The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-21
wAsHIseros, Feb. 20, 1919

TO he Editor efthe National Waig
Whenever trade requires facilities, or there lie q
sufficient inducement for the construction Of rail-
roads or canals, there are always both means and
ways at hand. New Y ork found both the ways md
means, when there was sufficient trade 10 warrant
the outlay TO make canal three hundred miles long;
and even the little State Of Delaware cut herself in
half BY canal and also constructed railroad both
fifteen miles long Should, therefore, The commerce
of this country require II, both men md money viii
be found, and all difficulties overcome TO construct
canal or railroad pro badly both be made across
Tehuantepec. As for the route across the Isthmns
Of Darien, there are too many natural and insur-
mountable difficulties 70 be overcome. The nayiga-
ton in the Caribbean sea Ia difficult; the currents
varisns, and The entrance 70 chagres Is both diff
cult and dangerous and these disadvantages cannot
be overcome by human ingenuity. DnrIngthe WIN
ter months and the prevalence Of Norhers, II would
be almost impossible 10 navigate with safety the bay
Of Honduras and Caribbean sea- and vessels sailing
from Northern ports, would, at this season of the
year. find II almost impossible to navigate through
the different passes into that sea- and beat back
against the northern hurricanes which prevail In
tnnt sen. The entrance to Chagres can only be
effected with safety by vessels Of light draft Of water
and strongly built, and this only during summer
months. Such Is Chagres, and we will leave Il 10
future disasters and disease prove these assertions
On the opposite side Panama, the water shoals for
long distance and vessels discharge their cargocs In
launches; but this Is the case with vast number Of
harbors on the Pacific, but as that ocean mot sub-
iect to very violent gales, this Is no great objection,
as Il gives employment 10 large number Of people
who otherwise would be Idle, vicious and probably
commit many crimes. M
Let us suppose tho Aspinwalls q Co. had received
q bonus from the United States, TO enable them 10
carry the mail and construct road across the 18TH
mus Of Darien and that II was In successful opera
tion and the benefits were wholly on the side Of
America, TO the injury of European commerce, for
hold It as selfevident as American commerce In
creases that Of Europe must diminish. this stage
OF the affair." the powers Of Europe must combine to
form railroad from the Nile to Suez, on the Red
sea, or ti,er commercial prosperity must diminish
but Russla stands sentinel over this route and
therefore England cannot obtain from Egypt the
right-of-way, which would ngain place her two
thousand miles nearer India and China than the Pa
mama route The British government would then
pursue the same course towards Guatemala, as she
has in the river La Plate and we would see her Hal
ifax and Jamaica heet ON this side, and Pacific fleet
on the other side blockading the two ports Of Pa
mama and Chagres. In the meantime the Aspip-
walls seing their projects and would
very willingly dispose Of their interests to an En-
giisa Company and when the bargain was consum-
mated we would see tho two British fleets retiring,
and the Asplnwalls & Co., the British company and
the English government all equally satisfied. Il may
be said this Ia surmise only but when have the
British government ever neglected their interests, or
that Of her merchanis7 Does she not now hold the
mos, important fortified keys throughout the word1
Namely, Gibraltar, Malta the Ionian Isles Falkland
Islands, Jamaica, Balze India and other important
points, besides Oregon and vancouyers, and even
a iiea on the Island Of CUBA.
The British have carefully watched over the inter
est. or her merchants as IL Is her commerce that
adds to her strength and prosperity. Every country
has felt the weight Of the lions paw from Spain
she rayished GIbratcT as IL the key 10 the Med
iterrsnean; Malta was robbed from the knights,
Canada from France. Ionian Isles from Turkey,
Falkland Islands from Portugal, and we could find
inoumersble instances Of her aggressions In India
and,China oil for commerce, or TO hold some Inn
portant key or position. It would therefore be one
Of tbs most rash -acts In this country. 10 lay out
drthns towards the construction Of railroad across
the Is,hmus Of Danen. Yours, &c
W. d. PORTER.