The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1858-07-10

It'll Louis Napoleon Aid ha-Letters from I

WiN Louis Napoleon Aid Ha-Letters from Paris
discourage the idea Of the success of Mons. BelIyis
Nicaragua project without aid from tue French
Government, and u IL i~ntinlated that the only ex-
~pectation OF funds from that source il founded on
the TACT Of the Emperor having, abunt twelve years
ago taken great interest and al active part ID a
project OF the same kind, an accounted which Is
given in his Majesty's published works. While d
prisoner at Ham, in 1872, the Emperor received an
offer from several persons in high standing in Cen
trail America, through the mediation ola FrenchInan
established in Jamaiea, to undertake. the direction
Of Important works in that portion OF the globe.
The offer was declined, but active correspondence
was kept up and subsequently Prince Louis Napo,
leon requested q French naval officer to survey the
ground for a ship canal between the two oceans.
passing by Lakes Nicaragua and Leon. Nothing
f%artfers however, was done but it may be remarked
that Mons. Beily's tteaty embraces The ideas act
forth Of the time by Louis Napoleon. 1t Is rumored
that the French Minister ut Washington has in
formed our Government that Nous. Belly, Maillard
" Co, have not acted under the authority OF the
French Government IN the matter of the proposed
canal.
a letter from Washington to the Baltimore Sun.
dated the 25th ult., says REP
The transaction BY which Monsieur Belly proposes
TO ride rough shoa over the rights of American
citizens In Nicaragua, has from the first strongly at.
traeted the attention Of our governments, and it
has been determined by the President TO take
such steps in the matter AZ shall be notification
to the world that our rights and interests iii
the transit shall not be- destroyed urimpaired.
This will not be done in virtue of the Cass,
irisaTf1 treaty alone, since that instrument was
not laid before our Senate, nor has its ratification
by Nicaragua been duly authenticated to this gov
ernnlent but IN view Of The rights of the original
parties to the property of the transit. In this con
~nection our ancient policy, in antagonisin to Euro.
pean colonization, may well be urged. have reason
to believe that this stray thought Of the President
will have its appropriate act In the detail of d nor
ton vi the home aud Pacific squadronsfor the service
vt Or near the ports opening upon the transit from
both oceans.
or course French capitalists will not engage In an
undertaking TO which this nation will exert a resist.
ance quite as formidable as that which nature
herself has interposed to thwart human ambition.
II the ship canal is to be constructed at all, it must
be by the French government, over the PROSTATE
american republic. In Tie struggle to effect the
object, Napoleon Ill. might expect to find England
cooperating with US, since that she is now resisting
an analogous plan upon the Isthmas Of Suez, to nc.
coniplish which the vast warpreparations of France
are thought to be intended. II is probably true that
Mr.. Sartiges has represented to.onr government his
Ignorance OF the completely Of his sovereign in the
Belly scheme, but it is to be borne in mind that the
project is an old and tavorite one of the Emperor,
and that French gold must have gone farther 10 in,
fuence the treacherous Presidents OF the Central
American republic than asssfned distrast of the
United States. They could not have been ~forgetiul
Of the very great marks of kindness that had Iafterlv
been extended to them by our government.