The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-18
THE DARIEN CANAL

The object Of most Of the voyages Of discovery
that have been made for the last 500 years has been
toe discovery of western passage to the indies
The trade Of the East-it Will soon be the trade oi
the West-has, from the earliest times Oh which we
have a record, been Of vast extent and value to
Europe Originally prosecuted through the medium
of caravans, great peril and expense, and with
delay Of years the discoveries Of the Portuguese IN
the 18th century opened the path, which his since
been travelled by all Europe, around the Cape
Since that time, the Governments OF Europe have
been engaged with degree OF eagerness and with
steadness Of enterprise which proved the estimated
value OF the object in efforts TO discover more d-
rect passage by The West, to ''he land of Ind"
These efforts have been made al expense in money
! and human life almost Incredible and even after
what seemed 10 be demonstration of the folly of
| the pursuit, expedition after expedition has been
! fitted out and our own times have witnessed an eX.
| penditure Of money by the British Government on
this object which while it proves her liberaty, may,
/ with some, induce doubt To the wisdom of her
councils. The results of this passionate desire 10
discover a western path TO India have been too mag
nifcent 10 permit doubt upon this subject Its
| gina protector, Columbus, stumbled upon new
world in It's pursuit. From that time the present.
whatever the cost Of those expeditions, it has been
repaid ten fold in the discoveries made and the i'm
porlant practical results attending those discoveries.
1t is, however, matter of marvel, that, when
the discovery Of araiiabte western passage india
was so early ascertaned to be impossible. effort
existence of canal through the isihmus Of Sucz
was known to every classical reader; the mode Of
constl ucng canals was nearly as well known then,
as now the isthmus of Panama, with its elevations
and depressions, was familiar from the time Of Ma
| gelan; and may wonder that no attempt
was made to elect a passage, which, from lis direct
ness and safety, had every recommendation, d
which 1.-THE Of the treasure expended upon voyages
of discovery would have effected 1t is still more
mark AZ lha1 ny aaX during the Presen,
with stolid an Indifference 1t has long been as
cerIaned that canal through the isthmus might be
| readily and safely made. Various individuals have
endeavored at different periods, to direct the atten-
ton of different governments to the feasibility and
import of the project-but in vain Europe, en-
crossed by her and conflicts and neres Is,
was deaf. This country lacked the enterprise So
late 1886 or 1897 citizen of Phade phia, (Hr.
Charles Dddlc, brother Of the great bankerD hav-
ing been appointed we believe, by General Jackson,
10 official trust it, South America, had his al
| tention drawn to this subject. He traversed the
country assured himself Of the practicablity of the
project and Immediately took measures to effect it..
He did not doubt that the American public would en-
gage in enterprise so full of promise; and, in or
der TO the privilege before he asked aid he OBJ
tanned from the governments which had the right of
SOIL grants of land, and rights of ample character
to enable him to prosecute the enterprise. He revi-
sed this country, confident Of obtaining the required
aid but disappointed and sh rtly after died.
subsequent efforts made but all, from causes
which it is difficult to eXplai failed But a
| project 50 easy of accomplishment, and SO grand in
ITS results, could not sleep the sleep Of death 1t was
the easy means of attaining the object that had been
struggled for by ages and empires. Accordingly we
hnd that the English have fastened upon it, and
about to carry it into execution By the last arrival,
we learn that the long mooted project OF uniting the
Atlantic and the Pacific by canal across the 18th
| mus oil Darlen has been at length undertaken by a
m
guaranty for lis speedy AND practical completion
According to q communication made by NJ Arago to
the Academy of Sciences at Paris on the 5th a con-
tract has been entered into by Messrs. Barring & Co..
! of London, with the Republic Of New Grenada, in
virtue of which the Rel ubic is TO cede TO them the
line required for the projected canal the 18th
mus of Panama with eighty thousand acres of land
on the two banks and four hundred thousand acres
! IN the interior of the country"
II appears by this announcement that the enter
prise has been undertaken by individuals, and that it
projected under the sanction and protection OF the
Republic Of New Grenada. 1t is further stated that
Nessrs Barring & Company had, in the first instance,
fixed the amount Of toll for the navigation Of the
canal at the price Of Is, francs per ton but they
have reduced il to francs. The work, upon which
from 600 to 5000 men to be engaged, is to be
completed in five years The project therefore, as
sumes the aspect of being private undertaking. II
IT be what singular state of things does it pre-
sent IL the Straits Of Gibraltar claimed by a
single state though that high DAD Is OF Infinitely less
Importance than the about to be created, every
European Government would rise against the mono
poly. Yet here, we have a commercial firm raising
| a toll-gate between two worlds, and controlling, at
will interests in relation TO which the first nations Of
Cbrlstendom have been, for centuries, at What
does this mean; Certainly something than
| appears upon the surface.
The importance Of this canal is almost nconcciva-
! BILE 1t gives TO Europe and America a short cut TO
a section Of the world whose commerce is incalcula-
BILE in its vastness and value. With this canal Eng
| land may reach China, with steam vessels in month
We, being half way, would have every advantage, if
permit 10 enioy IT, The project, If successful will
| affect almost revoutonize, the commerce Of the
world. The objects Of centuries will be attained in
five years and that too, al expen less than that
which is Eed to oyerawe, with a small body OF
troops disSnected province II will be the key to
the East The power which holds that passage will
possess, whether for and conquest or peace and
gain, the control of all Asia l. it possible that this
power is in the hands Of the Messrs. Barring
We confess that we cannot believe it, That enter
prisng firm is known 10 be deeply in the interest OF
| the present Ministry. lis head, Lord Ashburon, is
one Of the leaders Of the prevailing party in England
1t is possible, therefore, and probable, that the Ba
rings may be but the agents of the English Govern
ment, prepared, whenever required, TO surrender
their privileges TO the English crown. Besides, il
must occur to every rejecting mind that prudent
and wealthy firm would engage in an enterprise
in which the interests involved 50 vast TO in
cur the jealousy, if not opposition, Of powerful ma
tons, unless backed by the force Of the English Go
yernment. The apparently equitable arrangement in
relation TO tolls may may not be mask though
is somewhat singular that the rates of toll should
be determined five years in advance, before a mat
took has ounded the soil, and before any man car
determine what the cost of the improvement will be
If this be of the points of British policy-if it be
understood that this important pass is to be surren
dered to the Government, fortified or maintained il
is one Of the boldest, most mastery, and effective
measures taken by that nation for the monopo-
ly Of the commerce Of the world
The project is feasible and cannot be doubted
nor can doubt that under lis present auspices il
will be effected. But, long before the five years re
anired 10 complele L. we will Great Rrilain eli