Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-01-16
PLAQUEMINE:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY l6, 1850
Presidents Message
CONCLUDED |

Presidents Message.
CONCLUDED
A contract having been concluded with the
States of Nicaragua, by accompany composed of
ing a ship canal through the Territory of the
State, to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans,
have directed the negotiation of a treaty with
Nicaragua, pledging both governments to pro-
tect those who shall engage in and perfect the
work. All other nations are invited by the
State of Nicaragua to enter into the same treaty
stipulation with her, and the benefit to be deriy-
ed by each, from such an Arrangement, will be
the protection of this great inter- oceanic COM
munication against any power which might seek
to obstruct it or monopolize its advantages
All States entering into such treaty will en-
JOY the right of passage through the canal on
payment of the same tolls.
The work if constructed under these guaran-
tees will become bond of peace instead of a
subject of contention and strife between the na-
tons of the earth. Should the maritime States of
Europe agree TO this arrangement (and we have
no reason TO suppose that proposition so fair
and honorable VIII be opposed by any,) the
energies of their people and ours will cooperate
in promoting the success Of the enterprise. |
do not recommend any appropriation from the
natoaal treasury for this purpose, nor do l
believe that such an appropriation is necessary.
Private enterprise, if properly protected, will
complete the work, should it prove to be feast
BILE. The parties who have procured the char
ter from Nicaragua for its construction desire
no assistance from this government beyond it's
protection, and they profess that, having ex-
amined the proposed line of communication,
they will be ready to commence the undertaking
whenever rAat protection shall be extended to
them. Should there appear to be reason, on
examing the whole evidence, to entertain Sc
rious doubt of the practicability of constructing
such a canal, that doubt could be speedily solv-
ed BY an actual exploration of the route.
Should such work be constructed under the
common protection of all nations, for equal
benefits to all, it would be neither just nor ex-
pedient that any great or maritime State should
command the communication. The territory
through which the canal may be opened ought to
be freed from the claims Of any foreign power
No such power should in any way occupy
position that would enable it hereafter to exer-
else so controlling an influence over the COM
merce of the world, or to obstruct highway
which ought to be dedicated to the common
uses Of mankind.
The route across the Isthmus at Tehuantepec
and Panama are also worthy of our serious
consideration. They did not fail to engage the
attention of my predecessor. The negotiator
of the treaty Of Guadaloupe Hidalgo was in
structed to offer avery large sum Of money for
the right of transit across the Ithmus ofsTe-
huantepec. The Mexican Government did not
accede to the proposition for the purchase the
rihgt Of way, probably because it had already
contracted with private individuals for the con-
struction of passage from the Guasacualco RI
yer to Tehuantepec. shall not name any pro-
position to purchase for money, right which
ought to be equally secured to all nations, in
payment Of a reasonable toll to the owners Of
the improvement, who would doubtless be well
contented with that compensation, and the
guarantee Of the maritime States of the world
in separate treaties, negotiated with Mexico,
binding her and them to protect those who
should construct the work. Such guarantee
would do more to secure the completion Of the
communication through the Territory of Mexico
than any other reasonable considerations that
could be offered, and as Mexico herself would be
the greatest gamer by the opening of the COM
municaton between the Gulf and the Pacific
ocean, it is presumed that she would not hesitate
to yield Der aid in the manner proposed, to ac-
complish an improvement SO important to her |
own best interests
We have reason to hope that the proposed |
railroad across the Isthmus Of Panama will be |
constructed under the protection |
Of the late treaty with New Grenada, ratified |
and exchanged by my predecessor on the. 10th
day of June l848, which guarantees the perfect |
Of the Isthmus, and the rights Of So
vereignty and property Of New Grenada over
The territory, with view that the free transit |
from ocean to ocean may not be interrupted or
during the existence fthe treaty.
It is our policy to encourage every practicable
route across the Tsthrrus, which connects North
md South America eitherby railroad or canal,
which the energy and enterprise Of our citizens
nay induce them to complete; and consider
I obligatory upon me to adopt that policy es-
,eciaiy il consequence of the absolute neces-
,ity Of Facilitating intercourse with our posses
'ions orahe Pacific. Tie position of the Sand
vich LANDS with reference to the Territory Of I
he Taited States on the Pacifc-the success of |
,ur persevesing and benevolent citizens who
lave repaired to that remore quarter in christians
ziig the natives and inducing them to adopt 7
'ystem Of government and laws suited to their +
wants, capacity and merits, and the use made |