Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-06
Correspondence oflhe Baltimore Sun.

WASHINGTON, Jan. oui iofS
The Plans Of Connecting me Atlantic Hih ne
Paclfe-ths T.huanepsc Route, &C.
The Panama Railroad is now the order Of The
day. AID will probably be discussed Tor the re-
mainder OF the week
Five different schemes Of connecting the A.
lanlic and the Pacific arc now before Congress,
or at least agtaed in Washington:
lst. The roai across the lslhmus OF Panama.
ID. The road across The ls.hmus OF Tenuante-
pee.
Sd. Mr.. Whhney's railroad.
4lh. Mr.. Bayard's road.
5h. The route proposed by Senator Houston.
In regard 10 the Panama scheme, | would
merely observe, thai the project is liable 10 ma
ny objections.
Isl. the climate is insalubrious.
81 Tne distances saved are really not 50
great as to lead US 10 suppose that the route Gull
for a moment, compete with an overland rouie,
sooner or later to be established across The CONT
neni. The road, therefore, can be merely tempo
raIy.
Sd. Chaeres, the eastern terminus OF The pro.
posed road, is entirely domineered by British
islands. Il is 10 The leeward Of ST. Lucia, Bar
BADGES, Trinidad, Tobagc, Grenada, 81. Vincent,
&c, all British and South OF Jamaica, the princi-
pa British naval station in The West Indies
OF the Caribbean sea The British are entirely
with theirs, bur no prt on thu! whole sea,
where in time Of war we would ind shelter, or
be able 10 retil. A var, therefore, with England,
or perhaps with any European power, for The
French island OF Martinique lies also 10 wind
ward ol ChagIes, would give the command oil the
eastern terminus of the road completely 10 our
antagonist, and not 10 US who would have paid
for H.
Alb. The government OF New Grenada is too
weak 10 project the road when il is finished, or 10
establish proper police along It's course. Win
Lul fortyins both halbors, and keeping small
earrsons along the road, it would afford no secu
rty TO the holders OF the stock, or 10 the persons
and properly travelling on il.
Query-Would The atemp, 10 establish such
farls not rouse The jealousies OF the European
powers}
9Th. The road across tie ISthmusis afer all,
not the road that emisran,s will travel. |, IS 10
be finished in eight years. Before that lime Cali
formal will have population Of 500, 900 Is
The greatest emigration will be across the noun
lains; because, that route is cheaper, safer and
more expeditions. As yet, we have but Two
steamers on the western coast; the price OF pas
sage in them is enormous, (moie than double
the price from New York 10 Chagres, and ne
delay in Panama exceedingly disasreeable and
expensive. II the railroad were now establish
ei, and the price of passage from Panama to
San Francisco The same, emgrarIs would new
erIheless prefer going round The cape, or across
the mountains.
These are some, by no means all, the objec-
lions TO the Panama road. As TO the Tehuante-
pee road, il is undoubtedly better situated. being
on The Mexican gulf, which is essentially an
American gulf, being more than halt encom1as-
std by American territory. We have there plan
ted our power which is on The increase, not on
the wane. The money spent in Iehuanlepcc
would eventually flow back TO the Uniiei States
-Tehuaniepec itself must in time become an en-
tirely American highway.
But il has been said, and that in the Senate too,
that MIR. De Garay, the protector, has no longer
any control over it, This is mistake. Mr.. DE
Garay has fulfilled the conditions OF his grant,
having for year past employed people who have
actually prepared the roai and the Mexican
government having decreed by an act OF Congress
| mai all concessions, obligations, &C., due 10 the
Sale or 10 individuals shall be allowed cxten.
sion OF time equal to The duration OF The late war
and blockade OF the Mexican coas, by our navy.
The great question in regard 10 the Tehuan-
tepec route is whether The Mexican government
will grant us The right OF way; Tor, without such
| a grant, il would assuledly be an act OF folly 10
| undertake The road. am, however, crediiably
informed that this right aoia be granted SO that II
NAV well be worth while for US 10 wait I'LL the
different competitors shall nave their papers IN or
der, and We an opportunity TO examine them.
AS 10 The other schemes, deem them decidedly
preferable in the long rum though it may be neces
sary 10 construct atemporaTy road across The Ssh
mus. Yours &c. \.