The New York herald., 1868-10-31
THE PANAMA SHIP CANAL.

We lay before the public to-day most interesting
and practical scheme for the opening OF a grand
ship canal through the Istnmus or Panama or some
other point OF Central America, TO which we invite
the attention OF the American and all other govern
mens. Tho plan recommends itself above all others
hitherto brought to public notice by the great prin-
ciples OF international justice and equality which
It based well as by the adequacy Of the means
which are proposed for the completion OF the work.
It contemplates the opening by the joint co-opera
ton OF all the nations Of the world OF ample chan
mel OF ship communication between the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, and securing it from all liability OF
ever falling into the hands Of any nation by CIV
ing 10 each nation o share, q common proprietary
right to the country through which 1t is to pass,
well as TO its sovereignty under the enactment OF
new international laws-in o word, to make the
canal an open narrow sea, as little liable TO inter-
ruption in principle and In fact as the ocean ITSELF
The schemes which have recently been attempted
fail in these essential requirements. Every plan that
does not embrace the principles OF common inter-
national equality and justice will be defeated. Nor,
indeed, can the be found TO execute the work
without placing II on q basis 80 large, liberal and
just a. TO disarm the hostility OF rival nations. With
these remarks we recommend to the serious con-
sideraton OF statesmen in power, and those VINO
are to succeed the well studied and clearly elabor-
ment at washington several years ago, while he was
its Minister in upper Italy. and submitted to the
Senate by President Filmore:--
TURIN, June 40, Is4o
srR-The extraordinary development Of commerce
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which In TO
be a n necessary and immediate consequence OF the
rapid settlement Of the northwest coast OF the Aer
can Continent from California to vancouver's island,
by an active and enterprsing population, gives an
Increasing and pressing interest to the great subject
OF ship canal between the two oceans, not only 70
the United States but also TO the whole commercial
world. Were such channel to be opened on Q scale
commensurate with Its present and prospective iIn
portance 1t Is probable that before the lapse OF any
great length Of time the amount vf commercial
transactions through II would be greater than has at
any time been carried on through the straits OF Glib
raltar.
The magnitude OF the commercial interests TO be
affectcd by this artificial medium OF communication
through al time to come presents an unanswerabe
reason why the work should be executed upon
most extensive scale.
1t IL evident that such Q channe, OF commercial
communication should not enure 70 the exclusive adj
vantage OF any one nation, or 70 any limited number
OF nations or be subjected to the liability OF Interrupt
t0n by the eventualites OF war. IL should be COM
mon international thoroughfare, always open and
always free on equal terms, to the commerce of all
nations, great and small, the weak as well as the
powerful, those nations that situated at remote
distances as Wei as those in ts immediate vicinity.
To secure these objects II s necessary that II should
be constructed by means OF common fund and
effectively placed under the guardianship OF univer
sally acknowledged law OF nations AZ yet no plan
has been presented to the public which at the
same time suggests a practical means for the
accompaniment OF this great object on scale that
Is likely TO meet The wants OF the commercai world
aud secure TO al nations n common aud perpetual
benefit In It's advantages when completed. Notwth.
standing the United States have an especial interest
In the ear realization Of this enterprise and possess
perhaps the means VI executing u nDon any deslra