The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-10 00:00:00

THE SLAVE TRADE.

Your attention is earnestly invited to sn amend-
ment of our existing laws relating to the African
slave trade, with a view to the effectual suppression
of that barbarous traffic. It is not to he denied that
this trade is still, in part, carried on by means of
vessels built in the United States, aed owned or navies
gated by some of our citizens. The correspondence
between the Department of State and the Minister
and Consul of the United States at Rio de Janeiro,
which has from time to time been laid before Con-
gress, represents that it is a customary device to evade
the penalties of our laws by means of sea letters.
Vessels sold in Brazil, when provided with such
papers by the consul, instead of returning to the
United States for a new register, proceed at once to
the coast of Africa, for the purpose of obtaining
cargoes of slaves. Much iviclitional information, of
the SalLe character, has reeentl3 been transmitted to
the Department of State. It. has not been considered
the policy of our laws to subject an American citi-

gotiation of a treaty with Nicaragua, pledging both
Governments to protect those who shall engage in
and perfect the work. All other nations are invited
by the State of Nicaragua to enter into the same
treaty stipulations with her ; and the benefit to be
derived by each from such an arrangement will be
the protection of this great inter-oceanic communica-
tion against any power which might seek to obstruct
it, or to monopolise its advantages. All states enter-
ing into such a treaty will enjoy the rights of passage
through the canal on payment of the same tolls.
The work, if constructed under these. guarantees,
will become a bond of peace, instead of a subject of
contention and strife, between the nations of the
earth. Should the great maritime states of Europe
consent to this arrangement (and we have no reason
to suppose that a proposition so fair and honourable
will be opposed by any), the energies of their people
aril ours will co-operate in promoting the success of
the enterprise. Ido not recommend any appropria-
tion from the national treasury for this purpose, nor
do I believe that such an appropriation is necessary.
Private enterprise, if properly protected, will complete
till work, should it prove to be feasible, The parties
who have procured the charter from Nicaragua for its
construction, desire no assistance from this Govern-
ment beyond its protection ; and they profess that,
having examined the proposed line of communication,
they will be ready to commence the undertaking
whenever that protection shall be extended to them.
Should there appear to be reason, on examining ,the
whole evidence, to entertain, a serious doubt of the

practicability of constructing such a canal, that doubt
could be easily solved by an actual exploration of the
route.

Should such a work be constructed, under the
common protection of all nations, for equal benefits to
all, it would be neither just nor expedient that any
great maritime state should command the communi-
cation. The territory through which the canal may
be opened ought to be freed from the claims of any
foreign power. No such power should occupy a
position that would enable it hereafter to exercise so
controlling an influence over the commerce of the
world, or to obstruct a highway which ought to- be
dedicated to the common use of mankind.

The routes across the Isthmus, at Tehuantepec and
Panama, are also worthy of our serious consideration.
They did not fail to engage the attention of my pre-
decessor. The negotiator of the treaty of Guadeloupe
Hidalgo was instructed to offer a very large sum of
moley for the right of transit across the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec, The Mexican Government did not
accede to the preposition for the purchase of the right
of way, probably because it had already contracted
with private individuals for the construction of a pas-
sage from the Guasacualco river to Tehuantrpec. I
shall not renew any proposition to purchase for money
a right which ought to be equally secured to all
nations, on payment of a reasonable toll to the owners
of the improvement, who would, doubtless, be well
contented with that compensation and the guarantees
of the maritime states of the world, in separate treaties
negotiated with Mcxico, :binding her and them to
protect those who should construct the work. Such
guarantees would do more to secure the completion of
the communication through the territory of Mexico
than any other reasonable consideration that could
be offered ; and as Mexico herself would be the greatest
gainer by the opening of the communication between
the Gulf and the Pacific Ocean, it is presumed that
she would not hesitate to yield her aid, in the manner
proposed, to accomplish an improvement so important
to her own best interests.

We have reason to hope that the proposed railroad
across the Isthmus at Panama will be successfully
constructed, under the protection of the late treaty
with New Grenada, ratified and exchanged by my
predecessor on the 10th day of June, 1848, which
guarantees the perfect neutrality of the Isthmus, and
the rights of sovereignty and property of New Gre-
nada over that territory, " with a view that the free
transit from ocean to ocean may not be interrupted
or embarrassed" during the existence of the treaty.
It is our policy to encourage every practicable route
across the Isthmus which connects North and South
America, either by railroad or canal, which the energy
and enterprise of our citizens may induce them to
complete; and I consider it obligatory upon me to
adopt that policy, especially in consequence of the
absolute necessity of facilitating intercourse with our
possessions OA the Pacific.
THE PACIFIC—THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

The position of the Sandwich Islands, with refer-
ence to the territory of the United States ou the Pa-
cifi.? ; the success of cur persevering and benevolent
citizens who have repaired to that remote quarter in
christianising the natives and inducing them to
adopt a system of government and laws suitable to their
capacity and wants ; and the use made by our numerous
whale ships of the harbours of the islands as places of
resort fir obtaining refreshments and repairs, all
combine to render their destiny peculiarly interest-
ing to us It is our duty to encourage the authorities
of those islands in their efforts to improve and elevate
the moral and political condition of the inhabitants ;
and we should make reasonable allowances for the
difficulties inseparable from the task. We desire
that the islands may maintain their independence,
and that other nations should concur with us in this
sentiment. We could in no event be indifferent to
their passing under the dominion of any other power.
The principal commercial states have in this a com-
mon interest, and it is to be hoped that no one of
them will attempt to interpose obstacles to the entire
independence of the islands.