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

Il The opening of this canal, said the committee
VINO reported on that subject, is. mex, TO our in
dependence, our greatest blessing. The under
taking OF joining the two oceans will sisnaze the
century aud the congress which put il into execu-
uon 1t will produce the blessings of national
wealth, because it will attract to the republic
commerce, industry, and promote agriculture.
In effect, our produce Is not exported, at pre-
sent, because the charges of conveying it, pre-
vent II; foreigners, with capital and enterprise,
90 not come, because the northern coasts are I'M
healthy, and the roads almost impossible; our soil
remains uncultivaied, and our lands without value,
since very little produce is sufficient for the con-
sumption OF the interior; and, in a word the re-
pubic nov presents an uniavorable aspect i'm its
latent resources, because under the Spanish dom-
Hion we were purposely kept from any intercourse
with the rest of the world
by the opening OF the canal, the day will soon
come, when husbandmen shall have their produce
without any expense at the margin of navigable
waters, TO be export ed through the ports of the
south, where many other canals, which inter est
VIII open, will soon be excavated. The republic
Will be peopled with thousands of emigrants
whom the advantages of our soil will invite, and
iney VIII bring with them capital and knowledge
OF the arts Our land will become valuable, and
present the image of gardens OVERLOOKING with
abundance.
Indulgence will disappear forever, even from
among the poorest classes; and instead of thou
sand obstacles which now impede the adminisra.
uon, and the snal-lIke progress with which pros
perily, under the influence of newborn liberty.
advances, every thing will present the smiling I'M
age OF animation and happiness.
| Inc blessings are incalculabe, and the imaena-
ton is bewildered with the fiaierng expectations
which are anticipated from the opening of the
Canal OF Nicaragua; and above all, the interest
OF That state, impoverished by the war which the
enemies OF liberty waged against it, renders that
undertaking more urgent. From the day on
which ground shall be first broken on the line of
The canal, streams OF wealth will begin TO flow
into Nicaragua, and no man need want employ
ment; the work being concluded, Nicaragua will
be the most famous port in the earth, the picture
oil felicity, and the centre of abundance.
| Nor can the advantages which are TO result 10
| the treasury OF the nation be estimated AT this
'ime' It's revenue arises from maritime duties, from
tobacco, from gunpowder, and from the post Of
hce. Their proceeds, however aye not sufficient
to cover the Estimated expenses Of the year, by
eight hundred thousand dollars This sum is 10
be assessed equally on the different states. For
In-tance, 1t may fall to the lot of Honduras and
Nicaragua 10 pay ten thousand dollars per month
and 10 Guatemala and Salvador about twenty FIVE
thousand. Within two years it will be necessary
10 pay the principal and interest of the foreign loan
and then may be sure that the deficit will be
more than double and the contingents OF the stat es
these sums from the people; and in such case,
the artIzan, the husbandmen, &C. must individually
pay six dollars or more.
Furthermore, the states of Honduras and Nj
caragua are represented be unable to sutsist
| with their revenues. Can they then send SIX
| thousand dollars per month TO the Treasury OF
the Federation? 1t is evident that they cannot
and under such circumstances what is TO be done
The Federation must create or augment one of its
revenues, which is that of maritime duties and
return TO the states the duties tobacco and 9TH
er articles. 1t IL now said that this maritime re-
venue produces only three hundred thousand dol
lars, and the expenses are about one million and
half.
This is the only means which offers to prevent
the people from being burdened with heavy con-
iributions, and for lessening those which now ex.
lst. The opening OF the canal will immediately
produce TO the republic two or three millions OF
dollars, and in the of a few years, nine
millions more. Besides, by the very act oil
opening it,, commerce will increase astonshinely
in all the potts, and the duties thereon will Ie-
plenish the national treasury, and TIE wealth of all
the citizens being augmented, they will be in their
turn IN situation to contribute, the arts CON-
merce and agriculture will necessarily be increas-
eddy he canal. There cannot be government
more unjust than that which should increase the
contributions without Incl easing the resources oil
the citizens Let this be held 10 remembrance
These ideas are not vain fears, since the data o
the deficit certain, and since facts may also he
cited which will prove the facility which exists te
give prodigious increase TO maritime revenue.
Tie Republic OF Buenos Ayres receiv ed in the
year 1924, from maritime duues, two millions anc
about three hundred thousand dollars; and b,
certain data it is known, that Buenos Ayres alon,
exported more produce TO England, in that year
than Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chill togeth-
er, and that the quantity OF English goods INTRO
duced into Buenos Ayres is double that imported
into those four republics, which infinitely surpass
it in extent, produce and riches This proceeds
from the greater intercourse bettoeen Eoreiga
countries and that city; that nth other nations
may be calculated by that tOtM England, Just
stated And this intercourse arises from the cir
cumssnce that the capital OF that republic is stu
| ated on the margin of tie River L. Plata rs hose
least width Is ten, and its greatest forty leagues
this proceeds from the river Parana being naviga-
be to the distance of'six hundred leagues add also
from the wonderful ramifcation of navigsble
streams, which finally unite in the River La Plata.
Let US have roads and canals and we shall have
rapid communications let us have rapid commu
nicalions and we shall have active commerce
let US have an active commerce, and poverty will
no longer exist among US, aud our treasury will be
richer than that of the River La Plata. But above
all letus have a canal whch shall unite the two seas
and the commerce Of the whole world will flow in
the midst of us, and will leave in its passage those
: millions which we want
And how does it happen then that some persons
oppose project which alone can and Will create
national prosperity This proceeds from pusil-
a0Imity of ideas, or from false notions on econo-
my. And the truth is, because the Spanisrds have
lett amongst US, as an inheritance, the narrOwness
Of spirit and the misery of converting into schem Is