The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-08-14

while our own government, met upon
the threshold by constitutional objec-
tions, has never yentured seriously to
moot the question. sga as8alG
The immense outlay necessary to cut
a canal aero IS the isthmus, and the un-
certain tenure Of the property when
completed situated as it would be in
the midst Of turbulent and half-ciyil-
lied population, whose governments
are constantly changing hands, and a.
msng whom the very elements of socie-
'ty are in a state of transtion--have
presented obstacles which private en-
terprise has not yet ventursd to sur
mount. Thus, unfortunately for the
United States, the matter has stood for
years, and unless we move in it, thus
It may continue TO stand !; but that we
shall move in it, and that ehectually,
would seem an almost inevitable result
of our present relations with Mexico.
We have at present large military
and naval force in California and on
the Pacific coast of MsxIco-a force
which stands in constant need of rein
foreements and supplies from the At
lantic. And how are its necessities to
be administered tot BY seal That
involves a voyage Of 10000 miles be-
low the attitudes we wish te reach
BY land, across the continent? There
are thousands Of miles Of mountains and
deserts to be crossed in that direction;
and the route is almost impracticable,
even Tor the small parties, with scanty
supplies, who plod their weary way for
months before they reach the western
main. A road across the isthmus,
from Huasacualco to Tehuantepec,
would shorten the distance from the
10000 by sea, or the more difficult and
dangerous 1000 by land, down to 100
miles of easy transportation. A road
between these two points is impera-
lively called for by the exigencies Of
fhe service. A road may be COM
menced and completed in a space Of
time, and for sum of money, too in
considerable to be mentioned when its
Importance in every point Of view, both
immediate and remote, is taken into
consideration. A column of fifteen
hundred men, properly directed, would
run through and construct road from
Huasacualco to Tehuantepec in two or
three months, which would be practical
Bile for post coaches and Pennsylvania
wagons, at no further expense than the
extra pay allowed for special service Of
Is cents day per man. The highest
grade to be surmoun:ed in the whole
distance is barely 700 feet. The ma
ture of the ground presents no unusual
obstacles, and may be considered rath-
er favorable than otherwise; and the
engineer department Of our army is
uncommonly efficient, and there are
hosts Of officers of talent and character
who would struggle for posts in the
corps which first established the COM
munication between the Atlantic and
the Pacific. The speedy execution Of
this measure is called for, as we have
before intimated, by the exigencies OF
the service; but it is, if possible, still
more imperatively called for upon prin-
ciples Of general policy. 1t is not cut
ting canal from the Atlantic to the
Pacific; it is not even constructing a
railroad; but it is securing the ground,
and taking the initiatory step towards
the completion Of either or both. And
il is because the ground has never yet
been effectually secured, nor the lnitia-
tory step taken, that this great work
has not been already carried out, and
the advantages Of its control have not
been long ago secured to some other,
and perhaps adverse power. The
speedy execution Of this measure is es-
sential; because we are just at present
in the most favorable possible position
to effect the object. Our relations to-
wards Mexico are precisely such as
authorize US to take possession Of the
necessary territory. If delayed until
a treaty Of peace is negotiated, it may
be more difficult to obtain it by pur-
chase, or in the way Of indemnity, than
it would be to gain the cession Of it, as
a domain already in our hands, and
which could not well be wrested from
US. Once our own, and the meeting
Of the mighty waters would be brought
about without further effort or expense.
How long would it take to convince
the commercial world that it was more
expeditions and economical even to
wagon their freight, and transport their
passengers over this post road, than to
subject them to long and hazardous
passage Of 10000 miles around the
capsf And how soon would the tolls
upon such. transportation and passage
amount to sufficient to convert your
road into a railroad with double track?
This railroad, if fonce constructed, would