The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-24

PeArU eoous vae Iar greeter pfC)ecs OF Sno NicArS
Our readers win remember the point at which
our doubts had arrived when we recently called on
any member Of Parliament who would attend to
the government in the house Or the other, as TO
whether the French company, represented by n.
Belly, or either of the two American companies,
were actually empowered by the Nicaraguan govern
ment TO make the ship canal; and how much was
true about the convention by which the route was
placed under the protection Of the European Powers
England, France and Sardinia. If we had learned
this, we should know what weight to attach to the
declaration OF the American President In June that
he was determined to the work done and that ii
should be done by the party who should convince
kim OF its superior right. Parliament has risen; the
question was not asked; and the British public are
left dependent on such casual communications as
may occur.
BY comparing the notices of our Greytown cor
respondent and those which arrive from the United
States, can pretty well follow out one scene of
the drama of competition New Orleans is in fever of
exuaon at the of the Louisiana authorities
in obtaining treaty from Mexico which insures,
we are told, the speedy completion of the Tehuan.
tepec railway in spite Of the opposition brought by
the great capitalists of New York. who point to the
existing political condition of Mexico. The droop-
ing fortunes Of New Orleans are to be revived by
this enterprise, which will bring through that city
the whole traffic to California and the North Pacific.
The New Workers laugh at this, and say that, sup
posing the road made, some divisions of passengers
made go that way, but that the commercial traffic
will always be engrossed by the water route. But
the New Yorkers themselves divided az to every
point but that On which all Americans are agreed
that Americans to make the Central American
route, and to possess it. The Central American peo
pie have sufficient apprehension of this to see the
necessity Of close alliance between the States of
the lshmus while protesting to disbelieve that the
Americans have gained their point with the Presi-
dent of Nicaragua. They will never believe that
Martinez has accorded to any party in the United
States such privileges several boast of; but it is
as well to arm and prepare, because Walker and
his pirate crew will be down on the lsthmus in case
of any disappointment to his cOuntrymen. Such
was the state Of public opinion in GreytOwn month
ago; Just at the time when the we have referred
to was becoming the wonder of the day in New York.
In the middle Of June "the famous Webster, Wander
bits agent" landed at New York, accompanied
by Nicaraguan gentleman of large landed proper
ty. Webster waited on Commodore Vanderbilt with
certain documents-preciseyt those which we all want
to know about. There was first, we are told deed
of Concession dated May 8, 1858, which conveys to
Vanderbilt and his associates the exclusive right of
conveying passengers across the Isthmus OF Nicar-
aqua by the Lake Nicaragua and the River San
juan" What of the goods traffic? We hear nothing
of that nor of ship canal nor of anything but this
simple conveyance OF passengers across the lsthmus
by that route. The other document is called the Act
of Incorporation. It constitutes the grantees per-
petual company, with power to create and issue
stock and cell or ransferit II exempts the company
from taxation, while placing them on the footing of
citizens, as to all rights and privileges, and, at the
same tiEe giving them full powers their own
gaDizaton. the making Of their own laws and appoint
ment Of their own officers Commodore Wander
bit was immensely astonished at his own success;
but he held his tongue and composed his cOunte.
till the terms were fulfilled on his SIDE His
sonn'law was seized with desire to visit Southern
lands. and be sailed from New York in the same
vessel by which Webster happened to be starting
for New Orleans They had some heavy boxes
with them, now known to contain one hundred thou
sand dollars in specie for the President of Nicaragua
As soon as they were of, friend at New Orleans,
stimulated by telegraphic message from Wander
bilt started special steamer the Granada, to meet
the sonin.law and Webster at Havana, and convey
them to San Juan: On landing there they were to
proceed in of the small steamers up the river and
across the lake to Granada, and thence by mules to
Managus, and there make the exchange OF papers
with the government, and take possession of the
property Of the dispossessed company, now, we
observe, called the Accessory Transit Company"
on obtaining which they would pay over the specie,
and at set men to work on the line, before en-
barking In their special steamer at Greytown on
pondept at Greytow reports of their having passed
But is not lh.s Company which they intend to dis
place the same which declares that Martinez has
extended its term OF possession into next year, and
that IL will not yield an inch meanwhile And
where Is the ship canaly and what sis the line?n
nmust be ascertained what it is that the Nicara-
guam President has granted. in return for the
"specie; but II Is hardly probable that Commodore
Vanderbilt seriously expects the world TO acquiesce
in his " line" and leave him alone In his Isthmus
M Belly, mean time, has been worried almost out
Of his life among the capitalists. He and they do
not seem satisfied that the Commodore stands su-
preme between the two great oceans. But nobody
at New YORK or al Washington seems able 10 tell US
M. Belly views ON any subject. When such topics
as an isthmusa canal treaty, &c, were introduced
at New York, NJ Bellys English became so very
broken that the most experienced reporters have
not ventured TO supply US with his opinions. The
more be was questioned, the worse his English be-
came; and bis Efforts to make himself understood
exhausted him 10 extremely that he at length es-
Ia fpra mo rpp lOe ostld
think there must be somebody in that diplomatic
centre who could speak French; but all we are
told is that there N. Belly's English became
more broken than ever. II does not follow that
there is any harm in N. Belly; for it must be remcm
Tered that the reporters, who tell US all know Of
him. were on the watch against each other, lest any
one should obtain any scrap OF exclusive Informs
ton; and II may be easily believed that some expe
rienced friend, or M. Belly's own common sense,
might put him on his guard against them all. But
whose interest was he thus carefully secreting?
That Is serious question, to which we recommend
Central American bondholders and Nicaraguan bond
holders in particular 10 obtain an answer: and be-
fore the Vanderbilt 'liner Is really begun Does NJ
Belly act, and splitter in his speech, on behalf
Of a company Of his own-French, British and
American Or has he a higher commission from
Paris, and support 10 expect "from Cherbourgr "a
the American newspapers hint What does ne
know Of the various ships Of war lying of each
end OF the routeg and u II true or not that two
French vessels 10 be present in the lake and river
for five or ten years TO Gomez While we are pro-
posing these questions, and urging that Lord Malmes
bury should be asked about the European share In
the bossted convention by which the great ship
canal is TO he kept open to All the world this il the
lstest Information we obtain from Washington.
IL " from the Washington department Of the New
York Journal Of Commercs:-
TIE executive soveinmsnt Is engaged in this heated
term Ireps siOns for settling In way all mat
tsvs penoiny retveen ard Nicaragua As no resties
be sce Win ,bs, srs,c made, would be useless
(sSl t1e Government will take nj least OF the
port OF san Jusn and siost such be
cesssry % rtrstne citizens In the enjoy men OF
conrouocscn bc,scen the t@o oceans, the Ian
Of Nicssgus In the propric'y Of this proceeding,
well In the reasons for Us adopcn the government
of Great Britain ccncurs
Has Lerd Napier declared this concurrence at
Washington viii Lord Mslmesbury declare IL here 2
This is not thing which should not be done in q
corner. There should lie no mystery about IL. The
object is highway for the world; and the world has
a right 10 know what Is dong about il.