The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-07
The Pan ma Railway.

have, in my last communication, promised to say
few words the military and maritime position of the
proposed Panama route; and | will now redeem my
promise. To do this, must compare the two routes
the shmus with each other and with an over.
land route no pet'oned for by the citiSens Of the State
Of Missouri.
glance at the map will suffice to satisfy any man
that the Panama route is, OF all the routes proposed
unite the Atlantic with the Pacific the one which has the
least pretension to be called an american route There
is nothing American it, except the gentlemen who have
undertaken to construct it with the money to be voted
out OF the American treasury. The whale which
hardy New England mariners chase in the South sea
could with much propriety be called san American
fish," as the proposed Panama railway an American
road.
In the first place. the Panama route lies, throughout it's
whole extent, in foreign territory. surrounded entirely
by foreign, possessions, and domneered entirely by
foreign influences. The proposed Panama road runs
through territory not even adjacent to own; so
that we cannot even bring upon it the influence Of a
Granada, which has the sovereignty the road, is
weak one its whole Observation-Disclosures, negroes,
muIattoes, hafbeeds and all-anountng to less than
million and hall and night at the gate of the road is
the British sentry boxJamaica-the great rendes uos
of the British naval forces in the West Indies.
The eastern terminus OF the proposed Panama route
on the Caribbean sea; which, encompassed as it is by
British possessions. with other maritime power dispuA
ting British sway s much more OF British than the
merce in the West Indies and would If the Panama rail.
way were finished with the money of the American
treasury, become the depot of British with the
government to lend itself the execution of such
extensive scheme of external Improvement, it is clear
that time of peace England would at least share
half of its benefits, while in time of would be cut
OFT entirely leaving TO England the enjoyment of the
whole 1t is asserted that want the road for the
transportation OF troops and munitions of war; and that
tins the reason why the government is asked aid the
projectors to the amount of five millions Of dollars or
about twice the of the whole cost of the road
But would ask when do most want troops and
ammuntlon--n time OF peace. war, Everybody will
answer, sin time of war" Precisely So and that is the
why, in time of war, should not be able to use
the road! ~ -
The amount OF troops now wanted in California ia
ceedingy small. Five hundred would probably suffice
One thousand is probably the largest number that can
possibly be thought Of For the transportation of these
therefore, the sthmus of Panama the
would pay from and half to five millions of dollars
while in time OF war; when really want the troops
and ammunition, could not transport them across the
ishmus for any sum at all
At present, we want troops in California beyosd
what e necessary for the police of the Territory And
for the transportation of this small force-not
from place to place, but only thirty nine miles across
isthmus eavng, still, two voyages to be
performed equal to going and returning from Europe,
the government asked to contract with merchants
who may afterwards stock transfer their contract,
they please, to the modest amount OF five millions OF dol
lars!! All the troops now want IN California will
only constitute constabuary forces and for the trans
poraton OF this consabuary force the very smallest
part Of the wdy are asked to pay millions, while no
guarantee whatever is given us, that for actual pur
poses we nave the power of Transporting single man.
solitary keg OF powder Nay, worse--n time of war
the Panama route would be nuisance 10 us; as the
facilities which 1t Is intended to afford our troops would
In that case be transferred to foreign power for the
transportation OF the troops and ammunition of that power
to the western part Of this continent In view Of these