The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-02
From tie Union, February
THE PANAMA RAILROAD.
IL SENATE, JANuARY 81.


for instituling mission 10 the governments OF Cen
trail America and New Grenada, for the purpose OF
paving the way for cutting q canal across the 18TH
mus. The resolution was adopted after consldern-
BILE discussion by the Senate believe without dis
sentng yotc--at least go II would appear from the
journal The resolution was 10 this effect;
Resoirtd, That the President Of the United States
be respectfully requested 10 consider the expedency
u opening negotiations with the governments Of
other nations, and particularly the governments OF
Central America and New Grenada, for the purpose
OF eifecually protecting by suitable treaty eupula-
lions with them, such individuals companies as
may undertake to open communication between
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, by the construction
Of ship canal across the isthmus which connects
North and South America, and of securing forever
BY such sipuaiions The free and equal right Of navi
eating such canal 10 all such nations on the payment
OF such reasonable tolls az may be established, TO
compensate the capitalists who may enaagcin such
undertaking and complete the work.
In pursuance OF the suggestion herein Contained,
the President of the United States sent n Charge
daiiaires 10 the republics Of Central America and
New Grenada, but the enterprise fell through, as
think on account OF the incompetency Of the min
lister sent and nothing was done in nrtherance OF
my proposition, OF for The accomplishment OF the
different projects which were suggested OF the time
for making either canal railroad across the isthmus
We are now in the middle Of the nineteenth centu-
ry; and think with Difference 10 those gentlemen
who have expressed their views in regard 10 this sub
ect that II s disgrace TO the age In which live
and to the country In which we live, that as yet no
passage by either railroad or canal has been obtain
ed from ocean 10 ocean, either by Tehuantepec or Pan
ANA Here is proposition before US for expend-
ing some two three millions ofdoars 10 Is nine
thousand miles OF ship navigation. and the most dan
gerous navigation in the world. The question is
whether these two three millions of dollars shall
be expended for such purpose. And on this occa-
sion well as on former occasions which this sub
ject has been presented we have been met with the
objection that there other and better routesone
which is by railroad from The Mississippi to The Paeif
ic the other Al Tehuanepec. On this subIectI think
and feel disposed 10 act very much like the Senator
from Massachusetts. If could obtain railroad OF
| canal across the ishmus of Tehuantepec, would
prefer il, and for reasons which think will readily
suggest themselves TO any one who will look al the
map II is vastly better route for our own country
butI cannot disguise from myself the fact that either
of these routes Is calculated 10 throw the control Of
the commerce that is conducted through these chan
nes into the lap of the United States for hold that
no other country can compete with the United States
successfully upon either Of these routes,
am NOT prepared TO say that the sum stated In
the bill is precisely the proper sum- have not stuff.
cient Information to enable me 10 Judge accurately
OF that. ! must rely on the Judgment OF Others,
whose peculiar business it is make estimates Of
the necessary expenditures. | must take the esti-
mates Of engineers and from them 1t appears that il
viii cost three millions of dollars to make the road.
We know that very important expenses must be en-
coun,cred on this route other than those which are
ordinarily incurred in the construction OF roads Of
this description, OF the same length. 1t Is stated
that 1t will be necessary 10 construct pier the
Pacific as well rs On The Atlantic side. Now when
ever proposition shall be offered 10 me for making
a railroad, or for assisting in making road across
the sthmus Of Tehuantepec shall give II favoia-
Bile consideration. hive already stated that pre-
fer that route. do not know but road may be
made there: earnestly hope that il may; but am
not insensbe to many of the difficulties which will
present themselves there. II Is stated most res
pecable authority that railroad across that sthmns
must necessarily be q hundred and fifty miles In
length, and that there is bar at the entrance the
harbor which viii no, admit vessels drawing more
than twelve feet; another statement says fourteen,
and even eighteen feet; and have received iniorma-
ton from very respectable sources verifying both
these opposing statements do not undertake to
decide between them. 1t Is stated also that In TIE
huantepec the norlhers blow during portion Of the
year with great violence, and that violent storms
prevail also on the Pacific side. Senators aware
that the Indian name Tehuantepec Is sad 60 be lit.
orally however coarsely; translated by The English
words, IA he'll of a blow Now, whether the winds
more violent either side OF the isthmus Of Fe-
huantepcc than elsewhere, do not know. We shall
probably be informed upon that point. But It ia
feared that these northefs, with bad harbors NAV
present formidable obstacles on that route. The
route across the isthmus Of Panama Is nndoubteAy
practicable whatever objections may be edngains
H. and shall vote for the proposition to assist the
contractors make railroad there desiring at the
same time TO guard the country against any impo
sitfon.
Let something practicable be now done Let us
have route across either the istlmus OF Tehuanle.
pee or Panama. Thsreis no proposition before US
for route across Tchunntopec; but we have pro-
position In favor Of the other route We know that
the individuals applying to rs have purchased the
right of way at Panama and we know that they will
make some Kind Of road there within eight years
but think i desirable Gift be practcable) to have
the road made in two years; and understand that
II We give the assistance which Is asked for BY the
petitioners they can and viii make the road in two
years. Sir, II is only question Of time. | repeat
that from Whit can learn it IS matter Of certainly
that the read viii be made within eight years; for
the contractors have bound themselves to do the
work within that time, else 10 forfeit one hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars, paid BY them into
the treasury Of New Grenad. 1t is merely aues-
ton, then, whether the road shall be made within
eeht years or within two Years.
This Is 10 be an American road II will have that
character abroad, do whatyou may, American cit-
zens are intrnsted with the construction Of IT, Well
If this work is be- and be called an American work
desire that it should be road worthy Of The Amer
lean name and In my opinion the American govern
men should, within Its constitutional sphere, aid as
tat as II can individual enterprise in making road
who,hy Of the American character. do not want
road attempted there by individuals and carried on
By piecemeal, commencing with n road Of few
miles and perhaps ending for some years 10 come
with plank or a mule road. I desire that the i'm
proyement should go on continuously and in shs
shortest practicable time. And now allow me one
general remark in regard ts the to be expended
would aid rs far as the constitutional power ofthe
government will enable us TO do 1t, In making load
from the Mississippi river 10 the Pacific, or road
across the isthmua Of Tehuantepec, hs design TO
aid In the construction Of the road proposed by this
bill; and whatever the cost of passags by canal or
railroad ncross 10 the Pacific on either ishmus may
be, whether TWO millions, two and hall millions
six miIlone, twenty millions, or even fifty millions
say, sir that the wit OF man cannot find any other
mode Of extending the same amount of money as
much for the benefit Of this country and the whole
human family. And Irepeut that do think that in
the middle Of the nineteenth century II lie disgrace
to the government that nothing has yet been attemp-
ed with success 10 save our commerce the danger
Gus navigation OF nine thousand miiee around the
cape take the proposition now before us because
II is practicable would not delay the work from
year 10 year and from day 10 day II we can, by
expehdiIg the sam OF two and half millions OF dol
lars OF less, accomplish great object, say for
one that ! am willing 10 authorize the expenditure.
The State ofLouisiama has ordered Powers TO ex.
ecute state Of Washington and leaves TO him the
choice Of the style in which il shall be done snd the
price which he shall think fit 10 charge or his work
- -
man arrived from California at Weston Mo-,
says thai the accounts OF the abundance Of gold in
that country are not true that the dsgers seldom get
an equivalent for their labor
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oil ,atet III. L.. .. A.