The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-19
9vssty hesvsssw the t'ultNA stAsss and New
f!ssnsds--p"r intercourse with the Parsae
s.The Navigation Laws of EnSsaUs.

OuI ieaueis VIII iiIu Ia tills Jay defdld copy
OF treaty of peace, amity, navigation and COM
merce, recently entered into between the United
States and the republic of New Granada; peru
sal of which will convince our readers that il is
one OF the most important documents, as regards
the growth and commerce of the United States,
that we have laid before them in long time. The
most important articles this treaty are the third
and thirty-ffih. The former Of these gives to each
of the contracting parties all the rights, privileges,
and exemptions in navigation and commerce,
which the natives of the respective countries en-
Joy, with the exception of the coasting trade; the
rights and impurities of which are reserved to
the citizens of each and the other comedies to the
United States the right of way across the isthmus
of Panama, which has been ascertained to be the
only practicable point where a ship canal, to con-
meet the Atlantic with the Pacific, can be con-
structed.
These cessions, as can be seen at glance, are
of highly important character to this country the
latter one especially. The subject of connecting
these two oceans for the purposes of commerce,
has long been agitated by commercial nations; and
various plans, embracing ship canals and railroads,
have been considered, and various points have been
examined and surveyed, with the view of ascer-
tanning and deciding upon the most feasible
Five different lines have from time to time been
proposed-frst, the lake of Nicaragua; second, the
Boca de Toro and Cherokee; third, the gulf of
Daren; fourth, the coast of Mandinga and fifth,
Panama and Chagres These are exclusive
of the project entirely American, of connect
ing the Pacific with the great American lakes, by
vast railroad, through our owl territory, of some
twenty-five hundred miles in length. When the
war between Mexico and the United States broke
out the able head of our State Department at WASH
ngon, Mr. Buchanan, seized the opportunity of crit-
cally investigating the whole subject, with the view
of ascertaining whether the isthmus of Tehuante-
pee o'erej facilities for the construction of canal
and railroad He reviewed all the information,
public and private, within lis reach, concerning
all the routes that had been proposed within the
last one hundred and fifty years and the concu-
sion to which he arrived was that the Isthmus of
Panama, from Chagres to Panama, afforded the
most practicable route, and possessed advantages
which Of the others did. We are led to believe
that from these investigations, instructions were
Immediately issued to our charge d'afaires at Bo-
gotta, the Hon. Benjamin A. Bidlack, to open nego-
tiations for the right of way across the isthmus;
which was accordingly done and with the most
perfect success, as the present treaty can witness
If our readers will refer to the map, they will see
that the river Chagres is the only river of any
magnitude between the gulf of Darien and the
river San Juan de Nicaragua, which discharges
into the Atlantic ocean and that the rivers Cho-
rera and Grande, Immediately opposite and falling
into the Pacific, have their sources interlocked
with those of the Chagres and its tributaries.
Here we have conclusive proof that there is almost
a perfect level; and such appears to be the fact.
So complete, indeed, is it, that it is calculated it
would only be necessary to have locks at either
end the canal; while the elevation of the Pacific
above the Atlantic, little more than thirteen feet
would render the canal entirely independent
of tributary streams, and also ensure never
failing supply ofwater. The length of the proposed
canal from Chagres. on the Atlantic, to Panama
on the Pacific, would not exceed probably thirty
miles The drawbacks attached to this route are
the unhea!thiness OF the climate of Chagres to
European constitutions, and the existence of bar
at the mouth of the river Chagres; the latter of
which could, doubtless be speedily remedled, as it
is formed of limestone. To avoid disaster by sick
ness, it would be advisable TO have the work done
by natives of the isthmus, who are willing to work
ioi very wages. lie IdClUtleS OI tne lStI-
mus of Panama, for the construction of road, are
equally good and it is computed by persons well
acquainted with that location, that road could be
constructed across this level plain that we have
spoken of, at comparatively small cost, by which
passengers and light freight could be transported
from steamships on the Atlantic, to similar vessels
on the Pacific, in five or six hours.
1t is clear from all these circumstances that we
have gained great accession by this treaty,
through the sagacity and promptness of Mr.. Blu
chanan and Mr.. Bidlack, and that the right of way
across the ishmus will eventually be of the great
est value TO this great commercial nation.
1t Is not to be supposed, however, that the ad-
minIstraton at Washington have, in consequence
of this cession to us by the republic Of New Grana-
da, given up all thought of negotiating for right
of transit way across the sthmus of Tehuantepec
likewise. That must be secured, too, if It can be
done by negotiation. We must secure the right
of way across every point that is practicable for
the construction of either road or a canal to con-
meet the two oceans. Mr. Clifford who, il is
said, will be our new minister to Mexico,
will, it Is understood, be charged with such
a negotiation and there is good reason for
believing that it will be conceded. railroad
constructed at this point would, compared to ca
nal at Panama, be task of comparatively easy ac-
complshment, and would, for number of years,
be adequate TO all commercial purposes or at
least would answer all purposes until the canal
was constructed A railroad constructed at this
point, by private American enterprise, would give
us the command Of the commerce of the world,
and b. Of infinite benefit to the United States. The
commerce Of The whole world would be made tribu-
tary to Every bale Of goods that passed or re-
passed from India to Europe, would contribute, il,
the form of tolls, to our riches and greatness. But
it is useless to dwell on the advantages that would
accrue to us from such an undertaking. if carried
out by American enterprise. They are seli-evi-
dent, as any one can perceive by glancing at the
map of the world.
The third article of the treaty to which we have