of government,
Yet oesiow upon the ci'zition, aud political
progress Of the world, benefits. beside the o. South
incTicj, even more precious than those for which
unse-ieil their behalf, the California
and thu Islands OF japan.