Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1856-09-06

We copy from the Philadelphia Ledger the
following interesting article:
The controversy which ragged so long as tc
whether America was visited by the Scandin
ayians or not, before its discovery by Colum
bus has been determined finally, as all known
in the affirmative. So late as the appearance
of irving's "Columbus," the question was still
an open one and that author felt himself even
authorized to decide in the negative. But
since that PERIOD the researches Of the Danish
antiuuaries have left no doubt that the North.
men landed on this continent, more than eight
hundred years ago; that they even colonized it
| for time and that something Of their blood
and language however inconsiderab la, must
have become Incorporated with the red skin race
and tongue, whentbe colonies were tin0lIya5an-
dohed. But by, all writer's, these settlements
=, >A-eonced-5 80 h0~s t3GG 5!lires 20 NJ4.h
America. No one suspected that the Scandln-
avians had ever penetrated, IN their adVentur-
Gus voyages to the West Indies or to South
! America. Bot within the last two years, this
theory has been broacbed on pathological
prounds, and from Two distinct quaters--one,
the Able de Bourbourg, whose researches have
been made in Guatemala; the other, a Swedish
gentleman, lately resident in Brazil. The lat
ter especially, asserts that the language of the
Peruvian Incas was Swedish The name of
Inca he considered merely corruption Of lnga
the founder of the royal Scandinayians race Of
the [nplinga, celebrated in an ancient Saga
A letter on the subject from the pen of Mary
Hewitt, makes CONSPICUOUS figure in the last
London Anthenteum,
These analogies in tongues, however, are
perilous things. If, as there is reason to be-.
ieve, most of the languages in the world had a
common origin, the roots of many words must
be similar in not few. A century agoit was
the fashion. on this and other accounts to at
tribute the colonization of America to the ten
tribes of israel. Quite as plauible a theory, we
have no doubt, could be constructed, tracing the
dominent caste, at least, in Peru, il not Mexico
to the ancient Scandinavains, by the simple
process of collecting, in Que imposing array, all
such words, customs and institution as were
common to the northmen and the lncas, and
rejecting the ten thousand others that were dis.
similar. Antiquarian research, we regret to
saw, has advanced but little, since Scott in one
of his earliest novels, made Majori banks dis.
coyerd Roman encampment in an old ditch, till
the eaberlunze dspelled the dream by saying
he "mnded the diggn' O. it." Crude theories,
founded on one.sided investigations, ARE susbsti.
tuted for that large, wide and thorough induc-
tion, BY which only can truth be attained
We have no doubt that, in the course Of time,
and as the antqties and ancient tongues oil
these continents become more completely under
stood, an approximation at least will be made
to unriddling the great problem "who first set
tied America 2" II is not impossible either,
though scarcely probable, that the Scandinavia
ans will be found to have had hand in 1t.
But as vet both data and the careful analysis,
to solve this pink, are wanting. The Bacon
of this new field Of discovery has uot yet
arisen.
COMPLIMENT TO GEN. CAss-The London
correspondent CT the Journal Of Commerce, Of
the llth of July, pays Gen. Cass the following
well nerited nompliment.
With respect to British supercilliousnes and
British encroachments, Gen Cass has been
most faithful incl on the watch-tower. and
the nation will venerate his memory for his
patriotism when he shall have passed away
from the earth. | think his vigilance has
done an incalulabIe amount Of good in bring
ing this nation to proper appreciation OF US.
He has contributed than any one else to teach
it that we are something" and TO thus COM
mand for us respect. Iu stead the battle field,
the millennium Of harmonious relations between
the two peoples will be presented to his view
as part Of his reward.
DwrN DIED DowN.-Thc New York Ez-
press SAYS that Col. Fremont having been
assessed in that city at 100000, went before
the Tax Commissioner on the 24th ult, and
swore every dime Off away. 10 other words,
he made affidavit that he was not worth one
cent over and above his debts and liabilities, and
thus he stands relieved Of the sl00, 900. which,
on the books, he was set down as being worth.
Hence his name stands crossed of the tar
box.