Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-05-31
The Presidents Special Message.
To the Senate and
House Of REPRESENTATIVES

Ietarv OF State the Secretary of the Ma
w, and the Attorney General, in reply to
a resolution of the Senate of the 24th Of
March last, and also TO resolution of the
House Of Representatives of the 9Th OF
lay instant, both having reference to the
routes of transit between the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans through the republics OF
New Granada and Nicaragua, and to The
condition of affairs in Central America,
These documents relate to questions Of
the bighest importance and interest to Tie
people of th1 .lised States.
The narrow ;sthmus which connects the
continents of North and Soutl, America,
by the facilities it affords for cas-, transit
between the Atlantic aud Pacific oceans
rendered the countries of Central Ameri-
ca an object of special consideration to
all maritime nations, which has been
greatly augmented in modern times by
the operation Of changes in commercial
relations, especially those produced by
the general use OF steam as motive pow
er by land and sea. To us, on account o.
lis geographical position and of our Po-
fliical interest as an American State Of
primary magnitude, that isthmus is of Pc
cular importance, just as the lsthmu, Of
Suez is, for corresponding reasons, to the
maritime powers OF Europe. But above
ALL the importance to the United States
OF securing free Transit across the Ameri-
can isthihus has rendered it of paramount
interest to US since the settlement Of the
Territories of Oregon and Washington,
and the accession Of California 10 the
Union.
luptlled by these considerations, the
United States took steps at an early day
10 assure suitable means OF commercial
transit by canal, railway, or otherwise,
across this sthmus.
We concluded, in the first place, trea-
t. OF peace, amiiy, navigation, aud com.
merce with the republic OF New Granada,
among the conditions Of which was a
stipulation, on the part Of New Granada,
guaranteeing to the United States the
RICH, OF way or transit across that part OF
the ishmus which lies in the territory OF
New Grenada, III consideration OF which
the United States guaranteed in respect
OF the same territory the rights Of sove-
reignty and property of New Granada.
The effect Of this treaty was to afford
to the people Of the United States facill-
ties for at once opening common road
from Chagres TO Panama, and for at length
constructing railway III the same dirte-
) ton, to connect regularly with steamships
! for the transportation of mails, specie
and passengers, to and fro, between the
: ATLANTIC aud Pacific States and Territories
OF The United States.
The United States also endeavored,
but unsaccessiully, to obtain from the
Mexican republic the cession of the right
OF way at the northern extremity oil the
sthmus by Tehuantepec, and that hne
OF communication continues to be an OBJ
ject OF soliciude TO the people OF this repub'
lie.
> In the meantime, Intervening between
) the republic, OF New Granada and the
: Mexican republic, lie the States OF Qua.
; temala, Sally ador, Honduras, Nicaragua
and Costa Rica, the severed members o.
!, the former republic OF Central America
Here, in the territory of the Centra
: American States, is the narrowest part o
the isthmus, aud hither, of course pub
lie attention has been directed as the mos
! Iol iSCo VI intCI
oceanic communication between the OPP
posite shores of America, and more espe.
cially to the territory Of the States Of Nj
caragua and Honduras.
Paramount to that of any European
State as was the interest OF the United
States in the security and freedom OF pro
jected lines Of travel across the Isthmus b,
the way of Nicaragua and Honduras
still we did not yield in this respect {,
any suggestions OF territorial aggrandize
ment or even of exclusive advantage
either oil communication or of commerce
Opportunities had been wanting to tn.
United States to procure such advantage
by peaceful means, and with full ant
free assent OF those who alone ha,
any legitimate authority in the mattter-
; We disregarded those opportunities from
considerations alike OF domestic and for.
elsn policy just as even to the presen
day, we have preserved in a system O
justice and respect for the rights and in
leresis OF others. as well as our own re
gard to each and all the States and Cen
: trail America.
1t was with surprise and regret. there
fore, that the United States learned,
few days aiIe the conclusion OF the treat,
! Of Guadalupe Hidalgo, by which the Uni
ted States became, with the consent o
the Mexican republic, the rightful own
crs OF California, ard thus invested will
augmented special interes. in the polt
zeal condition OF Central America, lha
a military expedition under the au-
,horily of the British government ha,
landed at San Juan Del Norte, in tn,
State of Nicaragua. aud taken forciblt
possession OF that port, the neccessar,
: terminus OF any canal or railway acios,
the isihmus mthin the territories Of Nj
caIagua.
|. did nor diminish the unwelcome-
ness to us OF mis- act Oh the part OF Gfea
Britain to find that she assumed to Justify
on the ground OF an alleged protector
, ship of small and obscure baniAof civ
ilized Indians, whose proper name eye i
had become lost to history, who did no
contribute state capable of territorial
sovereignty, either in fact or of right, an,
all political interest in whom aud III,
territory they occupied, Great Britain hal
previously renowned by successive trea
ties with Spain when Spain was sovereign
Of the country, and subsequently, with in.