Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-09-29
FROM the National Journal.
IUUIIHIE UNCIf.
Til: JEFFERSON.

ATLANTIC AND PAUIFiC CANAL.
Several contradictory statements have appeared in the
public papers relating to the Contract which has been
recently formed with the Government Of Central Amer
ica by Company Of Citizens of the United States,
for uniting lie Atlantic and Pacific Oceans By means
of canal TO be opened the Istlnus, through
Lake Nicaragua. rs Opportunity has been affor-
ded TO as by tie poeness Of a. II. Palmer, Esq. the
general agent Of the "Ccn'ya} American md United
S,t!es atlantic ANIL Pacific CoMp0liy," Of reading the
Contract Itself, well as some oil the discussions
concerning it which took place in the Legislature of
that Republic, have thought j. would net be unn-
tcresng to our readers 10 lay before them brief alb
stract OF ine terms and conditions of the Contract,
~ understand That 1t has been submitted TO The nspec
ton of the SECRETARY or STATE, and SEcrErARY OF
TIE FREAsCIY; and that they have both expressed
Their decided appreciation OF the great object OF uniting
the two oceans by means OF ! canal for ship navina.
ton and their grco; satisfaction tha If work of such
transcendant importance 10 the Of the world
should be executed by any company, that company
Should be composed o! citizens OF the United States
For ourselves, we entertain &cnbt of tie practics-
by OF The enterprise, and al expense that tnay be
considered insignificant, when compared w;.i tue in
calculible advantages which 'rvst be derived TO
merce IN general, and particularly TO that Of the Tn
ted States, from SHIP channel across the Isihmus
II was probably 10 such direct communication as
this between the Atlantic and Pac;iic, that the SIC,
nETARY of the TREAsUhr alluded TO in his very inter.
es'ing ana able report Of the 18th FEBRUARY last in
which he discusses the interests of our foreign com
meFcc, With Io principles t',at shond govern it, As
our readers may not have tl.a Report hand,
almost prophetic, aud which s;Iperscdes the necessity
Of our adding another word on ;l,e subject:
''Wh', rcpu!iafing Tor ourselves all claim 10 special
aVors, we must not be nscnsibc to, by falling 10 i'm
prove the transcendani advantages which nature and
Providence have placed before US Amongst these
most especially 10 be ranked at The present incfure is
hat OF Inc physical position assigned TO upon the
globe Besides the ascs ndency which this, in conunc
ton with the existing and perfection of our
camille marine is calculated 10 give Us over the chief
commercial operations ibis continents vista is oren
Cd 10y Inc recent emancipation of the liter from Euro
peai tilradon, TO Oriental trade i;noucs
the consequences bound up in Ills Great event ,I.f f
increasing 70 the United States lie comm, rciaI If mot
ihc geographical facilities ofinicrcuur5c with China and
The East Indies, may safely be looked TO - one
at middle point between Asia aud Europr yjti some
OF their ports stretching almost lie southern Atlantic
others opening the Gulf Of Mexico Whilst no,y o,os
may be expected 10 rise up upon h.:r maritime
uoTier, al the remote Weot--e coast OF the Pacific
IT may reasonably be believed ti1t (hc, will become
largely the connecting nl. Of Ira &c between e nov
i'epubhcs aud the Fast. besides greatly cxfeDd;n~
through these increased facilities t;ie trade with tie
East, more pOper their own, and that an ylcI, co
i7ts m carrying TIE productions of the East TO Euro,o
The ebcTPTisins and experienced navpators Of the Uni
tea STATES, already familiar VIII all The coasts and s
'nS O ii'n AS'9'r vii not be SOW In avail tIo,
selves al cverv opening. 20 traffic ~ u, ro; ~
neutrality-suspicious. CSau,;Icss from their fertility .,d
ac PoPuA'''n WITH whch tbcl icG'n ii1 bay s,r ellcd
~" dc OF wealth 10 ancient Kingdoms and empires ~
!" "o"'Tn venice, Portugal aua England: tlicjr our,
wealth seeming 10 be perpetual thc iDunJ ,fone cf
SUI continuing to exist they were ORIGINALLY laid az
vel IN ne costly and exquisite fbtcatiops of art ever
distinguished those regions in their immense natural
riches. ID lie channels Of intercourse. with u,e C~c-
ta world we're through the inferior sous and r,if
oi ASIA and afterwards round the Southern arnnonfor,
o. africa. there Is nothing uurcasouatI, IN t,e b,i;cf
t ne nc%i great change, change spriucinc ont Of
me i'ce ot natural, less than political causes vii
ne through ih'' coutincn Of all events tlaf new and
"tiH"F channels 10 THIS intercourse destined TO run
ID ''7 aii~1i'2h' ajer every prospective and fI.rrn
ill.,