The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-25
WHOLE NO. $40.

i not nave attracted more attention IN our coun
try. The enterprise however, could only b.
successfully undertaken under the auspices o
the Government, and with the sanction OIL
Congress. Were the subject properly recon-
mended to the consideration Of the Naiiona
Legislature, its importance could hardly fai
Of being perceived and duly appreciated and
the result, whatever il might be, could not but
reflect credit on the administration. There il
also reason to believe that any steps that our
diplomatic agent in Guatemala might be in
strucied to take towards a negotiation with
the Central American Government on this
subject would be met by that Government
with alacrity. There exists on the part Of the
people and authorities Of that country decid-
ed prediction for Americans, and for every
thing that is American. They initiate the insti-
tutions, the laws, the policy OF the United
States, and look up to this country as their
great political model. They at one time SO.
lcted to be admitted into the Union as new
State IN our Republic. While France and
England are trying in vain to effect a treaty
with their Government, the United States
have renewed, or are on the point Of renew
ing, one that was concluded several wears
since Thus, every thing seems to favor and
facilitate the accomplishment ofan enterprise,
which, besides enhancing in no slight degree
the national glory the United States, would
be productive of the greatest commercial adj
vantages to its citizens.
Ihnt some difficulties exist towards realiz-
ing TINS object, cannot be denied. One is the
disturbed state Of Central America at the pre-
sent moment, and the civil connections to
Whicn u IS subject at all times. Another
wn,SI1 In 10 III fn.s
side of the river st. Juan, with the soye
reignty Of the country coded, without which
sufficient security would not be afforded to the
persons and properties of our citizens who
might establish themselves there. But these
difficulties are not insurmountable and even
should they prove so, the attempt to remove
them would DE itself glory, and the want Of
success an honorable failure.
But returning to the subject Of this chap
tr: the face of the country is generally
mountainous. II presents, as | have hereto
fore observed, succession of sierras, or
mountains, with intervening valleys, except in
the neighborhood Of Guatamala, where the
table lands commence, which are vast undu-
lating plains, spreading for many leagues
around All the physical and natural pecu-
arities of other countries are united in the
formation Of the general aspect of Central
America; delightful valleys teeming with
animal and vegetable life, extensive prairies
clothed with verdure, gentle rivnlets, and
foaming torrents, huge broken rocks, inacces-
sible mountains and fiery VOLCANOES, dense
gloomy forests, grassy knobs, and shady
groves. The same variety is remarkable in
the climate, as will be shown anon, and in the
vegetable productions of the country.
That elevated range forming the spine Of
the whole continent, styled in South America
the Andes and in the United States the Rocky
Mountains, may be traced in its regular con-
tinuance through Central America, though at
a less elevation, dividing the country into two
grand sections the waters on the north Of the
ridge falling into the Atlantic, and on the south
flowing into the Pacifc.* This great range
the Pacific, in Central America, in greater
degree than in any other part ofthe American
continent, and is more abrubt in its slope to.
wards the former ocean, than towards the lat
ter. lttraverses the western part Of the State
Of Guatemala, and constitutes that region
called los Altos, or highlands, of Totonicapan
and Quesaltenango. 1t is interrupted in its
course by two transversal valleys, in one Of
which is situated the lake of Nicaragua in
the other are the plains of Comayagua. Near
ly the whole coast Of the Pacific is bordered
by an alluval plain, varying in breadth; and
the line where this plain joins the base Of the
range is crowned by succession Of volca-
noes. OF these, the most remarkable are
Amatitan, Isalco, Cosiguina, and another call
ed the water volcano, from the. circumstance
of its emitting torrents Of water instead of fire.
The latter is said to be the loftiest Of the vol
canoes, its summit being $4,000 feet above
the level Of the sea. There are vast num-
Der of others of less note. They are sup
posed to be the great causes OF the earthquakes
in Central America; yet the country In their
vicinity is more thickly inhabited than else
where. Omotepeqne is the only inhabited
island in the lake Of Nicaragua, and is at the
same time the only one in tine lake in which
a volcano is found :.
One Of the great advantages Of this conn
try is that Of enjoying climate peculiar to
itself; mild, temperate, and delicious eli
mate, which has none Of the varieties of the
seasons; for although the tropical heats are
experienced in the low lands along the coast,
in the rest Of the country a perpetual spring
prevails, and the earth is clothed with rich
and never-failing verdure. The cause Of
this temperature is the great elevation of this
part of the American continent, which is some
five thousand feet above the level of the sea,
while The SUBMITS Of some Of the mountains
rise to twelve or fourteen thousand feet above
that level In the interior The variation Of the
thermometer of Fahrenheit is not more than
Is deg. in the course Of the year, the mer'
curry seldom rising above IS deg, or falling
below 60. The difference between the tenn
perature Of the coasts and that Of the altos,
or highlands, is much greater, and comprises
under the same degree Of latitude, the ex-
tremes Of heat and cold. The climate IS
also very healthy, except in the immediate
vicinity Of the coasts and on tho banks OF me
great rivers, where fevers and other diseases