The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-12


CAN PEoPLE.-We condense from the New York
Herald the following manifesto, addressed to the
American people. N. FELIX BELLY discaims hav-
ing acted in any other than private capacity dur
ing his recent visit to Central America. We call
particular attention to the easy manner in which
the vivacious Frenchman gets over the Topographic
cal difficulties which the route presents to the con-
summation of his project of its perfect feasibility
he, atleast does not appear to entertain a single
doubt.
New York, July I, 1853.
You have given much attention to myself and nv
proceedings in Central America You have gener-
ouslv attributed to me official position which
did not hold, and brilliant projects incompatible
with my obscurity. | thank YOU for the renown
you have thus given to the name of simple Jour-
nalist, whose only power is his pen. But owe it
to public opinion | should allow no longer to exist
errors of Judgment which l consider to be danger
Gus. You have wished to know the secret of my
intervention in Nicaragua. Here is this secret
which is not a secret. | have not feared to com
municate it frankly to the government at Wash
| ington: | do not now fear to give it to the Amer-
can public. The intelligent people of the United
States will understand, perhaps, in reading this
simple exposition, that the ferocous enemy of whom
you have so often spoken, may turn out to be
real friend.
have no official character nor any mission from
the government of the Emperor. 1t is in my indi-
vldua character that presented myself, and that
have acted In Central America. 1t is in my indi-
yidua character that was received by the govern
ments OF Costa Rica and Nicaragua; and ii you had
read attentivey the newspapers of those two coun-
trles you would have seen that it was to the writer
and not to the Minister, that paid the honors
and were addressed the manifestations of sympathy
OF which was the object. You can, therefore, re-
Train hereafter from charging France with the
sponsibility of my political character. But YOU
will understand that the word 'disavowal" of
which the Union made a recent occasion, is
not the proper term. 1t would have been more ex-
act and more honest for it to have kept itself 10 what
have Just told you, than to attribute to the govern
ment of my country an opinion which it could not
have on acts of which that government then knew
nothing.
= But you will, per-
haps say this Nicaraguan Canal has been Judged
impossible, and this being the Rivas Convention
shows other projects; judged impossible. BY
whom! BY private parties interested who needed
pretext to violate their engagements with impu-
nity-not by science whose masters have not yet
been consulted In America, the country of the
ego ahead" they judge that impracticable which
has been declared positively practicable by Aexan-
der humboldt, Michel Chevalier, Napoleon III, and
twenty engineers, of more less ability! In what
then consist these insuperable difficulties which have
so soon converted you to the doctrine of impossi-
biliy?-in the difference of the level between the
lake and both oceans? But this difference is of but
forty metres, and the Caledonian Canal over
comes one of tfty-seven metres in going over less
extent.
Is it in the nsuficiency of the upper reservoir to
slopes? But this upper reservoir is Il lake, sixty
leagues in length by twenty in width, which, even
in the dry season, overfows portion of its banks
for want of outlets. Is it in the rapids of the San
Juan river and the cut on the Pacific side? But
these rapids not grante this cut is but six
and half leagues in length; and when your Amer
lean machines cut through the Alps, you neither
logical nor patriotic when YOU DENY to them the
power of blasting few volcanic rocks, and of cut
ting passage through peateau of clay, of sand,
and of lime.
The Nicaraguan Canal is question of machines
and money, and nothing more.
For, reflect upon this we'll: Who will profit by
this great maritime highway, which will never
overflow, and in which there will be no tempests:
which will do away with Cape Horn, and place
New York twenty days from San francisco? Is it
not the dominant nation of America?-she whose
steamers cover both oceans, and who enjoys the
nsuperable advantage of proximity? Had | been
the enemy of your legitimate influence / might
have compensated for this proximity by exceptional
rates. | did not think it my duty to consider ma
tional rivalry. thought of but the great princi-
pies which must govern the future l open
claimed the suppression of monopolies, the low
ering of fiscal impediments and cheap rates of
transportation. And in doing this desired not
the animadverson of the United States but their
esteem-not their anger, but their gratitude for
above all others, the United States will profit by
my labors. As for France, which | might have
favored beyond measure, what part has she in this
distribution? An equal part with England and the
traity of the canal and the right to protect if the
government except the enormous French interests
which will be there engaged; that is all. And this
last clause has only in view the suppression of fill
busterism, which you do not Suppress and this
clause would become useless did your watchfulness
become sincere.
In conclusion, L have called the worlds attention
to vital question. have prepared an economical
maritime revolution, which will be most fruitful for
the United States have opened to the legitimate
influence of your fellow countrvmen new roads,
which were thought closed and to their metalurgic
industry unexpected outlets. | came to New York
with the intention of offering to your fnancers
fair share in the common work. Was | not right
in telling you in the beginning that l was not so
much to be feared? do not know what the fu-
ture reserves for my projects, but doubt whether
the honest portion of the American people will ever
find more impartial auxiliaries than the present
guarantees of the Nicaraguan Canal. Receive, sir
the assurance of my perfect consideration,
FELIX BELLY,
No. 112 Rue Richelieu Paris.
CONFESSION OF PORTER, THE DEFAULTlNG
AGENT OF THE AMERICAN SUNDAY