Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-30
The expedition to Paraguay.

sPurn the proposition.
The Expedition 10 Paraguay. I'd
Our relations with Paraguay though extensively
discussed by the press at this time, very imper
feotly understood. The Boston Herald contains 8
full account Of the causes which led to the difficult
ty with that country, abstract of which will be
interesting to our readers. President Fillmore, in
his message Of 1882, announced that a treaty had
been effected between Paraguay and the United
States. This treaty was approved by the Senate,
March 4th, 1853, and President Pierce in 1854, in
his annual message speaks of the treaty as an &C.
oomplisbed fact, and states that together with
treaty with the Argentine Republic, it secured 10 the
United States the free navigation Of the great river
La Plata, and Of its larger tributaries In the
course of the year 1853 however, President Lopez,
who had formerly been friendly to this country,
changed his mind in regard to the treaty and for
maly refused to exchange rstihestions. The reason
for this is stated to be his opposition to an Amer-
trading company which has been organized,
with the then American Consul at its head, whose
operations iDjuriousy interferred with bis monopo~
lies and gains. The history Of this affair is much
too long for present purpose 1t is enough that
this was the foundation Of LOpez's opposition.
.Up to 1856, Lopez still delaying the ratification,
but while he was still protesting himself friendly to
the United States the enterprise was undertaken of
exploring the Parana River by the Water Witch,
commanded by Lieut. Page. But the President of
Paraguay had issued Oct. 1854, an ediOt prohibit
ing foreign vessels of war from navigating the
rivers of that State. Lopez had no right to issue
this edict-We adopt the language of the Baltimore
Republican his government owned but one
half Of the river, Corrents owning the other half
On attempting the ascent Of this river, the Water
Witch vas fred into in February, 1855, by the guns
of Fort Itapiru. This, in every point of view,
q gross outrage The Water Witch was not in ezel,-
siUs Paraguay waters, and if she was, she was on
peaceful scientific expedition, and this country
at peace with Paraguay. The object Of the e1pedi-
tiOn is to back up peaceful negotiations for atone
ment for this insult and to persuade Paraguay that
it is better for her peace and safety to regard treaty
stipulatOns.
The Republic Of Paraguay is included mostly be-
tween latitude 10 deg. and q deg. 35 S. and lon
81 deg. and So deg. w, snd is nearly enclosed by
the Parana snd Paraguay rivers, which separate it
from the Plata confederation on the west and from
portion of Brazil on the east. On the north it
has the Brazilian province Of Matte Grasso. The
space thus enclosed forms compaoterritory nearly
in the form of paraIlelogram, averaging about 47O
miles in length and 200 miles in BREADTH whose
is estimated at $4,000 square miles. Paraguay
then it will be seen, is large as New England,
with State nearly as large as Maine added. It's
population probably does not fall short Of 100000
and the inhabitants are chiefly the descendants Of
the north of Spain. Il was discovered by Sebastian
Cabot, who sailed up the Parana in 1925 Assump-
ton, the capital was founded in 1886. Its trade
consists in the export Of tea (which is raised there
tobacco sugar, cotton, hides, tallow, wax, honey,
cattle, WOOL leather, SC. It declared itself indie
pendent of Spain in 1910, and from about 1912 to
1910 its affairs entirely controlled by DR.. Fran
es, who, being first elected consul became dictator
in 1914 and continued to administer the government
with great ability till his death, the advanced age
of "a years. In 1876 Lopez was elected President
for life. The army of Paraguay was lately raised
TO 10000 men.
A mountain range Of considerable elevation
stretches nearly through the centre Of the country
from n to s. between the Parana and Paraguay
rivers sending their drainage in opposite directions
The distance from the water shed to either river
scarcely anywhere exceeds 100 miles. The Paraguay
which forms the boundary Of the Republic through
out its entire extent of 800 miles, rises in Brazil in
about latitude lS degrees s. The Parana rises at
two seasons Of the year, viz: during the tropical
rains, and in the summer, from the melting of the
in the Andes 1t is the principal tributary to
the Plata, aud its ota, is at least 1000 miles
In its upper part, it receives numerous large afiu
ents, but owing to falls, it is nsvigable only 100
miles above its junction with the Paraguay. Below
this point it is navigable for vessels Of 800
tons.
The Argentine Republic, with whic on
good terms, is vast territory, containing an area
Of $4,000 square miles. It's average length is
about 1900 miles and its average BREATH is about
$50 miles Its principal river is the Plata. which
has width Of l70 miles at its mouth, into which
the Panama, the great river of Paraguay flows. The
Parana, considered with reference to the magnitude
and number Of its tributaries is of the greatest
rivers on the American continent. Il is the free
navigation of this river which it is sought secure
in accordance with treaty sipulatiOns.