Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-16

The great expansive power OF steam anu we must extend us
there under flag if would desire TO contend
successfully with other nations for the trade and specie OF Asia
and Western America. Ourmpos from Asia, such as teas,
silks, and chiefly costly articles still better adapted for the
steamships than heavy products TIE time required in cross
ing the tropics and the equator from Atlantic ports
ASIA in the long voyage the sailing vessel is felt Severely
only in the loss Of interest and in the less
OF capital and realization of profits but in the sill greater loss
in arriving at home too late with the cargo and thereby losing
the Market at least better price and this loss of lime,
and interest Of price and markets. great the return
the outward passage The voyage by steam from At
anc ports to ASIA by the route of ChaIes and Panama.
with railroad, to be constructed by private enterprise across
the hmus, would he accomplished in month, instead
Of three four months aud the gain of time in coast
wise trade between both would be still greater In
cen and in modern times the cities and nations that secured
the trade Of Asia were greatly enriched this has occurred
successfully with Tyre, Sidon, Carthage Alexandria, Venice,
Genoa Lisbon, Amsterdam, and London whilst this rich
traffic built up large cities in the midst of deserts in the
caravan route of the track through which it passed.
With front upon both and the Gulf aided by
steamships by low duties and by shortening the voyage by
the shmus route presented in my annual report Of De-
cember, s46 and lS47 may this commerce, and
with it, in time, the command Of the trade of the world We
may also extend with all the countries border
upon the coastof Western America richer than all others
the precious metals and Astounding in articles which
desire but do not produce whilst and vast markets will
opened there for products and manufactures and the
number and profits OF whale ships greatly increased Dis
possessions upon the Pacific, if would
desire extend to them the benefits and blessings Of the
American Unon and unite them with in the bonds of an
eveaugmenpg commerce and intercourse, there is at pre-
nothing but steamships that perform these important
duties connexion with railroad the shmus OF Pa
mama. Such road would always be useful for trade
from the Atlantic and the Gulf with the coast of Anne
RIGA, and at least for heavy products with Asia and especial
y with that portion of south of the equato with
the islands in the Indian Ocean, and with Australia, if
distant period railroad should unite the Atlantic,
the Gulf and the Mississippi with harbors upon the Pa
cfc That such road will be made at some future period,
upon the practicable route, is not doubted, although,
from the time and capital required, its completion unfou
natey may be remote but the railroad which private
prise could build within year two the sthmus would
all present purposes and would at bring
New York within ten days of the Pacific and within thirty
days OF China and New Orleans still nearer maintaining also
the important communication between harbors the
Atlantic, the Cult, and the Pacific
The estimates required by law from this Department for the
revenue likely from foreign with all
including those upon the Pacific depend upon future
private enterprise should constructive railroad
the shmus if adequate number ofsteamshps
tnuaon the beneficial system already commenced should ia
ctate the trade between Asia and Pacific ports, bringing
them within twenty days Of China with the best steamers
sufficient NUMBER starting at regular periods from the Atlantic
and the Gulf to Chagres and from Oregon and California to
Panama. to ASIA and to the whole of America,
the commerce of all ports would be intellectually ncreas
ed and the collected the Pacific in few
10 severa millions Of dollars per annum.
Nor Ii only with those nations Of ASIA with whom
already have treaties that the steamships would increase
commerce. but would introduce it, together with diplomatic
relations into vast regions of the East with whom have
formed treaties estimated contain hundred and th
yve millions of people. Many Of these large and popu
ous empress Astounding in specie and in many articles which
need but do produce, and desiring also products
and manufactures in exchange Among those empires with
whom have treaties and little trade Persia,
Corea Cochin China, Bumah and Japan, with whom moth
ing but he steamship successfully introduce
MERGE Among these is Japan, highly advanced in civza
ton, containing fifty millions of people, separated but
trade
nearly confined two Dutch vessels although it sepa
rated from Holland by eighteen thousand miles, and from
Pacific only by four thousand five hundred miles Its
commerce be secured by perseveng and peaceful
efforts Our steamships would pass their way China,
through the channel separating the two great islands
composing the empire of Japan monthly weekly in sight
OF both their coasts and by thus amiarzing them with
mercanda marine, extending their knowledge, overcoming
their prejudice, and opening them views Of their
true interests would unseal their ports
The sequsiton Of immense coast upon the Pacific, and
the introduction there of steamships especially when
private enterprise shall unite the by sthmus route,
would remarked in my annual report Of December, 1916,
reroitionize ia faor the commerce Of the ,cOrd, and
ruoidy adrance greatness, tcea and poorer than
any cont phich has occurred since the adoption of the
sttiOa." The great subject again referred in
my annual report Of December, ls47, ga
cia era, requiring ocean steamers IN addition 10 sailing
rese" eonnecting ',ch China, containing nearly
onethrd the population Of The globe" Our ports upon the
Gulf with those upon both oceans, fronting upon Europe
from the east and Asia from the west occupying the central
position between oil the continents Of the globe them
all by convenient routes than any other nation including
easy to the whole interior Of country want
only the steamships ofadequsto strength speed andnum
ber to give the command Of the trade Of all nations Nor
should forget that in carrying trade among the great
and populous nations Of ASIA and facilitating intercourse with
that vast region passing from coast to coast in the short pc
Rod Of twenty days, with monthly weekly steamships the
light Of Christianity, following the path of commerce. would
return with all its blessings the East from which il
In those regions be the precursor of Chris
any commerce. which teaches peace and intercourse be-
nations which declares that the enemy of
man. nation Of nation but that the interests of all
tries and Of all mankind IDENTICAL and that they will all
advance rapidly under the genial influence Of an
strcted reciprocal trade and intercourse.
BY recent acquisitions the Pacific, Asia has sud-
denly become neghbor with placid intervening ocean,
inviting steamships upon the track Of greater
than that Of all Europe combined This ours,
merchants and Government should by their united ener
gies for with Asa rapid and frequent commune
cation by steam. Our products and manufactures and
especially cotton fabrics precisely what de-
sired by several hundred millions Of their people, who viii
send back in their specie and their rich productions
so few Of which raised within limits From our coast
the Pacific, well from the Gulf and the Atlantic and
the hmus route, would be much the
Of Americas well ASIA than any European Power and
with the best steamships in adequate number with the greater
certainty Of the voyage Of the period of arrival and depa-
ue and economy Of time and saving Of interest," and with
diminished cost Of carriage would ultimately supply the
western coast Of America, well Asia, with products
and manufactures better terms than any European nation