Year: 1859

|
great expense which is occasioned the Cen
eral Government by the various surveying
and exploring expeditions which it has from
time to time authorized and fitted out
with the interests of science, which are those
of mankind at large, and cannot discern how
much the deprecated expenditures have done
to elevate the national character, to promote
our countrys highest welfare, and to widen
the domains of human fellowship and intel
ligence. If their mean policy had been pur
sued, we should never have had that magnifi-
cent coast survey which, besides its many
benefits to navigators, has been productive
of such important scientific results nor
should we have had that pacific embassy to
the Japanese, which led to the opening of
that wonderful country to the acquaintance
and commerce of other nations. The various
continental surveys and explorations that
have given US such important and accurate
knowledge concerning the great region "
ing between the Pacific and the Mississippi,
| would likewise never have been made had
the counsels of the parsimonious prevailed.


The full value of these explorations can
never be estimated If they have cost the
their cost directly, many fold, by increasing
its store of natural resources and opening
new avenues to industry 1t is quite certain
that the reports of Col. Fremont would have
stimulated emigration to California, even had
gold never been found here; and it is equally
certain, that subsequent overland explora-
tions have done and are doing a great deal
toward Fastening the settlement of new
regions.


The recent peaceful settlement of the Par
aguay difficulty, difficulty that for a time
threatened to result in just that kind of q
war which magnanimous people most dis
like, strikingly illustrates how the noble ex-
peditions mentioned may rebound to the
national advantage abroad. The scientific
expedition to the La Plata, under Lieut.





just been published, exalted our country in
the esteem of Urquiza, the Argentine Presi-
dent, who extended to it his protection and
assistance, and has since manifested towards
our government the most friendly feeling.
This he proved by his voluntary offer to aid
in effecting an amicable settlement of our
difficulty with his fat neighbor Lopez. The
prompt appearance of our armed feet may
have had the most effect in moving the mind
of Lopez to bloodless compliance with the
just demands Of our government, but it is
quite certain that the friendly Intervention
of Urquiza also had its influence. The ex-
ploration, the armed expedition, and the
peaceful settlement, cannot but result in Sc
curing to the United States, amongst all the
hybrid, unstable governments of South
America, more becoming respect than they
ever manifested before.


Such expenditures as we have referred to
are really measures Of economy, and 1t is to
be hoped that no mistaken notions of re-
trenchment will cause them to be abandoned,
so long as there remains unaccomplished
single great enterprise that demands more
than individual ability. But there is one
respect in which the great national under
takings alluded to could be further utilized.
If cheap editions of the reports were printed
and extensively circulated for sale, the
amount of popular information on topics of
great interest would be largely increased, the
material advantages discovered would be
sooner seized upon and developed, and the
sentiment of attachment to our common
country be more common and intelligent.


To MoTHERs.-Don't give your little ones