Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-06-05
Oar Relations with Nicaragua.

Cif RciduUHS WIN NiCarasea'
In aaswersto resolutions passed in
both iioases. Cf Congress, the Pres
ident sauFto Congress on the 18th
hit, special massage, accompanied
BY the correspondence in regard to
o1g prese,1s relations with Nicaragua
The message is as follows:
z, Pc Ssaats and House Of Representatives:
Transmit herewith, reports of the
Secretary OF State, Secretary of the
Navy, and the Attorney General in
reply to resolution of the Senate of
the oath of March last, ard also to a
resolution of the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes of The Sth of May, instant,
both having reference to the routes Of
transit between the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans through the republics
ofNew Grenada and Nicaragua, and to
the condition of Affairs in Central
America.
Thes documents relate to questions
of the highest Importance and inter-
est to the people of the United
States.
The narrow isthmus which con-
meets North and South America, has,
by the facilities it affords for easy
transit between the Atlantic and Pa
cifc oceans, render the countries of
Central America an object of speeiA
consideration to all maritime nations,
which has been greatly augmented
IN modern times by the operation of
changes in commercial relation, espec-
tally those produced by the general
use of steam as a motive power by
land and sea. To US on account Of
its geographical position and of our
political interest as an American State
of primary magnitude, that isthmus
Is of peculiar Importance, just as the
isthmus Of Suez is, for corresponding
reasons, to the maritime powers of
Europe. But above all, the impor-
lance to the United States of secu-
ring 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.
Impelled by these considerations,
the United States took steps at an
early day to assure suitable means
Of commercial transit, by canal. rail-
way, or otherwise, across this 18th
mus.
We concluded, in the first place, a
treaty of peace, amity, navigation
and commerce with the republic of
New Grenada, among the conditions
of which was a stipulation, on the
part of New Grenada, guarantying to
the United States the right of way
or transit across that part of the 18TH
mus which lies in the territory of
New Grenada, in consideration of
which the United States guaranteed,
in respect of the same territory, the
rights of sovereignty and property of
New Granada.
The effect of this treaty was to
afford to the people of the United
States facilities for at once opening
a common road from Chagres to
Panama. and. for at length construct
ing a railway in the same direction,
to connect regularly With steam ships
for the transportation of mails, specie
and passengers, to and fro, between
the Atlantic and Pacific States and
Territories of the United States.
The United States also endeavored,
but unsuccessfuily, to obtain from the
Mexican republic the cession of the
right of way at the Northern extrem-
ity of the isthmus by Tehuantepec,
and that line of communication con-
tinues to be an object of solicitude
to the people Of this republic.
In the meantime, intervening be-
tween the republic of New Granada
and the Mexican republic, lie the State
of Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras,
Nicaragua, and Costa RIGA, the sew
cred memblrs Of the former republic
Of Central America Here, in the