The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-17

III. acquisition at California at the peace, rem
cer,t The irng mooito projects OF some couiInun-
cation between the Ailsnlic and Pacific subject
al inquiry aud Important cons ideIn alton tor Con.
gIess. Accordingly. II committee from that body
were employed. early last session, IN carefully ex-
amluug The whole subject. In the end, they con-
| cuded their abors by reporting In favor OF rail-
| read. and sgainst a. ship canal.
| The committee, by this report, recommcnded to
! Congress that an annual grant OF 30 OOO dollars
| should be accorded IN favor OF railroad across
| Papsma-look forward with anxiety 10 IN. con-
structon OF smother railroad across the North
| American continent from the M sslssippi rver 10
| San francisco and emphatcally declare against
| the necessity tor an intermediate line of communi-
| cation. A great northern line through the States
| to San FIancisco--a southern line across the
| ls,hums of Panama-and nc ship canal, is their
fiat upon the subject, The ground OF this pre-.
| ference for a railroad IS plainly avowed Ihey
anticipate the certainty, Of the not distant estab-
United States in The Pacific, should no channel of
communication tor shipping exist In the Ian
guage of the report itself, "The construction OF
this, Che Panama Rairoad) will throw into our
'he Paclhc ocean. Our ports are on the very.
way side from Europe to the Ishmus of
| Panama, and our lines Of steamers and packet
| ships across the Atlantic, will come laden
with the freghs destined for thai channel of trade
| The commerce, therefore, from Europe to the East
Indies, China, and the west coast OF this continent,
will be forced pursue the old route, fall into
| our hands," But relieved from the delays, diff
culles, and consequent expense, and from the pre-
sent impossibily of transit for heavy goods
| the Isthmus which divides the two seas, European
and British traffic must necessarily give up the old
route, IN all cases where, by following the ne one,
| there will be material saving OF time, or In the
cost Of navigation. This is clear, as: otherwise,
American ships could arrive az British ports from
| Panama, with cheaper cargoes from those markets
to which a railroad across the Isthmus would afford
an easier access. This is toreseen and Indicated
by the committee, In their report TO Congress.
They conceive il beyond doubt that the old route
| cannot be adhered to- but they do not stop here
the conclusions of this remarks liable state paper are
| carried yet further "This," 1t says, els admit
ting that European ships will come freghted to the
terminus of the railroad this side of the lshmus
| with cargoes intended for the markets OF the Pa
cifc and China That, however, will not be the
| attention of the British merchant and ship owner
to our echo of this warning voice from atar; to
| arouse them from needless apathy and unconcern
| to due appreciation Of the deep stake they un:
| questionably have In the nature OF the projected
| communications between the two great oceans,
and IN the terms upon which, and the parties by
| whom, any OF these may eventually be earned out.
This report then continues thus: the large
number Of vessels bound TO the ports OF the United
States, tor cotton, rice, tobacco, lumber, flour,
| provisions, Nc, &c, will bring the freights for
those markets as ballast or caIgoes, whence they
will be conveyed by the railroad In our own fast
sailing coastlng vessels and steamers which will
also bring to us the commerce of the Pacific. This
| is very obvious, because if European ships were
sail with full cargOes direct TO the railroad, they
would run the risk of being compelled to return
without freIgnt, or come 10 the tnlteu states 1Or
II. We are much nearer TO the lsthmus than the
! ports Of Europe, and our means OF communication
and information will be so frequent and certain,
our lines Of steamers and coastlng vessels so
stantly the alert, and will move with such
celerity, that heavy European reghting ships will
find it quite impossible TO compete with them
To whatever extent such results would be likely
| to flow, from The construction OF railroad across
| any portion of the American Isthmus, through a
necessity for the disembarcatlon of cargoes destined
for transit, none OF such detrimental character,
for the interests OF British and European shipping,
would spring from the formation Of a waterway
| adequate TO the admission OF ships OF large bur-
then. The tendency OF the opening OF such q
channel OF communication, for our ships bound TO
the Pacific, China, the Indies, Eastern Archi-
peaeo, Australia and New Zealand, would be to
increase the direct traffic with Great Britain and
Europe generally, and occasion greater demand
| for our shipping Hence II Is the obvious interest
and necessity for the government of this country,
| and those classes more immediately connected
| with mercantile pursuits, TO promote the speedy
formation OF 4 ship canal. In SO far as our best
and most essential interests are Identified with
colonial possessions, (independent intercourse with
which would be almost practically intercepted,
| were that dream ct ACKNOWLEDGEMENT presented to
the United States TO become Teallsedo the promo
ton OF free and independent shipping route, be-
comes an object OF paramount Importance 10 the
| PEOPLE OF this country
| The committee Of Congress be ore referred to,
| take precisely the same view Of the subject. They
define, the painest terms, the respective value
TO them, and TO rs, OF the respective projects Ut
Is to be gwen 10 the course of European commerce
with the west coast Of America and the East In |
| dies, by communication across the lsthmus of |
Panama, il is quite clear that a ship canal would |
be the only channel that could IL from falling
rapidly INTO our hands, while II Is equally certain
that our interests point TO railroad as best suited
| IN all respects 10 our position and progress"
Should this be in fact the key TO the present |
policy Of the United States, no sane hesi-
tate IN according IT, as an urgent necessity, that
every means at the disposal OF the British govern
| h.
Of counteracting Its mischievous effects, and to
sustain those material interests at home and /
abroad. which the success OF that policy would So
eminenty e. danper, Let us therefore turn to the
acts of The United States government; these will |
not leave us bsung in our judgments we shall lind |
them in entire accord with the conclusions Of |
Congress.
Thus, a bill was presented to Congress in ac- |
corCaDce with this report. A charge dafiairs was /
subsequently despatched 10 the State OF Nicaragua,
II being the first time that such agent had been
accredited 10 that quarter. The hostility OF the /
State of Nicaragua TO Eng was known, and |
her desire to enlist the United States support Of
her pref, nsions and new tangled claims, by offering
TO their citizens the concession OF the right of tram
sit between the oceans through ITS territory,
and that which II would make its own, by the sole /
force Of a roio SIC jsbeo declaration, made In
defiance OF the clear and independent rights OF the
Besides this, IL 10 to be noted that treaty, con-
cluded on the 7th Of March, lsts, by Captain Lock-
X. N, the part Of Great Britain, the protector
OF the MOSQUITO Territory, aad certain commission
ers, appointed by the State OF Nicaragua, rendered
this siil more unwarrantabe, the thlrd article de-
claring-"That the government OF the State of /
Nicaragua sol.mnly promise not TO disturb the |
peaceful inhabitants OF san Juan (Grey TOWN.,
understanding that any such act will be consde red
by Great Britain an open declaration OF hos
uhtes." Ii will be seen that Nicaragua awaited /
itself a mere twelvemonth afterwards, without
grounds assigned notice gwen, justification at
tempted. Of the opportunity which seemed to offer /
Of safe evasion Of the spirit and meaning Of this |
article.
Thus, IN April Of this year, il entered into a |
contract with Dr. Brown and Mr. Clapp, giving
them and such other citizens Of the United States
as might associate with them, the right of makIn
a communication by steamers, and a railroad or
canal. from the port Of san Juan, or 81. John, |
across the lsthmus 20 the Pacific, on condition OF /
their erecting certain buildings at the above
MESQUITE port, and obtaining the interference of