Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-19

In further compliance with the resolution Of
the Senate, deem it proper to state briefly
my opinion as TO the policy Of the United
states with respect to the construction Of an
Interoceanio Canal by any route across the
American isthmus. The policy OF this coun-
Try is a canal under American control. The
United states cannot consent 70 surrender
this control to any European Power, or TO any
combination of European Powers. II the OK
isting treaties between the United States and
other Nations, or If the rights of sovereignty
or property of other Nations, stand In tho way
of this policy-a contingency which is not APP
prehended-suitable steps should be taken by
Just and liberal negotiations to promote and
establish the American policy on this sub
tect consistently with the rights Of nations TO
be affected by 1t. The capital invested by
corporations or citizens of other countries in
such an enterprise must, IN a great degree,
look for protection to one or more of the
great Powers Of the world. No European
Power can intervene for such protection
without adopting measures on this Continent
which the United States would deem wholly
inadmissible. If the protection Of the United
States is relied upon, the United States must
exercise such control rs will enable this cOun-
try to protect it's National interests and main
tnin the rights Of those whose private capital
Is embarked in the work.
An lnteroceaniC Canal across the American
isthmus will essentially change the geograph-
ical relations between the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts of the United States, and between the
United States and the rest of the world 1t
will be the great ocean thoroughfare between
our Atlantic and our Pacific shores, and vir-
tually part Of the coast line of the United
States Our merely commercial interest i'm It
is greater than that Of all other countries,
while its relations to our power and pros
pcrtty rs Nation, to our means Of defense,
our unity, peace and safety, are mat
ters OF paramount confederation to the
people of the United States. No other
great Power would, under similar cirCum-
stances, fail to assert ughtful control over u
work 50 closely and vitally affecting its inter
Without urging further grounds Of my
opinion, repeat, IN conclusion, that II is the
right and duty Of the United states to assert
ana maintain such supervision and authority
over any lnterOCeauC Canal across the 18TH
mus that connects North and South America
as will protect our National interests. This
am quite sure will be found not only COM
patible with, but promotive Of the widest and
most permanent advantage to commerce and
civilization. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
A WASHINGTON dispatch of the 9th
says it was reported that De Lesseps had ex-
pressed himself as being satisfied with the
Presidents message on the subject of the
Interoceanic Canal, "because 1t would GER
tainly be advantageous to have the protec-
tlon Of the United States during the work,
and after the opening Of the canal" He
had sent a message to his son at Paris, say
ing the Presidents message assured the
safety Of the canal.
BY the terms of the act creating it
the Southern Claims Commission expired on
the 10th It's last report to Congress, showed
that since the organization of the commission,
in 1871, 22,29S claims, amounting to over
S6OO,OOO0 900, had been fled of which all but
about one-twelfth had been rejected.
On the 10th Louisiana colored man
testified before the Voorhees, Exodus Com
mittee that about 5000 colored people had
left that State for Kansas
THE United States Senate has reject
ed the nomination of William r. Brown as
Census Supervisor for the Eighth District Of
illinois, by a party vote, on the ground, it is
said, that at least one Of the eight Illinois
Supervisors should have been selected from
the Democracy.
The Post-office Department has con-
cuded D contract for the "star' mail service
for four years in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Ten.
nessee, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
The total amount of the awards is
about SSS500O. Among those receiving the
largest contracts are sawyers q Wyatt, Ken
tuclty;J. II, Wilson, Kentucky, and J. D.
Colegroye, Missouri