Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-23
(FOm tie Washington Union.l
ApOR VI IREAIX

monns ago by orr charge d'aiiaires near that
power, AMI which has just been ratified BY the
Senate. We give below The message OF the Pre-.
sidenl accompanying The treaty, which presents
clear and convincing statement OF the enlisht-
encd policy IN which II was framed and submit
| tel Tor ratification.
! For more t1an twenty years, our commerce
| has suffered under me pressure OF heavy discri-
/ mlnallGe duties in The pert ot New Gianats,
| from which British commerce has been exempt.
Attempts have been made by all our recen, al.
/ minsiraliuns 10 remove these DETERMINATIONS
| Our presen! charge, Mr.. Bidacs, has succeeded
IN carrying The wishes OF his government, in This
1 respect, into effect. This is measure in high
degree advantageous 10 our trade with that coun-
1 try; and IL is proper in this conneXinn 10 say,
| thai, by the effJrs OF the administration our re-
| lalions with all Inc South American republics
have been placed upon more favorable and
friendly footing than they have been before, since
| the period Immediately subsequent 10 our iecog-
milton OF their independence
But The most striking feature Of this treaty,
| and which will most attract the pubic attention,
is the tact that it secures to us the right OF way,
| from The Atlantic 10 The Pacific, across The ish-
| mus Of Panama The conditions uron which
| this most important advantage is secured 10 our
| commerce, and the reasons which induced the
Pfesidenilo secure il, as offered-al,hough the
lrcaty was negotiated on this point by Mr. BID.
lack IN the absence Of specific iasiruclcns--arc
distinctly SCI forth in the message.
The conclusion and ratification OF this treaty
are, indeed, matter II high and Just consTalula.
iion. While in The history Of our foreign rela.
lions, and of our national growth, The adjust
mrnt OF The Oregon controversy, and the addi-
| tory, will stand as vast monuments OF the abli.
" and success Of the present administrator; thus
acquisition of rigR 81 passage for our commerce
| -bu Sttp.canai or r0iirodd-across The islhmRs
| forms anoher memorable instance in which il
has sci lis broad mark OF benefit upon the future
commercial destiny f the country.
10 tie Senate oftt. UaitsG States:
transmit 10 tho Senate Tor their advice with
regard 10 its ratification, "a general treaty Of
peace, amity, navigation, and commerce, between
the United States u America and The republic OF
| New Granada" concluded al Bcgo'a on the 18th
| December last, by BEN amin A Bidlack, charge
| dafares OF the United States, on their part, and
| BY Manuel Maria Mallarino, Secretary OF Stale
and Foreign Relations, on the part OF that Iepub-
| lie.
II will be perceived by the 25,h article Of this
treaty, that New Granada proposes TO guaranty
| 10 the government and citizens Of The United
States the right OF passage across the islhmus Of
| Panama, over the natural roads, and over any
| canal or railroad which may b. constructed 10
unite The Two seas, on condition thar the United
States shall make similar guaranty 70 New
Granada Of the neutrality OF this portion OF her
territory, and her sovereignty over The same.
| The reasons which caused the insertion q his
important stipulation in the treaty, will be fully
mace known 10 the Senate By the accompanying
documents. From these, it will appear hal our
charge d'affaifes acted, in his particular, upon
his own responsibility, and without instructions.
Under such circumstances, il became my duty
10 decide whether | would submit The treaty 10
the Senate; and, after mature consideration, |
have determined 10 adopt this course.
The importance Of this concession TO the com
merca and political interests Of the United
States canno, easily be overraled. The route by
The i'ihmus of Panama is the shortes, between
The two oceans, and, from the information, here.
with communicated, il would seem 10 be the most
! practicable Tor railroad or canal.
The vas, advantages 10 our commerce which
would result from such a communication, not
only with The West coast OF America, but with
Asia and the islands OF the Pacific are 100 o5vl-
Gus 10 require any detail Such passage would
relieve Us IRON long and dangerous navigation
! of more than nine thousand miles around Cape
| Horn and render our communication with our
! own possessions on the Northwest coast OF Anne
RIGA comparatively easy and speedy.
attracted the attention OF The government OF The
United States ever since The independence OF the
| South American republics. On the Sd Of March,
/ 1885, resolution passed he Senate in The follow
/ ing words:
Resolved, That the President OF The United
States be respectfully requested 10 consider Inc
! expectancy OF opening negotiations with The go
vcrnpen!s OF other nations, and particularly win
/ The governments oi Central America and New
/ Granada, Tor The purpose OF rffectually protect
ing, by suitabl. treaty supulaiions with them,
\ such individuals or companies as may undenaR e
/ 10 open communication between the Atlantic
\ and Pacific oceans by the construction oil ship
\ canal across The isthmus which connects North
and South America; and OF securing forever, by
I such stipulatIons, the tree AMI equal right oil na
I yisaling such canal 10 all such nations, on the
/ payment Of such reasonable tolls as NAV be es.
lablshed 10 compensate the capitalists who may
engage in such undertaking and complete The
work"
No person can be more deeply sensible han
myself OF the danger Of enaH2ling alliances WIN
any foreign nation. That We should avoid such
alliances has become maxim OF our policy,
consecraed by Inc most vencratcd names Which
adorn our history, and sanctioned by the unanl-
nous voice Of he American people. Our own
experience has taught Us he wisdom Of his max
4 i'm in the only insance-ha! OF the guaranty 10
France OF her American possessions-in which
we have ever entered into such an alliance. II,
therefore, the very peculiar circumstances OF The
present case TO no, greatly impair, il not alto
gether destroy the force OF this objection, then
We ought no, 10 enter into the stipulation, what
ever may be lis advantages. The general con-
sideraiions which have iniuced me- 10 transmit
the treaty 10 he Senate, tor their vice, may be
summed up 10 he following PARTICULARS
Y IN-r n
territory 10 foreign nation in which The United
S.ases vii have no common interest with that
nation On the contrary, We are moro deeply
and directly intcreSle! in The snbIeci o. This guar
anty than New Granata herself, OF any other
country.
2. The guaranty does not extend T. he terrific
ries e New GranaGa generally, but is conflGed
10 the Jingle province Of the is,hinus oil Panama,
where We snail acquire by The treaty common
aud cn.exensive right Of passage win herself.
5. Il will constitute no alliance ior any po!ii-
/ cal object, but Tor purely commercial purpose,
in which all the navigating nations oil he worlc
have a common Interest.
4 In entering into the mutual guarantees pro.
posed By the 35ih article of the Treaty, neither
The Government Of New Granada, nor that Of
the United States, has any narrow or exclusive
views. TIE ultimate object, as presented by
The Senate Of the United States in their resolu-
lion to which | have already referred, i 10 &c.
cure 10 all nations the free and equal right oil
sage over the isthnus. II the United States,
as the chief Of the American nations, siouio
frs, become party = this guaranty II oanhos
be doub,ed-indeed, it's confidently exPecsecoy
the Government of New Granada thai similar
guarantees Will be given to that Republic BY
Great Britain and France Should Inc PROPOSE
lion thus rendered be rejected we may deprive
The United State, of the just influence which its
acceptance might secure to them sna confer ,s Inc
,ons in concluding such an arrangement upon
ne Government, either Of Great Britain or
France. That either of these Government,
would embrace The otler cannot wei be doubted
because there does not appear TO be any otner
efec,ual means Of securing 10 all nations the
advantages Of this important passage, but the
guaranty Of great commercial powers that the