The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-09-07
From the Baltimore American.

ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC CANAL
The contract entered into by the BARINGs,
of London, with the republic of New
Grenada, for the construction of ship
canal across the Isthmus of Darien, pro-
vides for cedng to the company the line
for the projected work, with eighty thou
sand acres of land on the two banks, and
four hundred thousand acres in the interl-
or. These princely merchants do not APP
pear in this transaction as the agents of
the British Government efficiently; but
they are British subjects protected by the
Government, and doubtless many impor-
lant advantages will be secured to Great
Britain, both political and commercial by
the completion of The vast work here pro-
jected.
The time has been when the construc-
tion of this Atlantic and Pacific canal-a
work of worldwide concernment-was
in our own hands if we had chosen to
take up the matter. Other nations on the
other side of The water held back, as though
it were expected that our government
would execute an enterprise 10 which it
seemed called by position as the foremost
power on the American continent, and as
a power whose commercial spirit and en-
ergy would hardly brook the interference
Of an European nation in a work so Pc
culiarly American. The occasion, how
ever, has been suffered to pass. Through
our tardy indifference the work which we
would not do has fallen into hands that
will do it-into hands which will hold ii
with steady grasp when it is done -
The key OF the whole American continent
is TO be in the keeping Of Eng and--there
being as it would seem no proper guar
dian Of it on this side of the Atlaptic--at
least none with spirit enough to step forth
and claim the function.
The completion of ship canal be-
tween the two oceans, as projected will
mark an era in the worlds age. The
event will stand forth 10 give distinct
i've character to this century. 1t is to be
a five wears work--to endure forever
The whole aspect of commerce will be
changed oy it, 1t will accelerate the
revolution now going on in China more
rapidly and more throughly than all the
lOICO vi LII IIlSu nv lHSiC
only will it work changes, but in all
Polynesia and Australasia, and the West
ern coasts of South America, which are
now reached by doubling Cape Horn.
We observe that writer in the Alex
andria Gazette is of opinion that better
route for a canal between the two oceans
is by way of the river St. Juan and Lake
Nlcaragua--much better than across the
isthmus of Darien. This latter route is
through mountainous region for some
forty or fifty miles, while by the other the
distance required to be cut will not ex.
coed fifteen or twenty miles, and as rivers
empty into the Pacific at no great distance
above Lake Nicaragua, the inference is
fair that no great difference OF elevation
exists between the lake and the ocean.
1t would be worth while unquestiona
bly, to send special agent TO Guatemala
on this business-,o make inquiries and
examinations at least. The last ambassa-
dor sent thither from the Uniled States
was not able to find any government
there; after much painful searching he
was obliged to give it up. We do not
know that the Guatemalans have any
government yet--possibly they have.-
AT all events an envoy might be sent,
and for aught that any body knows he
might return with knowledge of the two
important flcts--that practicable cana
route between the Atlantic and Pacific, !
and live government both actually ex-
list in Guatemala.