The true Democrat., 1857-04-21

most unknown, although in massiyeness if ax- ceeds that Of Europe and Asia combined Let us ehueavor to convey some idea of how our
 maps must De corrected, in order to rive cor rect Idea of the interior of our continent
 DeSnhlhg at the lsthmus of Tehauntenac we nave the great range of the Sierra Madre oI hocKy Mountains, continuation of the GoraIHefaS, reaching north to the Arctic ocean lne entire range reaching the eastern plains ana havlng high elevation. Next, we have the Sierra Nevada or Andes beginning at the same point, facing the Pacific and extending to bearings Straits, distance of $500 miles, hese ranges are the two Cordilleras of the north. Between these we have subordinate ana Intern edate mountains connecting them by cross ranges. For example, we have lowest oown the mountains Queretaro, running north- east by north, connecting the two great ranges. next north Of these mountains of the Rio tlonda, with parallel range enclosing the Balson de Maim next the Serra Minohrae the foggy mountains, 2,5OO miles in lenotb and running northwardly; three large spnrs in the colorado country, yet unexplored with any accuracy, the lowest of these found at tba n.cs ot the Rio del Norte; next the Sierra Wasatch range-a cham running transverselv.and connect Ing the Sierra Madre and the Sierra Nevada winch are partly explored. Next above we nave the ohaKe river mountains, uniting with the Sierra Madre at an angle of 45 degrees At the point of union is found the mass of tba Gros Ventre. Beyond these. again. are inc Blue mountains, still connecting the same two ranges. The next, to the northwest. are tba Olymplan mountains, which, with those of the Snake river enclose the basin of the Columbi, rver. The river del Norte gorges the Sierra Madre to the Atlantic; the Colorado gorges th. Andes to the Gulf of California: the Snake river and the Columbia, to which the former Is tributary, pierce the Andes to the north Faclhce, at about the 45th degree of north latitude.
 In all the maps now existing the typographv of these mountains isziven in the most incor- rect manner; indeed, many of them have no place on them at all. In the map which ema- mated from the typographical department of the government ln 1850, and is considered one of the best authority, the Sierra Madre is oujte left out
 These facts are rather startling, and show on what small and limited capital our grandjlo- quent lecturers and statesmen are doing bu,i- ness. Itw would almost seem as if our govern ment took no further interest in a proper de- velopment ot the geography of the interior. and that the spectators who are running down Congress with schemes for Pacific railroads do not care where any road is to be made if they can only pocket the preliminary plunder.- It would be- Ill tact, a waste of millions of dol lars by the country if congress now legislated on the imperfect knowledge they have of the subject. But, independently of this, we re- qulre further information as to the metaliferous character ofthese mountains We know some thing ot the climate, fertility, and grandeur of the plateus of our continent; we perceive the continual formation of teSltorles and state, upon their border, making fresh conauests to civilization every day; but we have vet proper iy to appreciate the vast mineral wealth which lies in these great mountains In their south ern termlnatlons, as for example in Chhuahu. silver has been obtained for more than one hundred and fifty years in vast quantities. apl three hints have for many generations been at work there in coining dollars Many of our readers have observed in the old Spanish dol lars the letter C stamped on the face, near the edge These are from the hints we speak of But we have the same quantity of silver in our own territory. At that point where the Sierra Madre and Sierra Mimbres meet in abCut 3o degrees north, at the Siegra Sun Juaa where, If we recolleet rightly both Pike and Fremont lost their way, gold, silver, cinnebar and precious stones are found in immense quantities. The character of the rocks not only Jusnhes this asserton but the partial ex- pioraIionS known to Us confirm its truth On the very best authority we may state that at the place designated, and indeed along the whole range, the precious metals exist in d greater extent than in California or Australia
 he climate IS entirely favorable to the work Ing of the mines, and the soil at the base of the mountains and in the basins they form is unsurpassed for fertility. We understand that an oihcer ot our army, now stationed with his command Ill our harOor, has a large number Of specimens Of emeralds, rubes and saphires, gathered in this locality with his own hand and who entertains similar opinion with that which IS here expressed.
 Thus, then, we are presented with an extrsor. dlnary fact, that Ill the interior of our country easily accessible by land from the southern and western staSs, and where a population of a hundred millions would scarce ostle each oth- er we have an Ophir surpassng everything we have heard of Tn ancient or modern times- The opinions of Humboldt, of Ansted of Fremont, support this statement. Is this i'm . mense advantage then to be overlooked? Is 1t to lie buried in nasty narratives and imper- feet surveys? We hope not; and we should be glad tc see congress, instead of legislating upon petty personal difficulties, fostering the schemes of Iog-rollers and joining in the race for offices, directing their attention to a practi- cal development of the great resources of the country. We have several times alluded to the necessity of accurate surveys and maps for the direction of our statesmen. A bunder in the then current map of the day cost us some hundreds of thousands of dollars in rectifying its incorrect terminology of the Gadsden pur- chase. We know what misunderstanding we had with Russia in settling our line on the Pa clhc; we know that the conference of Paris is as much as anything for the purpose of recti flying an error of boundary in an imperfect map, and we perceive at this moment before us, new map of Africa, just published in this city, which actually leaves out all the new ex- plorations, and even the discoveries laid down on the older maps.
 Let Us then have, as soon as possible, full information as to the yet unexplored part of our country. And if there is too much old foggyism and nepotism in the way in the ap- propriate department the merchants of New York should undertake the exploration in their own generous way. One of their body has dis tnguished himself in Arctic researches; ano- ther who has left his name imperisbaby be hind him, John Jacob Astor planted the Amer ican flag at his own cost on the shores of the Pacifc let others initiate their example, and send out an expedition to these tich mountains full of silver and gold and precious stones.- Let IS know more of those vast agricultural basins, fitted to sustain population of millions, and furnish the world with cereals and animal food. America, says d late lecturer has pro- duced but one prophet, and that was Jo Smith; but we think there were numbers of our early statesmen and poets who comprehended and predicted the coming greatness of our country, when they proclaimed her the Queen of the world and the child of the skies"
 Presents from the King of Siam.
 WASHINGTON, April 1.-The King of Siam has sent presents to the President, which have been deposited in the State Department. There are among other articles beautifully ornament ed swords and spears