The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-03-07

utmost possible extent. 1t cannot be ov-
erland unless upon railroads. We must
look to the ocean as the means of thorough
fare, and looking to the ocean we must
seek and command the shortest route. and
that route lies across the Isthmus. That
route cuts off about six thousand miles of
dangerous and uncertain navigation, and
this fact alone, to the interest of our do
nestle commerce and to the convenience
of American travel, is beyond all computa-
ton. Give us steady, well-protccted and
expeditions route across the Isthmus. and
it becomes the great commercial thorough
fare of the world. Not only will Amcri-
can commerce sweep through it, but the
great current of the commerce of the
world will flow through. channel which
economiscs time and avoids unnecessary
exposure to the dangers Of wind and waves.
We have heard it urged that it is cheaper
to 90 round the Cape than to rcship. This
may be true at this moment, but let there
be an efficient railroad route across the
Isthmus, and the ocean paths around the
Cape will be whitencd only by the canvass
Of the whaler. The thrilling energy Of
the age demands that time should be con
densed into minutes and miles into fur
longs, and where these things conspirc to
give rapidity and dispatch to trade, there
will be exhibited the concentrated activity
Of the commerce Of the world.
Associated with the commercial impor-
lance of this Isthmus is the necessity of
military position and strength for stability
and defence. A commerce so universal
and commanding cannot and will not flow
through channel over which the frowning
battery and imprcgnable dcfcnces shed no
assur nee Of safety; and these things must
he in the hands Of respectable and re-
sponsiblc nation.
But again as military route for the
transmission of men and munitions of war
to California, Nicaragua commands the
most serious attention. Our limits will
not permit us to demonstrate in detail the
utter furtility Of attempting an overland
communication with California in case Of
war, tho bare idea demonstrates its own
absurdty-nor can we trust to naval com
munication around the Cape, for that is as
bad, if not worse than the overland route.
We must have the shortest practicable
route, and that route lies across the 18TH
mus. To make it safe and efficient com
mercial and military route it must be sub
.ject to an American supremacy and control.
In short, we should command it absolute
VI! aud to do this we must exhibit that
amount of power and military preparation
which will enable us in all and every con
tingency to hold the line of our domestic
intercourse. This view sooner or later,
will be seized by the federal government,
and will be carried out, unless our states
men should come to their senses sooner
than they can be expected to, and fall UPON
some practicable plan for Pacific rail
road. England knows and feels the impor-
lance of the Isthmus, as point bearing
with commanding influence upon the com
mercial interests and political power of
nations, and hence she has engaged us in
a treaty of neutrality, which treaty is in
fact foolish and unnecessary manaclc up
on that independence with which the Unit
ed States ought to control every great
question ofpolicy relating to this continent
and its geographical connections, the states
men Of England are far seeing, and even
now, her cruisers are lowering around this
spot and under false pretences Of humani
ty are aiding the Costa Ricans to eXpel the
Americans from the Isthmus.
We have not space to pursue subject
which embodies matters Of so much inter-
est and magnitude, but we feel assured that
it is our duty to encourage American emf
grafton, to Nicaragua; to contribute men
and means with liberal hand; we are sat
-