The New York herald., 1868-10-31


and the jealouses and ultimate hosti ity which could
not fail TO be engendered among other mai IONS were t
to be carried through a. an exclusively national
wise policy requires that should not he taken
In hand without previously extending invita- ion
u all the commercial nations OF the earth TO become
joint pr0pre-ors and to participate IN its construc
ton under such circumstances OF equitable contrlbu
ton to the object as will give TO Il the character of
being Q common property and common passage
open TO all upon such conditions as shall forever pre-
vent the work from becoming Obstructed or falling
IN the hands Of any one government or combination
The only way to insure that paramount object s to
make the whole matter OF this proposed canal ana the
ernments OF all the commercial countries In the
world shall be invited to become parties.
In view OF the foregoing considerations or lnterna
tOna equity, and In regard 10 the establishment or
practical administration for the execution and pre-
servation OF this work under the common authority
OF nations, have drawn up, after mature rejection,
plan which seems to me well calculated to meet all
the requirements OF the 1t Is embraced In the
form OF series OF propositions each resting on rear
sons that will be apparent to every rejecting mind.
This plan solicit the honor herewith to submit to
the consideration or the President and trust IL Will
not be found unworthy OF his attention and approval
IN the summer OF 1s47 had the honor to read this
scneme 70 the late President and Secretary OF state
bolh OF whom beheve were fav0raby struck with IT.
but y has not In any way been given to the public,
and now submit 1t to the government in the hope
tnat ~ may receive that consideration In the COM
Ing Congressional discussions this general subject,
or 10 executive action upon IT. to which 1t may be
1t appears to me- sir, that the character OF the
American government cannot be exhibited with
more exalted and honorable light than by taxing the
lead In proposing any practical plan for vast ship
communication between the two oceans, the advan-
tages OF which It designs shall become common and
hegaten OF selfish and exclusive interests would be
the more striking and admirable when exhibited by
oa' ~ au e mus pre-
pies OF natural Justice among nations In reference
to work OF almost intellectually vast Importance,
rather than attempt to secure those advantages TO
itself which s geographical position and its power
would perhaps enable it exclusively to possess.
. thai at Ss wo aa Be BY hs
or suGa o. 1nem as may agree n hs underssng
engaged in foreign commerce. or analogous basis Of
B. work shah be executed under the direction of
psyn sof a SS the
lha. , the said shall be to ey
S q ha s sn. Sea- % @ s Of @ ss
a. well as on the scale on which II is to be made.
sn % s sas s
which a. rs contemplated 70 construct tho canal for tho ces
resn,y thereof from to belt of six miss in
the WORK shall within ared number
81 81 ss a & n S the Of the treaty
That each Of the contracting parties shall into the
sa"S sn S S s samas be y them o . ss or
to the eight or ten more successive The estimate
@encemen. q the work p's'0a' 70 ''
That exact accoun. Of the detail expenditures the
government OF each OF the contracting parties.
o through
s s sa " Upsn r. the
the vessels Of all nations upon the payment OF duty
able principle meet Incidental expenses
70 se ase hs s asa
H. to be stipulated that any attempt Of any of the
% or any r m S "a pe
sion rights zach ali the other parties this
t,a IL; tir,os ~
Of the parties seizure made within two hnn
49, That ships Of shall be permitted approach
That shall Se the duty Of The said commissioners to
canal and that said shall be binding on The cii
zens or subjects Of the several contracting parties andon all
u fha. no fort; AZ nor sslainss Of any kind sn. be be
thought necessary by carry
jecss Of of .he proposed convention ,.,,. a.,
;s % BE for % to @
wns s "
ing refuge on the said territory.
convention to lha, effect shall in by
q Is a. s o a
share in the execution OF the work at period during s
IS That the parties 10 lend the AID osher
'S make s cen.
To- That shall be the duty of the Board Of Commissioners
70 take into considsraiion =. made by either
%s e n & a II .
power To change or modify such regulations.
70 That the of the commissioners. and
employed by hen shall be paid by the appoint
Ing them respectively until the surveys completed and
the work entered but that thereafter they be paid
from the common fund
81 That tho President Of the United States propose the
maritime powers Of the world through simultaneous nruc
tions diplomatic In foreign countrie unto
In the execution of the work.
a. That tho governments sgnifyng their tho
general outlines OF this project be Invited TO their
respective plenipotentares enter into negotiations
the United States.
Although the above propositions do not include all
the stipula0ns the Introduction or which mig II be
scope Of the undertaking, the means for Its execn-
tion, as well as the mode OF initiating and bringing
about the prerequisite negotiations are l natter
myself, sufficiently clear and explicit.
The present would seem 10 be an appropriate time
for acandd ana prompt conside alton OF the subject
by the governments Of Europe, ns the prospect Of
carrying through an enterprise fraught with conse
quences 80 favorable to the rapid extension OF Chris
tan civilization throughout the Eastern hemisphere
and the opening OF so many new and prolific sources
OF private wealth and general public prosperity would
In no small degree serve 10 divert the excited and
dstempered popular mind OF Europe from the pur-
suit or those visionary and impracicabe political
theories, dangerous to the whole fabric Of society,"
now 30 prevalent in this part of the world.
II, sir, in presenting this scheme have stepped
beyond the strict line OF INV diplomatic duties trust
ample apology Will be found IN the importance OF
the subject, TO which the administration cannot be
Indifferent
have the honor to be- sir. with renewed express
sion OF respectful consideration. your obedient
want, NATHANIEL NILES.