Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-12-28

The correspondence between the Depaft-
ment of State. and the Minister and Consul
OF the United States, at Rio De Janeiro,
which has from time to time been laid before
Congress, represents that II Is customary
device TO evade the penalties of the laws.
Vessels sold in Brazil, when provided
with such papers, by the Consul, instead
of returning to the United States, for the
register, proceeded at once, to the coast of A
frica for the purpose Of obtaining cargoes of
slaves. Much additional information Of the
same character has been recently communica-
ted to the Department of State. 1t has not
been considered the policy, Of our laws, TO
subject an American citizen. in foreign coun-
try. who purchases a vessel built IN the Uni
ted States, TO the Inconvenience Of sending her
home for a new register, before permitting her
to proceed on her voyage.
Any alteration Of the laws which might have
a tendency to impede the transfer OF property
in vessels, between our citizens, or the free
navigation of those vessels between different
ports Of the world. when employed in lawful
commerce, should be carefully considered /:
but trnst your wisdom may devise method
by which our general policy. In this respect,
and at the same time, the abuse Of the flag
win, by means eff sealed letters in the manner
indicated, be prevented.
/ Having ascertained that there is no pros
n i
America, which formerly composed the Re
public Of that name, we have separately nego-
tated with some of them. treaties Of amity and
( commerce, which will be laid before the Sen
ate.
/ \ contract having been concluded with the
State Of Nicaragua by a company Of American
citizens for the purpose demonstrating a ship
canal through the territory Of that State, to
connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, ! have
also directed the commencement fnegotiations
with the State of Nicaragua, pledging both
! governments to protect those who shall engage
/ in it and perfecI the work. All other nations
are invited by the State Of Nicaragua to en-
ter into the same stipulatinns with US, and the
benefit to be derived by and from such an ar
rangement, VIII be the protection of this great
i ocean communication agansta any power which
might seek to obstruct it, or to snonopolze its
advantages.
Al states entering into such treaty will
enjoy the advantages of passing through the
( canal, on the payment Of the same tolls; the
work, if constructed on these guarantees. will
become a bond Of pence. instead of a subject
Of emulation and strife between the nations Of
the earth Should the great maritime state OF
Europe consent to this arrangement, and we
have no reason TO suppose that position so
fair and so honorable will be opposed by any,
the energies of their people and ours viii CO.
operate in promoting the success of the enter
prise. | do notrecemmend any appropriation
from the National Treasury for this purpose,
nor do believe that appropriation is nee
Iessary.
Private enterprise, if properly protected,
viii complete the work, should II prove to be
feasible. The parties who have procured the
charter from nicaragua, for Its construction,
desire no assistance from this government.
beyond its protection. They profess that hav-
ing examined the proposed line of communi-
cation they will be ready to commence the
undertaking whenever that protection shall be
extended to them. Should there appear to be
reason, on examining, the whole evidence, 10
entertain serious doubt Of the practicabilitv OF
constructing such a canal, that doubt should
be speedily solved by an actual exploration OF
the route; should such work be constructed
under the common protection, for the equal
benefit Of all, it would be neither Just nor ex-
pedient that any great maratine State should
command the communication. The territory
Ja-1u.h which the canal may be opened, ought
to be free from any foreign power. No such
power should occupy the position that would
. enable it hereafter to exercise so controlling
an influence over the commerce Of the world
r or to obstruct highway which ought to be
dedicated to the common uses of mankind.
, The routes across the Isthrnus Of Tehuau
tepCc and Panama are also worthy Of our Sc
rious consideration. They did not fail to en-
: gage the action Of my predecessor. In the
2 negotiation Of the treaty Of Gaudaloupe Hi
T. daIgo, our Minister was instructed to offer {
: very large sum of property for the right o
transit across the Isthmus of Tehuante
7 pic. The American Government did no
, accede to their proposition for the purchase
= Of the right Of way, probably because j
had already contracted with private iadivid
e uaIs for the construction Of a passage from
Juara Aculo river to Tehuntepic.
: ! shall not renew any proposition for
right, which shall be secured equally to al
0 nations, by the payment of a reasonable tel
2 to the owners of the improvement, who doubt
: lesss would be we'll coGtented with that com
: pensation, and Of the maritime States of tht
world, in separate treaties negotiated will
e Mexico, binding her and them 20 protect those
o who should construct the work.
Such guarantees would do more to secure
the completion Of the communication through
the Territory Of Mexico than any other con
= sIdeTatIou that could be offered, as Mexic,
, herself would be the greatest gamer by the o.
T. pening between the Gulf and the Pacific o
: cean. 1t Is presumed she would not refuse
: her aid in the manner proposed to accomplish
= an Improvement TO her own best interests
g We have reason to hope that the proposed
fdllIodd across the IolHHus al PANAMA. Wli
I be successfully constructed under the protec
j ton Of the late treaty with New Grenada rat
fled and exchanged by my predecessor, on thu
e 2lst day ofJuue, 1876, which guarantees tn,
perfect neutrality ofthe Tsthmus and the right
. of sovreignity and prosperity of New Grana
q ada, over that territory, with a view that tn,
K free trancit from ocean to ocean NAV not b,
# interrupted or embarrassed during the exist
n ence Of the treaty.
g Il IS our policy TO encourage every practi
s cable route across the Isthmus which connects
), with South America, either by rail road o
i canal, which the energy and enterprise Of on
citizens may induce them to complete and
q consider 1t obligatory upon them toadopt tina
d policy. especially in consequence ofthe neces
+ sIty OF taeIilating intercourse with our posses
:, ions on the Pacific.
: The position Of the Sandwich Islands will
=. ! 49,. =. -. -. ?.