The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-29
THE MOVEMENT OF THE AGE.
The Isthmus OF Tehunntcpec.-The Mexican
Wharf.-The Intentions Of our Government.

The Isthmus OF Tehuantcpec.-The Mexican
War-The Intentions Of our Government.
From the Philadeph Spirit Of the Times]
The following letter from the Vice President Of the
United States addressed to gentleman of this city,
and which have kindly been allowed to copy is
most interesting subject solicit for 1t atten-
tive and thoughtful perusal.
My DEAR SRI am not surprised that you have been
attracted by the hints and paragraphs which have APP
peared in the newspapers and only regret that In
swering your inquiries fully you insist upon, shall
be obliged TO make pretty large draught your pa
tence The truth Is the subject not which be
satisfactorily handled by generalties and In order
TO meet your desire and expectations, | have been OBJ
ged to examine 1t with somewhat more than here
tofore 1t has expanded under this process, until
quite shall be tedious in following 1t you
The war with Mexico should be turned to good
count 1t may be made to produce consequences far
important than the acquisition Of territory
II properly ended 1t must lead to almost boundess
enlargement of our commerce to channels and
spheres Of trade and to great markets for produce
and manufactures The American people, by u single
and energetic movement Of their government
be placed IN the van OF all competition In securing the
peace accommodating the wealth. and extending the civil
liZation Of the world
Such results do not generally flow from wars Mill
tary glory vndcated honor present power and security
and perhaps, wdened limits the best effects usually
expected 1t is true, these valuable but the attain
nent Of what have referred to would them
In magnitude and pcrmanency.
1t would to be understood that OF the objects
at which the Government will aim when negotiating
peace with Mexico is the purchase Of much soil
the concession Of much irrevocabe jurisdiction,
may enable us to unite by canal railway the
tapec And this conceive, II promptly and vigorously
carried out must be followed by consequences whose
yastncss and bcnehoence cannot be easily exaggerated
Tho subject is Of extreme interest and deserves be
universally well as accurately appreciated. will,
therefore, make ssme remarks, aud compile facts
in illustration Of 1t and do rapidly as more i'm
peratiye engagements will allow because am deeply
impressed with the conviction, that this Mexican
(Which may possibly be brought to early close offers
the golden opportunity which, II neglected, may
return.
To abridge the tedious and dangerous voyage round
md O n roc nd safe
to the shores of the Pacific, has been
favorte scheme for centuries Of scientific exploration
and Of mercantile hope. For long time its practical
blity at any point disputed. The best inquiries
left It in doubt Every portion of the continent
OF America has undergone examination has, for a
while, been regarded with preference and has again
been abandoned Difficulties sprnng up to zach; and
less by tho desire Of the respective engineers and
plorer 10 render the junction Of the two specially
serviceabls to their own countries excited spPrehen
project is not only practicable but practicable under
the joint auspices of the United states and Mexico ut
moderate cost aud within = short time.
Five routes for crossing have attracted special notice
l. BY the Isthmus Of Panama. .. By tho Isthmus Of
Daren. o. by the Lake Of Nicaragua T. By the
River Atrato from tho Gulf Of Darien running south
through Choco, In Now Grenada until 1t nearly meets
the San Juan, which empties itself into tho Pacific
at tho port Of Charambiro aud o. By the lsthmus
OF Tehuantepeo. or these routes II may in general,
be said, that tho ono across the Ishmus Of Panama,
aud The by tho Lake of Nicaragua have been
heretofore best explored and most approved In 1905
Baron Humboldt who enumerated four additional
routes discouraged ~ TO that by Panama because
OF elevation and level had yet been
executed In that lsthmus and from all the information
he could procure appeared to him that the expccta
ton OF n ship channel by canal that Isthmus,
ought TO be completely abandoned" Since that period
however the topography Of the region has been careful
ly and closely investigated. Steam power and railways
have become sdunctve elements for calculation and
rangemcnt and conclusions much more favorable well
a. better founded may now be drawn In 1928, we'll
reasoned but still imperfect judgment favor Of the Pa
route published and several others have since
appeared but the last and far the most impressive s in
Partisan pamphlet pnrporting to be abstract from
report made 10 Mr. Guixot the minister OF Foreign AZ
fairs by Napoleon Garrcl engineer In chief attached to
the royal mining corps In lS45 and to project
for uniting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by canal
across the isthmus OF Panama In 1879 q. A. Thorn
son, diplomatic agent Of the British government pub
lshed his Official Visit to Guatemala and he therein
describes the route by the lake Of Nicaragua and the
various steps which had been taken lin 1920 well by
the King Of the Netherlands by great banking houses
In England with the legislative sanction aid Of the
local government to form navigablc comm unicaton
between the two by Of that lake and the
river San Juan This mode Of efecting tho object has
commended itself after critical scrutiny to many Others
and seems to be somewhat favored by r. Campbell Scar
lett British traveller, In his lively work south
America and the IacAc,n printed In 1898.
You cannot, however, be benefited by my considering
farther infinitely the facilities difficulties Of the
superiority OF their advantages not In such
laon to them as make IL of the slightest practical
use to enter deliberately into their development Let me
fix attention cxcnsiyely the by the 18TH
mus Of Tehuantepec; route which, " practicable
almost any terms must recommend itself all others,
by being as at the very outlets OF estuares
our commercial threshold
This route runs through Mexican territory IL COM
mences at the mouth Of river called the Huasacualco,
empyng itself into the southern section OF the Gulf OF
Mexico IL thence takes generally southern and west
srn direction until II reaches Tsrfa, at which town