The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-06

between distant nations anyways cohou"''"
an important problem among the most enterprisng peo
pie The trade between Europe and the East was OF this
description When the passage around the cape OF uoou
Hope discovered, it regarded as OF Immense I'M
portance to Europe, and, in fact as forming new era III
the world II is yet TO be seen whether the old trade
with the East through the Mediterranean IS mol again 10
be restored through the facilities OF canal to be cut
across the lsthmus of Suez Great Britain has her eye
upon this avenues and the excitement and perhaps revo-
luton, which the death OF Ali Pacha in Egypt may pro-
duce may ultimately lead TO the accomplishment OF nis
enterprise
similar problem is beginning TO be considered with
great interest by the American people. Can nearer
western route be obtained between the United States
and the western OF the Pacific and the eastern coast
of ASIA embracing the trade with China and Japan
Willing to lend every facility TO the discussion of
problem in which the United States may be deeply in
terested, cheerully lay Mr. P's communication be-
fore the public. We shall follow it up tomorrow even
ing with essay upon the much agated canal through
the sthmus of Tehuanepec, from the pen OF an accom-
pshed engineer, who has devoted much OF his time TO
the study of that country.
THE UNITED STATES.
The subject of passage our continent to Inc
Pacific is exciting the attention OF the pubic mnu 10
such extent, makes It necessary Tor every states
and citizen interested in the welfare, prosperity and
future greatness of country to examine The suoect
for his satisfaction at least
Two routes and modes proposed to accomplish TINS
Panama to Tehuantepec, in Mexico, between latitude
north and degrees; and the other, railroad from
Lake Michigan through the Rocky mountains to Oregon
the parallel OF about 429 degrees-a! IN our own Ter
ritory wish first consider the canal, and see what
would and would not do, and see how we can build It,
The Hon Mr. wheaton Gate ns'sT a a. sbaw ba
he has studied the subject and made himself acquainted
with all the lights then before the world; and even ne
leaves all in doubt and conjecture II can be done al
ALL ii must be by the combined efforts and influence Of all
the different commercial nations interested. The Eng
sh reviewers take the view, giving TO each nation
its proportonate interest and influence comparative with
its amount of with Asia, which OF course
would give the entire control to England. Would the
people of the United States submit to such control And
does the constitution provide for the forming and carry
ing such copartnerships Clearly not
In General GarelIas very able and the only scientific
report Of survey OF Panama, in the years 1912 and
1Sl3 with corps OF engineers, under the orders OF the
French government he takes up and examines the routes
of Nicaragua and Tehuantepec His estimate Tor the
former about I4s 000fr for the latter Isl 43OO00
and for Panama l49 to 100000 francs These est
be considered conlectura, as he says he had
comparison basis 1t would be subject to every
possible embarrassment the sparse population OF law
less character no security OF person or property ana he
Mexican government unable to enforce the laws she had
them. strong military force would be absolutely ne,
cessay from end to the other both to support and
protect the works and the commerce-an entire absence
of material, aborers and material to be taken from
northern cline, subject to heavy expenses IN execution
both from climate and local position; the former so I'M
congenal 10 citizens as to render II almost IL moi
quite, impossible to sustain them Therefore the work
is fair to presume the results would far exceed General
Gareas estimates In fact, another estimate made by him
for Tehuantepec is high as Isl and from
all experience such estimates, and the TACT that the
people of the north cannot live In such cllmae-the
winter months rainy and summer so hot that no men
could work or stand tive have good reason to believe
that the actual cost would very Tar exceed any estimate
made General Garcia abandons all as inferior, and de-
votes all his efforts to Panama.
Now, the questions are, do this work and
how land what would be the probable results 1t is,
think perfectly clear that government cannot furnish
meanss nor enter into such coparnershlp Then, If
done, il must be done by individuals Would Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Charleston,
and even New Orleans furnish capital TO build tho
roughfarc and population for city, to carry com
Inece under another government IN the dement's OF whicn
they cannot participate nor derive any income Tor their
Capitai This is what no business man would do. And
now let us see if this would be So We viii suppose
the canal built, and all the commerce OF Europe with
Asia passing through it, Europe would furnish her own
vessels for both sides. ship canal and no iranshp-
ments required-and ask what benefit would any
city all the Atlantic or gulf coast derive from
II! Surely none. In a political point OF view, IT
would place all the marine, naval and commercial, OF
all Europe permanently and directly at our DOORS IN the
most commanding position; and as to our own commerce
with ASIA would be benefited at all by this change OF
route Our with Asia is not now large, owing
TO the fact that climate, distance and expense prevent an
exchange of commodities which difficulties could not
be removed by canal. The climate would forbid the
passage of produce through it Nearly all our com
merce with Asia is with China, consisting OF teas
silks &C., and mostly consumed north OF Charleston,
would receive benefit from this route but on the con
would be subject to delays, LOSSES DANGERS ana
damages from climate, and any benefit TO the small
amount which might perhaps be taken directly up the
Mississippi, far the mouth of the Ohio, would be
more than oyerbaanced by the delays and damage of
climate which none but those acquainted with the bust
understand. And would the States and cities
north OF the gull furnish means 10 the amount OF from
80 to 1000 900, and submit TO such tax barely to
put out OF their possession, and under another govern
ment the route for commerce which they cannot
participate in, controi Clearly not Such, it
appears me, would be the result of the canal with
all the predicted 1t would be productive to of
nothing but evil We have declared to the world that
OF the affairs OF this continent; and at the time pro-
pose to enter into alliance offensive and defensive,
whereby yield the control of the commerce of the
world, check and retard prosperity and destiny for
half century at least, and finally end desperate,
bloody, and expensive war.
The object of a canal, or railroad is to shorten The
from Europe to ASIA and, if possible, bring that
commerce, which has controlled the world from time i'm
memorial across this continent and by lessening the
pense, shortening the time and distance, and facilitating
and increasing intercourse TO increase that by
further and more diversified exchange of commodities.
baely substituting route for another could not
crease because that alone could not create produce any
new means TO- sustain 1t. II route opens to pro-
aucuon Wilderness and thereby increases population
WIN means 10 sustain It, and affords exchange OF
bouues, IL would, OF course. increase commerce or
new route which would greatly lessen expenses of transit
save much tme increase and facilitate intercourse would
naturally increase exchange of commodities and would
also increase commerce But neither OF these and
allmpoant results can be gained by canal because ca
nal or railroad across any part of the sthmus could not
open to settlement and production extent of wilder
neSs-c0untry as II is not there's here having fvpd
the bounds, over which the genius of man cannot dom