The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-21
COLOMBIA
Presentation of the Colombian Minister 70
President johnson.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 1868.
Yesterday the Secretary OF State presented to the
President General Don Santos Acosta, who addressed
him as follows:-
ADDRESS OF THR COLOMBIAN MINISTER
I have the honor to place In your Excellency'
hands my credentials as Envoy Extraordinary anC
Colombia to the Cabinet ut Washington. One OF the
most important and to me the most pleasant OF the
duties of my mission Ii to strengthen the ties OF
friendship uniting the two countries. That cordial
and sincere friendship founded in justice and COM
munty OF interests and aspirations will strengthen
with time. Colombia accepted the United States OF
America rs q model from the first. Her history and
the names OF her great patriots are with house.
hold words and now that events have given to the
country OF Washington aud Lincoln the right to ap-
pear before the world the legitimate and victori-
GUS champion OF republican principles which are Sc
cure at last, our friendship has acquired sincere
and respectful admiration her part. Colombia
offers to-day fertile field OF conquest for the Anglo
American race, by means Of industry and commerce,
an important influence and a market unsurpassed.
In expressing to your Excelency the high regard
we entertain for the United States consider II my
iamented predecessor greatly increased our
respect and sympathy for your starry banner
and am delighted to say we have found like cour-
tesy from your administration. When President OF
Colombia | took particular pleasure In nanifesting
to the representative OF the United States In BOgota
the Lively friendship and sympathy felt for you r
great nation by the government and nation over which
had the honor TO preside, and It is great satsfac
ton to me now to repeat these expressions to your
ExcelIency In person. Allow me to add the most
fervent wishes that this great nation may finally tr
umph In fts gigantic Efforts at tncalcuable cost to
heal the wounds Of civil war, and thus practically
demonstrate the inexhaustible resources OF repub-
lies. In conclusion beg your Excellency to accept
my best wishes Tor your personal prosperity, and my
hopes that the legation with which I am charged
may succeed In gaining the esteem aud sympathy Of
the American government and people.
REPLY or PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
The President replied a. follows:-
N ho m mi of NJ aufa and noo
pie Of the United States give you q cordial well
come. II would be afectati0n to doubt the sincerity
OF that friendship towards us which you have ex-
pressed In behalf of your government and people.
Your predecessor, Dr. Muri0, was called from your
legation here " the Presidency OF the United states
OF Colombia Your predecessor, General MOsquera,
hon0red our capital by visit when returning from
Europe TO assume the responsibilities Of admins
traton. You, General Acosta having retired from
the Presidential ofice are sent by your government
TO be Its representative In the United states Of
America trust that at last 1t has been made to APP
pear clearly To all that the United States do not
cOvet the absorption conquest pr0tectOrate of the
spanish American republics or OF any one Of them.
Indeed, to do would be to dstrust not to betray
the cause OF republicansm ITSELF by which and
for which cause we ourselves live. On the contrary.
the United states, In the interest OF civilization,
OF the progress OF republican principles throughout
the whole American continent, sincerely and ear
nestly desire that each Of these republics shall re-
main sovereign independent and free, and that each
may rapidly develop the great resources with which
10 Is blessed. General Acosta, Providence has been
exceedingly bountnu to the Colombian republic.
While 10 In rich In It's resources, II also contains
an sthmus, only thirty-four miles wide and forty
feet high, across which q ship canal can
be made 10 connect the two oceans, &C., to control
and ultimately transfer the commerce OF the world
To superficial observers 10 may seem, indeed, that
the republic OF Colombia In slumberng profoundly
unmindful that she has In her hand this important
key, with power to throw the gates OF the East
wide open to the western nations Nevertheless, I
do not forget that your government mas actually
mapfestcq great spirit and enterprise In permitting
and encouraging citizens OF the United States to
partially anticipate that full and nal work by con-
structlng railroad across sthe Isthmus OF Panama.
l hope, however, that your statesmen will now take
notice that Panama has proved altogether In
adequate TO the broad purpose OF inter-
oceanic passage: that the United States are there
lore experimenting that enterprise by constructing
railroad directly through their own territory from
New YORK 10 San Francisco. hope that your STAY
among US may be prolonged at least two years; In
that case you may expect to zee this second thor-
0ughfare between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
finished and In full operation. General, you may
improve tbat residence among us 30 a. 10 deserve
and secure not merely the high appreciation OF your
countiymen, but the applause and gratitude OF all
mankind, by convincing the government OF Colom-
bia that IL shall only extend full leave
and protection, with reasonable announcement, to
the citizens OF the United States. They VIII In
period hardly longer than have mentioned con.
stIuct and complete the long desired SNIP canal
across the lsthmus OF Darien, WORK which, IL may
reasonably be expected, will permanently raise the
colombian Republic TO o high rank among the ma
tions Please say this for me, General TO the Pres
dent Congress, statesmen and people OF Colombia
and all OF them, that Japan, China, India and the
whoie East are needing that communication not Tess
than the Western nations are earnestly desiring W