Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-05

these bad been made, and that it would BE- public
deception to resolve, now, that The work should
not be undertaken. That the point whether the
opening of the canal proper, and that this
should not be made by the government, was set
tied that the only question now was, which of
the proposals were admissible. And finally that
the surveys would give he result of the practical
biiity OF the undertaking, expense falling upon
the republic, in 1t should be practicable
the enterprisng undertakers would haveno righ, to
indemnity for the expenses of the survey.
But let us consider, although it is now unseason-
able, the grounds of those who feared the opening
OF the canal II is said that this work will call the
attention OF other nations, and that being inter
esting and desirable, ii will invite aggression. The
examples OF Gibraltar, and other points, are cited
and especially that of an invasion which was made
with IL 200 men in the province of Nicaragua, not
| long since.
This wo,k will call the attention of all nations
as is now in fact the case; they speak and they
har spoken throughout the world, of the import
ance OF Nicaragua, account of the facility of
communication between the two through that
country. But what nation has invaded Nicaragua,
although 1t was convuised and the fortress of San
Carlos was almost destitute of garrison! Ii any
fear were TO be had, il were that Nicaragua should
remain as ii Is, becauae is territory being very
desirable, there do not exist those Notifications
which will be built together with the canal; as il
must be known that 1t Is condition of the con-
tract, that the undertaken shall supply all the sums
requisite for the Notifications that the government
may think necessary; and it is slse condition, that
tor this purpose two hundr ed thousand liars shall
be placed at Grenada for the first expenses Of tie
government, within seven months, and that the
nal shall not be opened until the works of the for
LITIGATION shall be completed When will then Nj
caragua be most safe, now, when there shall ex-
Ist upon the borders of the canal two thousand
cannon, placed in advantageous POSITIONS? The
Instances Of other points like Gibraltar, occupied,
on account OF their importance, prove first, that in
past times spirit OF conquest prevailed; but ~
must acknowledge that the spirit OF commerce has
succeeded; secondly that il is always necessary to
1--we whichul, because every thing is possible TO
cnplIi'y and ambition; but not because riches ex-
cite the desire OF rob- shoald the strange idea oi
gong in rags, and OF condemnlns ourselves to mis-
cry. be adopted, to avoid the danger Of beng rob
bed; thirdly, that, aggression should be feared even
without the canal being open ed since they hav e
already occurred; fourIbly, that Nicaragua wiihou,
troops and without the love OF independence which
did not then exist, able repel ~ 600. And
will 1t not now, when its inhabitants are wailke
lovers Of liberty and It's institutions, repe greater
number! Let US remember that the patriots OF Nj
caragua have lately risen, en- mGSSe, without re-
sources, organised army which frustrated the
plans OF the perverse, even the women dying in
defence OF the independence which they saw me
nacel- Filthy, we do not expect, AS was the
case in some of those points which are mentioned
as having been conquered, that officers will be-
tray US. For independence we exposed ourselves
to be attacked, and il could have been good
argument to advise 10 slavery from fear OF losing
liberty
tn imagined that all nations will resist the law
which fixes tue tolls The canal. All nations
now receive the laws which establish commercial
regulations in ports, and the occurs in all
ports of the globe. There will be no motive Of
complaint In this particular. 1t j. established
point IN this decree which orders the canal 10 be
opened, that The passage through it shall be com
mon 10 all nations, without any exclusion or priv i
iege. Therefore it is for the int es, of all that
the passage between the two should belong to
| US, and this Is a new guaranty of our property
! Inc point that 1t would be more convenient that
the canal should be opened by The Government or
| by national companies, than by foreigners has
| also been urged with arguments brilliant than
solid This not a subject hay been taken into
! consideration; it had been already determined by
TIE iOrnIer congress III the aforementioned decree
We ought however 10 say, thar il is already an adj
niItied axiom that such works ought IOt to he I'm
ldertaken by the government alone, but Tia; tbev
ought to be entrusted to individual interests fore
yer active. We might cite, in support of this truth
thousand economists, and BenthAm himself ma
nuscript from whom we have under our ewes
relative to the manner of carrying into effect The
! canal of Nicaragua. In former times when the
tue principles OF the science OF economy were
unknown, 1t resulted 10 the disadvantage of the
interests OF nations that governments should omen
| roads and canals on their own account This j.
not the case any where at present; the importance
of such undertaking is calculated upon broad
| principles Advantages are granted TO whoever
| offers to take II his own account ,yuirh ,,o,k
afterwards remains to the nations or never remains
as has been the OF the canal OF Lanpret,r the
proceeds of which in behalf OF Keguet tb.
engineer who planned. France has thought herself
rewarded Tor more than eighty millions Of ye1is
which 1t cost Tor having that channel of con,,,tu,
cation for her commerce.
| To say that, as cities have been built. and indie
pendeBce established, canal Which is less coos,de
rabe might also be completed, Is not to know The
kind OF work which is undertaken; and that euthu
sissm and patriotism are not Sufficient Tor works
which require millions; and a. not TO know, ai-o
that IN city, each man builds lis own babttstion
that he may not sleep in the open air, and i, wa,
not possible that each merchant should oDeu rod
OF canal for his vessels.
Ceatainly the house that undertakes this WORK
must expect great advantages; but il is IN return
Tor great risks, and the former must always be
proportional to the latter. However, IL capnst be
denied that the committee have made an immense
| abatement OF the advantages with which the un
deraker might have noucrcd himself, whether ~
consider the proposals which the President oil tbe
Republic had received, or those which the provi
sionsl Executive power had admitted and anresd
TO. For tdstead OF thirty-fve years of pr,vileoe
Tor steamboats,, for which the former copteud.d
/ twenty only Is conceded; and instead OF fifteen
years during which the house OF Barclay wa. 10 re-
ceve halt OF The proceeds OF the canal oniy the
period OF seven Is conceded 20 that Of Palmer