The United States of America, having assumed a respectable station among the nations, is fast advancing in wealth and power. Her territories are stretched over a vast extent of country; and her population is increasing with a rapidity unprecedented. We are already looked up to, by other nations, as a people of very considerable importance; and as having made a successful experiment in politics and government, which politicians had before considered impracticable. Ought we not then, as a nation, (paying some attention to the progress of science and knowledge,) to hold out inducements for the progressive improvements, and useful discoveries of our own citizens?
While the English, the Russians, and the French, are making great exertions for the purpose of discovery, and the advancement of science; will America remain idle and inactive? Will she adopt the unwise policy that individual enterprise ought to be let alone? Other nations act differently; and they have long been directing their researches towards the acquisition of a more perfect knowledge of our globe: and such exertions have always been considered as the most glorious actions on record in the annals of their history. By so doing, they have not only been amply rewarded themselves, but have benefited the world at large, by the acquisition of important information respecting the before unknown parts of it, and by the improvement of science. Will America then sit by inactive and contented, while she is surrounded with plenty, and enjoying a situation most enviable in the career of nations? Let us rather encourage than shackle the genius and enterprising spirit of our own citizens; and not act like an avaricious miser, who directs all his thoughts to the calculation of dollars and cents. Had this "let alone policy," been pursued by the nations that have sent out ships of discovery, what would have been the situation of the world at the present day? Bounds would have been set to the great field of philosophy, and the arts and sciences must have flourished only within a circumscribed sphere. In vain might the revolving planets have forced upon the minds of mankind their beautiful order, motions and attractions;—the extensive continent of America, must yet have remained a gloomy wilderness; and the wild flowers have bloomed upon her fertile plains, only to be crushed by the foot of the unlettered savage.
If we take a retrospective view of the world, for some centuries back, we shall find the knowledge of the most scientific nations, bounded by a circumference of two or three thousand miles. At length a few enterprising individuals, aided by their governments, made extensive discoveries:—A Columbus discovered the vast continent of America; and subsequent navigators discovered the extensive countries of New-Holland, New-Zealand, and numerous islands in the Pacific ocean and South sea. All of these now disclose to us, that what was formerly believed to constitute the whole habitable world, is but a spot, one little corner, in the parts known at this day. Even yet, a vast portion of our globe remains unexplored. Why then should we contribute nothing towards the attainment of the grand pursuit of nations? We, who are destined, I hope, one day to stand as the first nation under the sun—Why should we fold our arms and sit inactive, while that little spot Great Britain, is making such efforts to explore those regions?
It would not be an unwise policy, for the American government to foster and encourage such noble workings of genius. It can in no way be inconsistent with the present policy of our government, that an expedition should be fitted out to explore the polar regions; but, on the contrary, it would bespeak a spirit of liberality, and a desire to promote scientific enterprize. It is neither against the constitution nor laws of our country; we are now at peace with the world; taxes are comparatively trifling; the situation of our country at present affords a most favourable opportunity for the accomplishment of the undertaking. It is one of such importance too, as will justify the use of money and men; while the honour of the discovery of a New World would be its reward.
I apprehend that we only lack confidence in our own abilities, to perfect and explain many things not dreamed of by the ancient philosophers. We are inclined rather to undervalue our own efforts; and, like our former opinions on manufacturing subjects, think we can never appear to advantage, unless dressed in a coat of foreign manufacture. It appears to savour of the doctrine, that no new opinion or proposition can merit attention, or be adopted, unless it come from a European source. Had the proposition of concentric spheres, or a hollow globe, been made by an English or French philosopher, instead of a native of the United States, I very much question, whether so large a share of ridicule would have been attached to its author and adherents.
It may be replied, that the idea of a world within a world, is absurd. But, who can assert with confidence, that this idea is, in reality, nothing more than the imagination of a feverish brain? How is it shown that such a form does not exist? Are there not as strong reasons for believing that the earth is constituted of concentric spheres, as the court of Spain, or any man in Europe, had to believe that there was an undiscovered continent? Has not Captain Symmes theoretically proven his assertions of concentric spheres and open poles, and embodied a catalogue of facts, numerous and plausible, in support of his opinions? And who has confuted his assertions? I dare to say, that none can be found, who can fully disprove them, and account for the facts which he adduces as the proofs of his theory. Is there not the same reason to believe, that the earth is hollow, as there is to place implicit confidence in the opinion, that the planets are inhabited? And yet the one has been ridiculed as the wild speculations of a madman, while the other receives credit among the most enlightened.
