The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-17

| tiiS fth4OA Si tiS l. tAlO C<Al
ents of their renowned commander, Al
buquerque; but the contest shows the
value which all nations placed on the
possession of this trade; and the reversed
conditions of Alexandra and Lisbon-of
Egypt and Portugal-upon the defeat of
the Turks and Venitians, shows that that
value was not over-estimated.
a. The CoNsTANTINoPoLIrANR RoUTE.-
This became fully established in the time
of the Greek Empire, and during the two
hundred years of the crusade irruptions !;
and to which the enlightened part of the
crusaders greatly contributed. For, while
a religious frenzy operated upon the
masses, the extension of their trade with
India was the systematic, perseyering,
and successful policy of all liberal and
enlightened minds, availing themselves of
that frenzy to promote and establish the
commerce, upon the possession of which
the supremacy of nations depended. 1t
was fully established; and the long and
tedious transit across the Black Sea to
the mouth of the Phases, up that river to
portage of five days to the Cyrus, down
that river to the Caspian Sea, across it to
the mouth of the Oxus, up it nine hun
dred miles to Samarcand, (once Alexan-
dria, } the limit of Alexander's march to
the northeast; and after this long travel,
an overland journey of ninety days, on
the Bactrian camel, to the confines Of
China, commenced. Such was this ex-
tended route. Yet it was upon this
route. so extended and perilous, that Eu-
rope was supplied with East India goods
for several centuries-the profits of the
trade being so great, that after its arrival
at Constantinople it could still come on
to Italy, and even round to Bruges (Brus-
sells J and to Antwerp. 1t was upon this
route that the Genoese established their
great commerce, gaining permanent es-
adjustments, with great privileges, at
Constantinople, tits suburb Pela, and
in that Crimea, then resplendent with
wealth, since impoverished, now the
scene of bloody strife; and of which the
issue would be fortunate, if it restored
the Crimea to what it was when Cafa
was as celebrated as Sebastopol is now,
and celebrated for streams of commerce
instead of streams of blood. But to this
route of Constantinople the Cape of Good
Hope passage became as fatal as it was
to that of Alexandra.
5. THE OCEAN RoUTE.-It has been
the line of the East India trade since the
close of the fifteenth century, and must
have continued to be so forever, if mar
vel had not been wrought, and the land
become the facility-the ocean the obsta-
cle-to commerce. All the powers that
have land for distant communications
must now betake themselves to the steam
car. Why contend with ships for the
dominion of the sea, when both the ships
and the sea are to be superseded? Take
the case of Russia. She has been one
hundred and fifty years building up
navy-to become useless the first day it
was wanted Not only useless. but an
incumbranee and Understanding
impregnable forts, and vast armies, and
murderous battles to protect and to save it
save it from going to swell the enemy's
feet, and be turned against its builders.
Why build any more ships when there is
the land to carry commerce, without pro-
lection, to every part of Europe, and to
Asia, and to America, (by Behring's
straits, rendering inimical fleets inoper-
ative and harmless g? But con6ne my
self to our own commerce and our own
land. There is the road to India, (point-
ing west, half the way upon our own
land, and the rest on peaeeable sea,
washing our shores, but separated from
Europe by the whole diameter of the
earth. Can we not cease wrangEng over
an odious subject of domestic contention,
and 60 to work upon the road which is to
exalt us to the highest rank among ma
tons, and make us mistress of the richest
gem in the diadem of commerce? Can
we not cease contention, and seize the
supreme prize which lies glittering before
us? Make the road and in its making,
make our America the thoroughfare of
Oriental commeree-throw back the Cape
and Horn routes to what Tyre became
when Alexandria was founded, and what
Alexandria became when the Cape of
Good Hopewas doubled-making Europe
submissive and tributary to us for a
transit upon our route, and dispensing us
from the maintenance of the fleets which
the ocean commerce demands for its pro-
lection!
Pass the substitute which I propose,
and you have the opinion of men whose
names are in it, and whose opinions are
worth attention. that these great and glo-
rious consequences will ensue.