Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-09-02

! ms breast 1t Is thought the wound Will
not prove fatal
The NATIVITY OF INDIAN CoRN DR.. J.
H. Gibbon read paper before the Scientific
Association at Springfield Mass, the other
day. in which he contendeI that Maize was
not solely native of America, but was also
the product of Asia and Africa.
An article in the Cincinnati Ga>atc contends
that maize is a native of America alone, and
cites the evidence Of DR.. Pickering who
says
..Whether themaize was introduced into
Ervpt from the East or West, | have met
with no evidence that the plant existed in
the country prior to the discovery of Amerl-
ca.
The writer also cites the evidence Of Ljy-
ing-stone and Booth in proof OF the fact that
maize was not found in Africa, and contends
that it was not known in Europe until 1892.
Admitting that maize might have found its
way to Japan across the Pacific. the article
says
"T,ro points may be considered settled by
positive testimony that maize IS native
Of America and that it is not native of
Europe. Our inquiry therefore. Is confined
to Asia and Africa. Still it is important to
observe that in Asia and Africa were the first
settlements Of mankind, and Of them we have
by far the earliest and most authentic testi-
monies, to say nothing Of those memorable
monuments on which is inscribed much OF
the domestic manners, and history of the an
clients If then the civilization of Asia and
Africa knew anything of Indian Corn, or po-
tatOes, or buckwheat, or turkeys. is it posi-
bic that no evidence OF them should exist in
those histories or monuments. Therefore 1t
is that,
We consider the negative evidence as com
uletely overwhelming. 1t is made conclusive
by being entirely erchlsire Let us turn to
the Mosaic account the ruins Of Nneveh
and the monuments Of Egypt. We find eyi-
dence of the existence of barley and wheat,
and beans, and onions and lentls. but where
is there any evidence of maize or potatoes
Indian corn is one Of the most remarkable
and easily described plants known, and yet
all ancient history is silent on its cxis-
tence. Whele is the evidence? Wheat was
found among the mummies. The entire
absence of any sort of evidence, Is, to our
mind, conclusive of the question. But this
is not all. The classic ages of Greece and
Rome had intelligent writer's on agriculture,
and Rome brought from Africa large por-
ton Of her supplies. Now, if Carthage or
Egypt or Assyria, had ever known or heard
of Indian Corn, would these writers have
been totally silent on 50 interesting plant
Nor is this all. De Goguet, learned French
writer on the origin OF arts and sciences, has
collected all that the ancient writers say,
and all that tradition asserted ofancient ag-
riculture, and not one word is there about
Indian Corn. There is additional significance
given to the fact, that wherever Indian Corn
Is introduced it is an important plant. 1t is
not thing to be overlooked, and vet all
ancient history in regard to it We conclude
therefore, with DR.. Pickering, that there is
no evidence Of the existence of this plant
prior to the discovery Of America.
SIGNIFICANT.-It is a significant fact, that of
the thirteen Senators from the Northern
States who voted for the repeal of the Miss
Ouri Compromise, in 1854, only one yet re-
mains in the Senate Mr. Douglas is left