The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-02
For the UniSn.
Tn. Panama n.,,x.x.

Common Information" has shot so far ahead of
Common Sense" that an afraid il is impossible for
Common Information" says, admit the work is
one of great national importance and that enthu
ks ~ Tins rather sw
il Congress act on such conclusions, thrift Will follow
logic" 500, = :.
BY canal or railway is the great national object-the
railway the istmus Of Daren Is but one OF the
means by which that object be attained. The ad-
mission that the object which the Panama road strives
to attain is national does not cover the whole ground
any than body-coat covers the whole body.
There distinct schemes before Congress; or il
technically So at least known exist by members
and senators, and by the different secretaries, viz
]. The railway across the sthmus of Iehuaniepec.
The railway across the sthmus OF Panama
3. The railway across the sihmus OF Nicaragua
4. The overland route proposed by Mr. Whitney
s. The overland route proposed by Mr. Bayard
With these facts before think rather modest in
Common Information" to presume that admitting the
national Importance OF these contemplated works Of
Such an n inference hnt rather smells q" The shop
| should much question the information 'icom
mon sense" Of any statesman who should pretend that
California and Oregon will continue TO remain Terri
tories or States of this Union without direct con-
nexon with the mother Union than any afforded by rail
across either ishmus or all three OF them together
The road which is to permanently connect the eastern
and western States OF this continent must go through the
Mississippi valley.
The railway across the. isthmus of Panama is
cilitae our communication with California The next
question it the best and cheapest OF the three Here
Common information" "pitches" into me- but not so
desperately after all My article for the Union writ
ten ON Saturday, and by that time Common Informa-
ton" was no wiser than myself The projectors of the
Panama road have made several in cpheng, and
have led others well me into error When the
projectors OF the Panama road first made their proposition
to Congress they demanded So 100000 They have Stree
down 10 five millions, and the bill substituted by
Mr.. Douglas Monday last gives them but two and
half millions in annual instruments and further two and
half millions conditionally am now informed that
still lower offers will be made Tor the government patron
age that if the projectors continue to bid them
selves, their honesty may yet come TO climax.
Common Information says that the best security the
government demand is, 'nO work pay" and that
other security necessary Not so fast if you please
If the workthat is to say road across either sthmus
communication with California then the road must be
built at all hazards and the government cannot rest salts
lied that it is to pay mo money when no work" is done
The work must be done and security must be given that
will be finished within the specified period, the OBJ
ec for which the assists private enterprise
attained by it. If am houseless, and contract
isfed with giving him money if he give no house
want the house, must live in it and the contractor
liable in damages if he does not fulfil his contract
Moreover, the principle "no work pay expresses
but half of excellent doctrine The converse Of it
is also true, viz: no money if no work is done. The
bill specifies that the United States shall pay annually
s25o.ooO whether any work done or not; that IS 70
say whether the United States to send troops and
munitions of war or not, or whether the number Of
call this no work no pay 2! If so Common Informal
tom differ, widely from Common Sense"
Again: Suppose, Col Jefferson Davis Justly remark
ed, that, after year or two, the government were to
discover another cheaper more expeditions route and
conclude send its stores by that would it not be
bound to continue the annual payment OF to the
Panama road contractors for least eight years
And would this be carrying out the principle OF mo
work no pay !"
States and the shmus OF Panama be taken possession of
By England; would not be obliged TO continue the
annual instalment of a5oooO and would this be carry
ing out the principle OF "no work no pay p
The Caribbean sea British sea, domneered by the
island OF Jamaica, and the British wndward and eewad
islands. In of war; therefore, the contractors for
the Panama route would demand projections or, in lieu OF
it, damages over and above the $250,0oO per annum
which would be .no work no pay" with vengeance !!
| But enough of this for the present
The bill specifies that the rate OF passage for each
dvidual shall not exceed 49, and that the same sum-
viz s. shall be paid per ton for freight Now, let APP
ply this rate of compensation to the which the
| company is to perform for the United States:
Suppose 10 900 men, the whole army of the
| United States, were marched to California, in
order to be the year following marched back
agan---in other words, that the United States
keep ten thousand men coming and going
the Banana railway: this would make annu
Surprising, also, that the annual transportation
OF subsistence, arms munitions of war. camp
equipage, &c, amount to $500 tons; then, at
| SIS per tom this would make additional 10000
! Sum total 100000
But the government engages to pay S250000; conse-
Quenty $l50 900 than the companys rates. Is
this illustration of the principle of no work pay ="
Here, them the government pledges itself TO overpay the
company times, perhaps (through boring and other
processes) twenty times the amount of labor performed
for it; and this Common Information calls 'the best
securityno work no pay!" 1t would certainly be the
best security for the projectors Of the roa-a security for
the subscriptions to their stock! Let
Ten years overpay, at the rate of $4,000 per
annum $l,5Oo,OOo
Ten further years overpay, through petitions,
threats. boring, coaxing, champagne and
oysters 100000
Sum total SO, 900 600
| Now it would seem Ito Common Sense') as if
50 900, 900 were Just sufficient build the road and
perhaps leave respectable margin; in other Words that
the overpay for the work not done would furnish the
capital, while the pay for the work would pay very
handsome interest The whole process then, would be
reduced this The government pledges its faith to pay
y, So, 900 On the faith of this government
pledge the contractors raise the money build the road
and when the road is finished, obtain capital and
pound interest back again from the government This is
the old principle of the United States Bank The govern
ment wants money, and gives to c its obligations.
On these, raise the capital of the bank which they
loan back again to the government charging interest
the same; all for the benefit OF the corporation.
| These but few objections to the Panama bill in
its present shape The greatest objections are to the mil
tary and maritime position OF the sthmus of Darien, and
these may feel disposed hereafter to offer few
marks.
In conclusion would observe that am not the advo
of any particular road and that not especially
not to be voted away in fit Of enthusiasm and on pro-
ects the of rti s as vet exceedingly