The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-06

subscribers sO enclosed viii be entitled copy s
edition they furnish subscribers for, s'ass.
North from South America. was suggested by unani.
vote OF the Senate IN executive session, on the Sd
day oil March, 1885, The resolution then adopted by the
Senate is in the following words
RESOLVED That the President Of the United States be
speciuy ed consider the cxpedency opening
negotiations with the governments OF other nations, and
particularly with the governments OF Central America and
New Granada, for tho purpose of etecuay poiecng by
suitable treaty stpulaons with Them such individuals
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by the construction
Oh sh-canal across the sthmns which connects North
and South America, and OF securing forever by such stp
ulaion the free and equal right OF navigating such canal
20 al ,"en na1n on the payment Of such reasonable tolls
may engage in such undertaking and complete the work"
This resolution at the time debated by Daniel
Webster, John Forsyth, and my self 1t had long been
cherished object with TO procure some
across the sihmus which would bring this country nearer
to The territories the Pacific and draw the treasures of
that mighty ocean, with its ten thousand fertile and pro-
ductiye islands, INTO the ports OF the United States.
thought then, and still think, that The opening of such
passage was OF paramount importance not only TO my
own country but TO all Others and that if, in
pleting such work, fifty hundred millions Of dollars
(aye one-hali The money vanly expended in attempting
10 discover northwest passage) should be expended il
would be che ape outlay and render more benefits and
blessings to the world than equal expenditure any
other enterprise that had been could be under
taken by man. introduced the resolution just eighteen
Years ago las, Friday, and the next day Congress ad
ourned and John Forsyth entered upon The duties Of
Secretary OF State under the administration of President
Jackson Inc suggestion contained IN the resolution met
with warm and hearty approval from the President;
and on the st day of May 1885. Charles Biddle was
charged with the duty of making inquiries with view
to enable the Executive to comply with it Mr. Forsyth's
Instructions to Mr. Bidde direct him to proceed by the
most direct route to Lake Nicaragua explore the con.
templaed communication by canal OF railroad in that
quarter, for which purpose every facility granted
Mr. Biddle. He afterwards directed to proceed to
examine The Panama route, and such other points the
Atlantic side OF the sthmus would probably be fixed
on for the termination OF road was anxious al The
time that William Radcliffe the former consul a, Chagres
who had devoted much of his life 10 the examination of
this great SUBJECT should receive the appointment But,
unfortunately, he no politician. Mr. Biddle dsobey I'd
his instruclions-never visited Nicaragua and. aer
having procured from the government of New Granada
eIcus'ue grant OF the right OF way the sthmus
OF Panama. vestng in citizens OF the United States h
monopoly OF the route in direct opposition TO the
first time coolly informed Mr. Forsyth that it "appeared
to him unnecessary at present to enter into any nego
tons with foreign nations upon the subject"
His idea OF exclusive grant TO our citizens OF the
right of way in accordance with the opinion OF Mr.
tise, subsequently appointed by Mr. Polk Both nego-
t,aed for monopoly OF the passage in our own citizen
graft negotiated by Mr. Bddle provided that thirds
of the stock created by II should be "the property of
Charles Bdde and such citizens Of the United States
ne might associate with him, the Office OF The company
be in Philadelphia, and all nsalmens to be paid there,
and the number OF directors to be in the proportion
as the quantity of stock" President Jackson high
y dspleased with the result and Mr. Forsyth, on the
23d OF September, 1886, Immediately after ascertain
ing the facts, in despatch TO Robert B. McAfee, our
whole proceeding, and directed him to discaim all
nexion with the project the part OF this government
to Preven! any m,sundersand'ng with the government
and the President was thus frustrated by the incom.
potency OF the agent President Jackson shortly after
went out of Office But the subject not permitted to
sleep The records OF the State Department show that
during every succeeding administration that department
has been engaged in the consideration OF this subject,
and especially in the acquisition OF information ne
cessary to enable it to act with effect Ia the admirable
despatch OF Mr. Wheaton, of the nth December, s45,
is observed that, in The letter OF instructions given in
1896 by Mr. Clay, then Secretary OF State, TO pen
poten,aes appointed 10 attend the congress OF Panama.
reference is had ioa correspondence this subject be-
tween him and the minister of Central America and il
stated that il the work "a cana should ever be
ecued as 10 admit OF the passage OF vessels the
benefits Of il ought not TO be exclusively appropriated to
any nation, but should be extended to all parts OF the
globe, upon the payment OF Just compensation or rea
sonable tolls BY recurring 10 the instructions given 10
our ministers to Panama by Mr. Clay IN 1896 it will be
that President Adams fully approved The principle
subsequently adopted by the American government, 90
far at least tc negative the idea that il either the
Or III the So duty q the AMERICAN Seops 10 obtain
observes that after the failure OF MIR Biddles grant, and
subsequent similar grant of exclusive privileges to
Baron Thley the subject again taken up in 1890 in
the House OF Representatives OF the United Sales the
memorial OF the merchants OF New York and Phiadel-
pha, which very elaborate report was made by Mr.
Mercer, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, ac-
companed with documents and maps illustrative OF this
important subject The report concluded with proposing
resolution that the President should be requested "to
tiaons with the governments of other natons and par
ucularly with those the territorial jurisdiction OF which
comprehends the isthmus OF Panama, and TO which the
United States have accredited ministers agents. for the
purpose OF ascertaniug the praciicabty OF efectng
communication between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
by the construction OF shp-cana across the ishmus.
and of securing forever, by suitable treaty spulations
the free and equal right of navigating such canal to all
nations" This resolution unanimously agreed TO by
the House IL will be that II is almost literal copy
of the Senate's resolution OF the Sd of March. 1885.
II thus appears that the House OF Representatives
adopted the identical principle established by the Presi-
deni and Senate four years previously Mr. Adams and
Mr. Clay bad merely proposed that the benefits of the
communication between the two oceans should not be
exclusively appropriated 10 naion and should be
tended TO all parts OF the globe the terms But
during the administration of President Jackson we
that government extended the principle the length
embraced IN the resolution OF the Senate and during the
administration OF President Van Buren, the House of Rep
resentaves adopted the principle by resolution
in nearly the words In is47 President Polk
ried The principle into practical execution by the treaty
which was negotiated with the government OF New Gra-
of February, 1s47 communicating the treaty with New
Granada in regard TO canal railroad across the 18th
OF Panama he quotes al full length The resolution
of the Senate Of the Sd of March, 1885 approves OF the
policy adopted by President Jackson and The Senate At
that period denies the policy OF obtaining exclusive
grant monopoly of the right OF way to the American
people and vIndicates the principle OF opening the
municatIon to all nations the terms and OF cons-
tuting alliances by negotiation not for political Objects
but for purely commercial purposes equally to
all the navigating nations OF the world / ask the Sec
retary to read the message;
To the Senate Of the United Sfafa.
nit m tho "a