Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Detroit, March 8.
IMPORTANT TOUR.
We are informed that the Secretary
of War has instructed Governor Cass,
to proceed upon an exploring tour to
the north western extremity of Lake
Superior, and thence to the heads of
the Mississippi, and by the way of
Prairie du Chien and Green Bay to
Lake Michigan.
No part of the United States is less
known than the country upon this route.
We depend, for our information re-
specting it, almost wholly upon the re-
ports of Indian traders. It is certainly
time that the important geographical
and political questions connected with
it were satisfactorily solved. It has
long been known that large masses of
virgin Copper are to be found on one
of the streams that empty into Lake Su-
perior on its southern shore. Those
require to be fully examined. and the
country should be purchased from the
Indians for the benefit of the United
States. Its mineralogical treasures
could then be used for important na-
tional objects.
We are glad to see that Mr. Calhoun
pursues, with zeal and ability, the ne-
cessary measures for obtaining a cor-
rect knowledge of the remote sections
of our country. He has probably car-
ried into the war department the same
opinions which distinguished him in
Congress, upon questions of internal
improvement. With the practical views
of an enlightened statesman, he appears
anxious to have our immense unsettled
frontiers explored, for purposes of ge-
neral information, as well as for the
accomplishment of objects more imme-
diately connected with his department.
An ignorance of the geography of their
own country ought not to be the re-
proach of Americans.
We understand that the gentlemen
attached to this expedition, will leave
here soon after the opening of the nari-
gation, in birch canoes. This mode of
conveyance is not only the most econo-
mical, but it is also best adapted to the
country, and will enable the tourists to
explore, in their passage to lake Supe-
rior, the American shore of lake Huron,
which is, perhaps, not better known
than that of the former.
We are not yet informed who will
accompany Gov. Cass in his contem-
plated tour, but if he has the privilege
of choosing his assistants, we shall
from a knowledge of his ability and en-
terprize, be sanguine in the expecta-
tion of seeing results from this expedi-
tion, both of a scientific and political
nature, equal to, if not surpassing
those that will be produced by the
one to the Yellow Stone.
[Gaz.