The Nevada Democrat., 1858-12-29
A Novel Exped,t,on.

An expedition of an unusual character, and
highly interesting in q commercial point of
view, is about to leave our shores. A number
OF respectable persons Of various industrial
pursuits, accompanied by their families, design
to sail shortly for an island in Central Oceani-
ca one of the Papuan groupe, with the avowed
object Of establishing q colonial settlement for
the cultivation Of sugar-cane, cotton, coree,
aud other tropical products, with the abundant
and cheap free labor to be obtained from por-
tioDs Of the Malay Archipelago also to estab-
lish free port for the exchange of products
with the people Of the surrounding islands,
which shall become an enterpot Of trade with
China and Australia, and available as coal
ing station and for the supply and re6ttlng Of
whaling ships in the Pacisc waters.
The objects embraced in this scheme of colon
ization aud trade have within the last two years
engaged the attention and received the appro-
baton of several Departments Of our National
Government and of commercial bodies in diff
ferent parts of the country. The House of Rep
resentatves, In q report, No. 307 Thirty-fourth
Congress, First session, recommends that we
"open the trade of the Malay Archipelago at
points where Holland fails to make good her
pretentions to an exclusive intercourse" and
suggests that "private enterprise will be abun-
dainty sufficient to accomplish. this end" If pro-
tected by the Government; and says further
more in this connection "Let that surplus Of
energetic ferce which frequently manifests it.
self by restlessnes at home, or in adventurous
and ill-devised enterprises, be turned into this
opulent channel, and it will become source of
strength at home and theme of admiration
abroad" The Boston Board of Trade, review
ing this report, in memorial addressed to Con-
gress, published by the Board in 1857, urge
| upon the attention of Congress the propriety
and Importance of dispatching ian envoy to
negotiate treaties Of amity and commerce with
any independent tribes or states of the Archi :
pelago which may be found there of sufficient
power and importance to warrant so doing"
II is not the policy of our Government to take
the initiative in enterprises of this character
but it is ever ready to protect the enterprises
of private citizens in remote lands with which
we have had no previous intercourse, by the es-
tablishment of diplomatic and consular agen'
ces; and we are Informed that the promoters Of
this new American enterprise in the South Pa
cfc have been assured by the Executive that
the Expedition cha II be protected by an official
appointment.
The scheme now presented is novel one,
and may appear somewhat romantic in some OF
its aspects; but we are assured that it is the re-
suit of much careful personal observation at
the point Of settlement. and that il has been
carefully matured Our present relations with
China which obtains from the Malay and Pa
puan islands the greater portion of the raw
staples employed in her arts and manufactures,
render the establishment Of a free enterpot in
the eastern portion OF the Malay Archipelago,
under American auspices, and to become in q
measure an American Singapore, an event of
signal Importance to our Eastern and Pacific
eommerce.-Jonrndl Of Commerce.