The New York herald., 1845-04-21
South America.
Correspondence Of the Herald


Our Foreign Corrsspondemce-1h lsthmrs of Pan
ana--Surueys for.G Canal, 3rc.-Ihe Pearl Fish
eries-Pamana as it is-As II uiH be.
1t struck me in sitting down to this letter, that
your paper, SO full Of correspondence from every
other quarter of thelworld, is lamentaby deficient in
South American matters. This, know, is owing
to the scarcity of countrymen that are capable OF
writing anything that would be relished by the
readers Of the HeraM rather than to neglect on the
part OF the Herald, to the interests OF this splendid
region. But still, there should be something more
than mere dry statistics, printed about this coun-
try. offer you the chance Of a correspondence,
which shall treat OF everything Of general impor-
tance, which happens along the borders OF the Pa
cific, from Panama to Valparaiso.
Panama is, as you are aware, the Pacific ter
mination for all of the projects of communication
across the Isthmus of Darien. 1t is small town,
without much trade, situated on tongue Of land,
at the head of the Bay Of Panama. lls only artl-
cles of export, consist of pearls, which are found
in the Bay. The pearl fishery is one Of the best
IN sthe world, employing seven hundred divers.
But the specializing world will soon do for Panama
that which the Incidence of its inhabitants would
never permit them to do for it. There must be an
immense city here In the course OF time, the ad-
beyond all calculation. The French Commission.
ers made survey last year of all the routes talked
Of And now the Surveyors OF the Royal Mail At
lantic Steam Company are here on similar
errand The project OF canal appears to be beset
with too many dlffienlties to be carried out-the
tide of opinion seems to be strongly setting in
favor OF McAdamized road, but that would rem
tance from New York to Canton by this II route
would be about five thousand miles, according TO
the best information. The labor for any underta-
king OF this sort would have TO be brought from
distance, as the country is too thiny populated to
afford any number Of hands; that the native In
dams along the coast Of Darlen are capable Of la
Dor Of the most severe kind, point you the rem
nants OF large paved military road, which rims
from Panama almost entirely to Cruces, over the
mountains, distance of twenty-one miles, This
road Of Plzarro's was made more than two hum
dred and nifty years ago, and was tremendous
ground and material. The descendants OF the same
race that built that road for the coEqueror of PerH
are here stl scattered through the forests of the
and are quite capable Of Reforming
vast interest in this pass, independent OF the i'm
mediate benefit to commerce, which this prof ect
involves AS nation, our destiny seems
barrier is too feeble to protect the prey. Mexico,
weak as she appears to us, is powerful, when com.
pared with every other people this continent
cept ourselves, The governments OF Yucatan,
Guate emala, and the few independent tribes OF In.
dians immediately bordering on the Ishmus, are
scarcely worth naming as obstacles. Twenty tnou-
sand we'll disciplined men from the Mississippi
valley, are dDlc 10 ngnt tnfOugn from Inc hlo
Grande to the Isthmus of Darien. That such will
oe done after generation or two Of croakers has
passed away, s as certain as that the people are
able to do il, if they will it. 1t is a shame that so
handsome a country should remain in such unim-
! proving hands. The best portions of America are
In possession of out race, too weak to -four
sh, too proud TO toll "a race whose destiny is con-
nected with nothing but wretchedness and decay.
To ease them Of their feeble dominion, would be
to confer great benefit to the common interests
Of the world. The tremendous energy and hardl.
| hood of the old conquerors, has been most
| strangely followed by every thing that is oppo-
site In the blood of their children. One can
scarcely believe that he sees in the languid forms Of
those around him, the descendants OF the IRON he
| roes who fought under C0rtez and Pizarro-no
r,ce renowned for its arms, ever degenerated 50
| rapidly Great roads wasting away-magnihctn NJ
rdfices silently crumbling to dust-batteres with
| huge breaches made by time, which never could
have been made by hostile cannon, dismoun!ed
guns, and ruined fortifcations--on every side q
| thousand tottering objects tell you Of the grea
power that built them, and Of the indoient imbecl
lity that permits them perish The splendid king
| dom won by the Castillian chivalry in America
like the decaying Mogu Empire IN the time Of Give
| seems to invite new master No nation should be
| indifferent to such prize, which is able tc
| maintain IT, ALARIc