The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-05-31
F DEMOCRAT.
CLINTON, la.
Saturday Morning May 81, 1855.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


Of the recognition of the Nicaraguan Govern.
ment, was transmitted to Congress on the 10Th
instant 1t will be pcruscd by our citizens
with great interest. 1t is clear, pcrspicu-
GUS and unanswerable document, and will, we
doubt not, meet with the unqualified approba-
ton OF this community. The following is the
MESSAGE:
TO the Senate and House Of Representatives:
transmit herewith reports of the Secretary
OF State the Secretary Of the Navy, and the
Attorney General, in reply to q resolution of
the Senate ofthe oath of March last, and also
to resolution of the House of Representa-
tives of the Sth of May inst, both having
reference to the routes of transit between the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Re-
publics Of New Grenada and Nicaragua, and
to the condition of affairs in Central America.
These documents relate to questions of the
highest Importance and interest to the people
Of the United States
The narrow isthmus which connects the con-
tinents Of North and South America by the
facilities it affords for easy transit between the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, rendered the
countries of Central America an object of spc-
cial consideration to all maritime nations
which has been greatly augmented in modern
times by the operation of changes in CONNER
cial relations, especially those produced by the
general use OF steam as motive power bv
land and sea. 10 u.s. on account of its geo
graphical position aud of our political interest
as an American State of primary magnitude,
that isthmus is of peculiar Importance, just as
the istlmns Of Suez u.s. for corresponding rea-
sons, to the maritime powers of Europe. But.
above all, the Importance to the United States
Of securing free transit across the American
isthmus has rendered it Of paramount interest
to us since the settlement of the Territories of
Oregon and Washington and the accession of
California to the Union
lmpc!!ed by these considerations, the United
States took steps at an early day to assure
suitable means Of commercial transit, by canal,
railway, or otherwise, across this isthmus.
We concluded III the first place, u treaty of
peace, amity, navigation, and commerce with
the Republic of New Granada, among the
conditions of which was stipulation, on the
part of New Granada, guaranteeing to the
United States the right Of way or transit
across that part of the isthmus which lies in
the territory of New Granada, in considera-
ton of which the United States guaranteed
in respect of the same territory the rights of
sovereignty aud property of New Granada.
The effect OF this treaty was to afford to the
people Of the United States facilities for at
once opening common road from Chagres to
Panama, and for at length constructing rail
way in the same direction, to connect regularly
with steamships, for the transportation of
mails, specie and passengers, to and fro, be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific States and
Territories Of the United States.
The United States also enleavored but nm
successfully, to obtain from the Mcxi can Re-
public the ccssion of the right of way at the
Northern extremity OF the Isthmus by Tehuan.
tepec, and that line Of communication continues
to be an object OF solicitude to the people of
this Republic.
In the mean time, intervening between the
Republics Of New Granada and the Mexican
Republic, lie the States of Guatemala SALIVA
dor, Honduras Nicaragua, and Costa Rica,
the severed members of the former Republic
OF Central America. Here, in the territory
Of the Central American States is the mar
rowcst part of the isthmus, and hither, of
course, public attention has been directed as
the most inviting field for enterprises of inter-
oceanic communication between the opposite
shores Of America, and more especially to the
territory Of the States of Nicaragua and Hon
duMs.
Paramount to that of any European States
as wcs the interest of the United States in the
security and freedom of the projected lines of
travel across the isthmus by the way of Near
qua and Honduras, still we did not yield in
this respect to any suggestions of territorial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, or even of exclusive adyan-
tage either of communication or of commerce
Opportunities had not been wanting to the
United States to procure such advantages by
peaceful means, and with full and free assent
of those who alone had any legitimate author
ity in the matter. We disregardcd those OPP
portunites from considerations alike of do
nestle and foreign policy; just as, even to the
present day, we have perseyercd in system
of Justice and respect for the rights and inter
esls of others, as well us our own, in regard to
each and all Of the States of Central Amer
ca.
1t was with surprise and regret therefore,
that the United States learned, few days
after the conclusion of the treaty of Gauda-