Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-21

\, ioWHlB 10 SynoPS'o Vi 'nc hos' "'Po''""'
points in the petition Of VIM. II. Aspin-
wall, John l.. Stephens, and others, in
relation to the Isthmus Of Panama, which
was presented to Congress on Monday
We copy from the New York JournaI
of Commerce
Il "The lsthmus of Panama is about 90
miles in breadth less than any other part
of the Continent Of America, and from
the falling off of the great range of Cor
dilleras running from the Rocky Noun
tains to the Andes, it has always been
considered as the region in which, if ev-
or, an easy communication could he effec-
ted, either by canal or road, between the
two seas. The route over it is probably
worse now, than in the early days OF
Spanish dominion, when the gold ofPeru
passed over il, to freight with almost IA
bulous wealth the argosies of Spain. No
wheel carriage has ever attempted to cross
il. The present mode ofdoing so is by
canoe up the Chagres river, set, for a
great part of the distance, by poles against
the current, and requiring % TO 30 hours
to Cruces. Thence to Panama there is
mule roal of eight or ten hours, diff
cult at all times for women and children,
particularly with the effects of a moving
or emigrating party, and during the rainy
season, almost impossible.
The Mail Company, OH assuming the
obligations of their contract, saw the
necessity Of improving the road across
the isthmus for their own interest.
A treaty has been negotiated with the
Government Of New Grenada by which
the United States has undertaken. in con.
sideration of free and uninterrupted
right of way over the isthmus of Panama,
by every road or roads, then existing or
thereafter to be made, to guaranty to that
Republic the neutrality of the isthmus,
and the sovereignty of the Republic of
New Grenada over it.
The Mail Co. propose to build the
Railroad at their own expense, and they
ask the cooperation Of the Government
of the United States, on the score of e.
economy and pecuniary saving to the gov
ernment of the United States. They ask
no advance money, nor compensation
for services until they are performed; but
they pray Congress to direct the Secreta-
ry Of the Navy to enter into contract
with them for the transportation on said
road, for period Of 90 years, Of naval and
military supplies, including troops, muni-
tons of war, provisions, naval stores, the I
mails of the United States and the public !
agents, at a sum not exceeding the amount
now specified by law to be paid for the
of the mails alone from
New York to Liverpool, and provided
that the memorlaIists shall, within one
year, comm ence, and within three years,
complete, the construction of a Railroad
across the istfmu ofPanama, connecting
the waters Of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans"
The correspondent OF the New York
Commercial states that the bill will soon
he introduced to the Senate in conformi-
ty with the prayer Of the memorialists. -
When this road shall he made, it is said
that person may 60 from Washington
city to Monterey in 27 days.
W Lieut.. Lynch, in a letter to the
Union, giving an account Of his expedi-
ton, makes mention that OH the coast Of
Moab, he was surprised by depu.ation
of Christians from Kerak, the Kejath of
the Bible. He says:
1.-The JOY Of this people at meeting us
was unbounded. They caressed us,
brought us water and leban, (sour milk
all they had, and some Of them spent near
ly the whole night hunting wild boar,
whcrewith to regale us. When told that
our forms of worship in America were
different from theirs, they replied
"What matters 1t! Christ died for
all! Do you not believe in Him. p
When told that we did, they said
"Then what are forms before God .
He looks to the heart. We are broth
ers."
And brothers they continued to call US
to the last.
We could not trace their origin, but
concluded that they areeither the descen-
dants of one Of the last tribes converted
to Christianity, who, in the Businesses Of
the mountains, had escaped the Moham-
medan alternative Of "the Koran or the
sworo," or the crusaders under the Chris
tian Lord Of Kerak. They number about
$50 families, and live in the town-the
only one now left in the once populous
country Of Moab.
Within the walls are also the huts Of
100 Moslem families, and outside are the
black tents Of the fiel ce tribe Kera-Keyeh,
$50 fighting men.
These poor Christians are much tyran-
nized over by their Moslem neighbors.
The PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA.--President
Roberts, of Liberia. is the son of pious old
Methodist mulatto, and il is not many years
since he was hand on board of lighter, up
on the Appomatrok river, at Petersburgh, Va.
He has contributed as civilian and soldier to
the establishment Of the Colony at Liberia
was brave General, an enterprising merchant,