Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-01-01
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
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BLACKBOARD, TOwNLEY & BILLIARD
pROPRIEToRs.
ALL ROAD ACROSS THE IsTHMUS.

New Greneda the grant Of the privilege 10 construct
Rail rad across the Islhmus um the neighbohood Of
Panama on The Pacific to that of Chagres, the Allan
tic OCEAN They propose contract, for the space of
twenty years To transport upon the Rail road L. Stroops,
military and naval stores, munitions Sc, for yearly
compensation not exceeding three fourths of thai spuIa
ted be paid for carrying the mails in Steamers between
New York and Liverpool. A bill reported in con-
forny with this proposal and has engaged the attention
of the Senate several occasions. We have read with
attention the remarks Of all tie Senators who par
cpaled in the debate, and confess that have been
surprzed at the msaPpehension which many Of them la
Dor under, to the nature of the privileges granted to the
United States oy the Treaty with New Grenada rati-
fled at the last session. The 35th article Of that Treaty
says:
"The Government of New Grenada guarantees to the
Government Of the United States that the right of way Or
transit the shmus of Panama upon any modes of
communication that now exist, or that may hereafter be
constructed shall be open and fee to the Government and
citizens Of The United States for the transportation fany
articles Of produce Jnanufacures merchandise and com
belonging the citizens of the United
that other tolls charges shall he levied citizens
of the United States, their merchandise than lev
led upon The citizens Of New Grenada"
Now ii is evident that the only benefit, conferred by
this article is that the citizens Of the United States and
their goods conveyed the lhmus by any improve
in being, hereafter 70 be made by the Grel-
adam Government, or by those to whom it may grant
the privilege, shall be charged higher fare freight
than the citizens Of New Grenada and their goods A.
merican ciiizens and American goods placed--no
merely as with respect to commercial privileges, in other
parts q the treaty, upon the footing Of the ia
voret nations, bu-upon perfect equality with Grena-
dian citizens. ;hs not granted without equiva
lent. which shall presently notice We d. not see
how any diversity Of opinion could exist tie mean
ing of the article and yet, from inattenlon we presume
every Senate, whose remarks we have read except
Messrs. Dix, Down. and Douglass, has uttered more
less about right Of way which he seems
20 understand comforting power upon The Govern
Of the tniled States TO RAILROAD or Ca
nal ITSELF or to charter company for this purpose.
FROM the observations which fell from Nessrs. Fooe
Breeze and othe,s il is evident that they suppose the
New Grenadan Government has y'the atty granted
the exclusive privilege make the improvement
in question: and thus we have The right Of way in the
in which, BY its charter, the James River and Ka-
nawha Canal Company has the power to possess itself
u the best line from Richmond the mouth Of the ka-
nawha. They to look wi h jealous eye upon the
project of Mr. Aspinwa and HE associates and declare
that 70 assist hem,by yearly compensation for transpor
ation cspubc property, is 20 sacrifice great prvi
leges il is obvious that they conceive the power to
make the improvement, 2r to delegate toa chartered
company now rests under tie treaty, not with the Gren
adian Government but with ours Nothing, TO our appre-
henslon can he more untounded nay absurd, Lan this
assumption. 50 far the power 10 invade the Grenadi-
territory. with army Of engineers and contractors.
k.tfnr
off than before the signing Of the treaty. New Grenada
parted not in that treaty, with ola of her SOIL sover
eighty jurisdiction, CONTROL in any degree, of the
manner in which, the agency by which, the improve
ment was 70 be made. 1t would have been competent
for her the next day 10 ence the work national
enterprise She did do this, but chose rather 10 grant
the privilege, for sufficient bonus or as should say
this country, to charter company for the puFose-
She has, therefore, dvesed herself Of all control over The
improvement, not by the treaty. but by the exclusive
privilege conferred upon Messrs. Aspnwal, Stevens.
Co., In what then, may be asked, consist the boas
ted privileges secured at extraordinary price, by
Government We answer, in the guarantee that
the company, chartered have shall not charge
for the transportation Of American citizens goods
higher price than that charged upon Grenadans and
their goods land that the of transit at all times shall
be secured 10 us erany improvement which it may
make.
We are not informed whether limit is assigned to
the tariff of charges or whether the grantees left
to consult their OF interest and proprety in its
reguation-but think the latter the probable
When we reflect that National Law does not justify the
citizens Of one nation carry their goods through The
ory of another much less its government transport
troops munitions Sc and that this right ofransit jeal
ousy guarded is always conferred by municipal legisa
ton or treaty stpulatons. may realize the beralty
Of the provisions Of the 35lh article Of the New Grenada
an Treaty and the importance of the privileges secures
to us-priveges which have become, by the cesson of
California and New Mexico, far more important than
they were when the treaty was negotiated.
If our view Of the matter be correct-and feel con
fdent it s-we justified in saying that the debate in
the Senate upon the memorial Of Messrs. Aspinwall,
Stevens s. Co. any thing but crediabe to the intel
ligence Of the majority Of those who participated in It,
The Bill proposes to dire ct The Secretary Of the Navy
10 contract with these gentlemen for compensation not
exceeding $500 900 per annum, for period not exceed
inu twenty years. for the transportation of the mails,
troops. stores munitions sc. belonging to the United
States over Rail road, or by steam, across the 18th
mus. between Chagres and Panama. The sum specified
NAV be- and we think is, much too high-but the exor
tancy of the amount would not Justify the harsh terms
in which the proposition is spoken Of We think much
less sum would secure the commencement and compile
tion Of the work We think further that every consid
GRAFTON of enlightened patriotism requires that our Gov
ernmen, should lend liberal hand 10 the enterprise. II
is all important that the work should be speedily begun,