Year: 1859


Commissioner Bowlin's letter to James
Buchanan. Other portions of the letter
treating of the terms of settlement of the
difficulties between the U. s. and Par
aguay, we have given the substance of
before; E+HBW
The ideas Of great wealth, which have
been made to flourish so conspicuously
in the accounts we have had of them,
vanish into air at the touch of truth. /
see here nothing but unmistakeable evil
dences of poor but happy, laughter
loving people, made to assume better
appearance than their neighbors from
the strong hand that rules them. Their
government is of the cheapest character
imaginable, and the revenue to support
it is mainly derived from monopolies on
articles of produce, somewhat peculiar
to the country. Their revenues from
customs must be small. as they are GER
tainly neither producing nor very con-
suming people. This revenue is chiefly
spent on an army and for Notifications.
As the President is the fountain and
source of all power, he is also the recip-
lent and the disburser of all revc:
nue., which, in the eyes of a simple
people, confounding the individual with
the State, makes up the account of that
fabulous wealth about which so much
has been said.


This is small State, claiming some
100000 inhabitants, and having scarcely
100000, and they nearly all Indians of
the Guaranee race, civilized under the
rigid rule of the Jesuits. They are not
an Industrious race, in our sense of that
word they are only comparatively in
dustrious in contrast with their neigh
bors, who are perfectly indolent and un-
ambitious beyond the necessities of life
from day to day. Such population is
not likely to make very rich State.
Their country is no doubt very produc-
tive in articles of a peculiar and valua-
Bile character, such as Yerby or Para
guayan tea. and many medicinal plants
and gums, and peculiar woods Of the for
est but beyond that I know of nothing
they produce superior to ourselves in
quality. and nothing to compare to us in
quantity with an equal population, they
can produce sugar cheap. as the plant
lasts for many years, and they have a
beautiful staple of cotton. but they raise
neither beyond a mere supply of their
necessities.


The real secret of Paraguay's appa-
rent prosperity in contrast with her
neighbors flor it would not do to contrast
her with progressive people, lies in the
fact of her exemption from revolutions
For this exemption she is indebted to
the bloody rule of Doct- Fraucia, who
left few ambitious aspirants behind him
to contend fol- empire.


This republic contains about $4,000
square miles, a little larger than one of
our larger States. 1t is almost surround
ed by water like an island, and the riv-
ers deep and navigable. In soil and eli
mate it is one of the most charming spots
in the great valley of the La Plata, a
valley equal in size to the great valley
If the Mississippi, 1t lies in this valley
geographically, just as Missouri does in
the valley Of the Mississippi, only a
warmer climate as in general in this
country. The time must come when
these vast plains of the La Plata must
cease to be mere grazing grounds for in
Vulnerable herds of wild cattle, and in
turn become the seat OF a mighty en-
pire.


These rivers certainly have no rivals
on the globe. 7i1


The main trunk is fresh running
stream with distinct current, where it
is fifty miles wide and neither bank in
view and this branch 1900 miles from
the sea, except on the bars, is from 20
to sixty feet deep, and it is but one of the
three principal branches


l have extended this letter too long,
and mnst close by congratulating you
upon this glorious oonsummation of a
troublesome me asure of your Admins
tration.


1 have the honor to be, with high con-
sideration, your Excellence ~ obe-
dent servant.


JAS. B. BOWLIN.


IHrosoi.g Orerboard the Great Gsss.
The President seems to be trying to