Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-23

nv of The Navy 10 contract with those petitioners Tor limit.
d time, and for sum not exceeding certain amount
The conclusion of this put into the hands OF the
Of the Navy because his hands alone Is the great
s;ness of the mail plying between our possessions
n The Atlantic and possessions on the Pacic side Of
North America These mail steamers designed, to GER
ain extent to become auxiliary and suhserven to the naval
,peraons of the United States, liable TO become part OF It's
force and that they not under the con-
troll OF the Postmaster General 10 waom their immediate su-
ervisicn would seem 10 belong. Il
Nor does this bill command the Secretary OF Warc whom
aso might be referred the approval OF such conacs WIN
propety-to conclude il. The Secretary 81 the Navy IS The
person 10 whom the bill refers the concpsn OF the contract
he already has in his hands the great business OF con-
trolling the steamships which carry mails between the
and western Of possesois, anu y only JACKS
sir that link be completed which lies between the Auantc
and PacGc TO perfect the communication between
the two sides of our continent. !,
The bill also provides fog the transportation Of naval as Wen
military stores therefore, very appropriately Ieies 'o
completion of the contract to the Secretary o. the Navy
The persons, Mr.. President, named in the blu and Who
if the bill passes, these with whom the contract VIII DC
made are persons who opzion, areenled to the most
favorable consideration They in the m place, persons
who are acauainted practically with what they undertake TO do
One Of the peione.s Mr.. Stevens, known throughout
the reading world for his travels in paK Of South America
which lies near the country which this road IS TO run
Besides being knowa traveller r al! this region. ne
has visited the isthnus in company with two engineers
10 ascertain for himself merely the practcaby but the
cost Of the work and though necessarily aided by the sur
views which have been made heretoe under the contracts
of different Governments he has nevertheless examined every
inch ground himself accompanied by skiul who
have made their OWE report Ct the rSsss Of The sbs
vain for any body 10 undertake it.
The company whs apply for this privilege have another
commendson-ha: of capital to accomplish il. They them
sir have another recommendation which interest in the
completion of the work They the contractors for the
transportation the mails the ether side of the isthmu
They have already put aost three Of the first class
which have them hundred thousand dollars These
passing round the business Of
transportation the other side Of the isthmu They have
them great already embarked in this business, and they
have direct interest 10 making successful the large anount Of
money which they have invested the other side They
who undertake. carry persons and things from the other
side Of the shmus those wko above all Others the
mos. interested in having the of accomplishing, in the
shortest possible time the transit the ishmus Of the
persons and things IN the transportation of which THEN
depends. They have direct interest in their money
already invested and they have interest in the Of
their enterprise.
They have another reason Mr. President why hey should
have this grant from They already have it from the Co.
vernment which the countyfom the Government of
New nadaand Als time possession of the pv
lege of opening this road.
will read the Senate the letter Of Gen Heiran, Minis
from New Grenada this Government procured by these
three gentlemen Messrs. Aspinwa Stevens, and Chauncey
Il is dated ... .s
LEGATION OF New GRENADA,
Washington, Dec. is, lSiS.
GESTLEsES have had various conferences with Mr. Jno
L. Stevens representative of the Association which you have
formed and with powers sufficient solicit the privilege OF
constructing railroad in the shmus OF Panama. under the
conditions which, in the of Government, have
posed him. From these conferences il has resulted that
Mr. Stevens has given sufficient guarantees besides those
which expressed in the privilege conceded Matthew
Klein under date Of the sh Of June Sl7 to ensure the exc
eution OF this work this IS material statement sir
ana mat your association binds itself to fulfil the conditions
which have proposed favor New Grenada besides those
which set forth in the privilege.
In virtue ofhs agreement declare that you posses
sion OF the privilege conceded by the Government of New
Grenada for the construction of railroad the hmus CT
Panama | am your very obedient servant,
Messrs w. II. AsprSwALL, JSo. l..
STEVENS, Henry, and CHAuScET.
The letter is in Spanish, sir, and give it literal ransa
ton go The last is perhaps the essen
uai OF all ln virtue Of this agreement declare thar you
are in possession Of the privilege conceded by the Government
OF New Grenada for the construction Of railroad the
isthmus Of Panama"
SO that Mr. President besides securing to these applicants
this contract heretofore stated by them in their petition
the Minister Of New Grenada has now, on this day. given
them an official letter declaring that they possession Of
H. And II IS probable that the Minister himself may be with
the sound Of my when make this declaration that
ne has on this day, and for the purpose for which
used declared that these persons possession Of the p
vege granted by that Government Let be known that
this day the parties in possession
deem it fortunate, Mr. President that after the DELAYS
which have taken place than three centuries in execu
ing some easy and practicable between
great oceans the time has arrived when the great work
can be accomplished. Two Governments, both the new
world republics and friendly each other have enteredino
treaty for the purpose Of securing the execution OF this work.
An article has been inserted in the treaty. unanimously agreed
TO on the part Of the American Senate by which, sir we
acquire interest," invaluable interest," in the use OF that
work. provided the right secured Us Ct opening the
way the isthmus.
This done by two epubcs-Powers Of the world
acting together in making this treaty. and taking their
own hands, appropriate the great work which TO carry
into eec, the great idea Of Columbus in proposing 10 20
west in order TO arrive the Il now in our power TO
accomplish H. The petitioners undertake 70 do within three
years and that undertaking made upon an actual view
an scua examination by engineers Of the whole work to be
accomplished Their contract with the Government Of New
Grenada gives them eight years in which 10 do this work
The privilege Of which they alone are now in possession er
pres after eight years. and does expire for eight years
but actuated by their interests a. well as anxious 10
comply with the universal desire facilitate the
between the two great oceans these petitioners are ready to
make extraordinary efforts and TO accomplish this work with
in less than bali the time.
This Is as desirable Us, the Government Of this coun
try and all who have yet to traverse the two oceans as
is TO them Their interest requires it. and convenience
and the successful carrying Of business requires
also In the case Of this companyinormed they aresc
quainted as they with the work which they do
and IN possession Of the necessary capital TO accomplish it
already having hundred thousand dollars invested in the
line, which the other side Of the shmus, and deeply
interested IN the returns which they have themselves get
from capital already laid ouwe have every possible human
guaranty that these gentlemen will have the work accom-
pshed within the time which they Tnen, Mr.. Presi
dent It's subject Of csngrsulaon, suhec, Of rejoicing
that the United States Of America Of the first Powers
the world shall be the first carry the great idea Of Co
iunous Of going west TO obtain the Other plans may