If it can be shown that Symmes's Theory is probable, or has the least plausibility attached to it,—nay, that it is even possible,—why not afford him the means of testing its correctness? The bare possibility of such a discovery, ought to be a sufficient stimulus to call forth the patronage of any government. And should the theory prove correct, and the adventure succeed, would it not immortalize our nation? The fame of Symmes, and his native country, would only expire with time! But, even should the expedition fail in the main object, there would still be neither loss nor disgrace. If the interior world have no existence but in Captain Symmes's imagination, would it be a matter worthy of no consideration to explore the northern parts of our own hemisphere? In the attempt, we might discover something of great importance—in chasing a phantom, we might hit on a reality—in searching for the "unknowable," discover what has hitherto been unknown; some new islands; some undiscovered sea; some north-west by west passage, or inlet; some new phenomenon of nature; some hitherto unknown inhabitants of the polar regions; nay, even the pole itself. And would it be a matter of no consequence, that a citizen of our own country should first stand on the axis, and plant the stars and stripes of our own country beneath the polar star? And should this be effected, will not the glory and honour our nation would acquire thereby, be worth the expenditure? No one, I hope, will say that it would not be worth it all, ten times told. But in case this should fail, would it be a matter of no consequence, to explore the northern parts of our own continent, and fill up the blank on the map of the northern hemisphere? This, in my humble opinion, is far from being impracticable. A steam vessel might run from the mouth of the Oregon river, and proceed along the north-west coast of America through Behring's Straits, round to the Atlantic; or, if impeded by ice, a party might pursue their journey on foot, with sledges, on the ice, and along the coast quite round to Hudson's Bay. The accomplishment of this, I deem no chimera. The writer of this, for one, (and he has no doubt Captain Symmes, and a sufficient number of others) would volunteer to accomplish the enterprise. And should such an expedition be authorized and fitted out by the government, rest assured, if they did not penetrate the interior of our sphere, or plant the American standard beneath the great Northern Bear, they would at least furnish a correct map of the coast of America, from the mouth of Oregon round to fort Churchill;—or make the snows of the north their winding sheets.
Within a few years, several expeditions have been fitted out for the purpose of discovery, by different nations in Europe, and particularly by the English. Ross, and Parry have visited the arctic regions; and Parry now is out on his third voyage, as though there were some hidden mystery there, which the English government is anxious to develope. It is not likely that they would have fitted-out, and dispatched four successive expeditions, merely to view Ice-bergs and Esquimaux Indians. As for the discovery of a north-west passage to the East Indies, it cannot be their sole object, as the continent of America has been explored by land to seventy-two degrees of north latitude; and, according to the old theory, beyond that latitude the seas are so incumbered with ice as to render their navigation extremely difficult, if not impracticable; from which, I am induced to believe, that they have discovered something in those regions which indicates a state of things different from that heretofore believed to exist.
Under the protection of the Russian government, Kotzebue, and Baron Wrangle, have been engaged in similar enterprizes, and although these different attempts have afforded considerable light on the subject, yet they are rather calculated to awaken than satisfy curiosity. Many of the facts, however, which are urged as proof of the theory of concentric spheres, have been confirmed or corroborated by the personal observations of those skilful navigators. But so long as they lack confidence in the theory, it can scarcely be expected they will make the discovery; the winding meridians which they will pursue, when intending to proceed straight forward, will keep them bewildered among the ice, along the circle of the verge, or finally bring them out towards the exterior surface of the sphere, no wiser than when they set out.
As yet, we are more indebted to other nations, than our own, for a knowledge of the continent of America. A knowledge of the north-west coast is interesting to the civilized world at large; but to none more so, than the United States; and I humbly think, that the honor and interest of this confederated Republic, are more deeply involved in this subject of making discoveries in the northern seas, than any other nation's can be.