Morning journal and courier., 1880-03-09
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. THk ISIHMUS CANAL. A Pressing Necessity for American
 Control. VIEWS OF THE PRESIDENT As Set Forth in a Special
 Message. FITZ JOHN PORTER'S RELIEF. Senator Bayard fn Defense
 of the Bill.
FITZ JOHN PORTER'S RELIEl
Senator Bayard fn Defense
 of the BilI.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

| America Should Control - Emphatic | Opinion of President Hayes | WASHINGTON, March Swallowing is the 1 Presidents message on the Isthnus canal
 subject
 | To the Senate:
 1 I transmit herewith the report of the Sec
 retary of State and accompanying papers in
 response to the resolution adopted by the Sen-
 ate on the 11th of February last requesting | ''copies of all correspondence between the l Government and any foreign government | since February IS, 1869, respecting @ ship | canal across the Isthmus between North and ! South America together with copies of any
 project or treaties respecting the same which | the Department of State may have proposed | or submitted since then to any foreign power or it's diplomatic representatives" 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 an interoceanic canal by any route across the American Isthmus. The poll cy of this country is to have the canal under American control. The United States cannot consent to the surrender of this control to any European power or to any combination of European powers. If existing treaties be- tween the United States and other nations, or
 if the rights of sovereignty or property of other nations stand in the way of this policy, contingency which is not apprehended, suitable steps should be taken by just and liberal negotiations to promote and estab- fish the American policy on this sub
 feet consistently with the rights of those nations to be affected by it. Capital invested by corporations or citizens of other countries in such an enterprise must in great degree look for protection to one or more of the great powers of the world. No European power can intervene ures on this continent which the United States would deem wholly inadmissible. The United States must exercise such con trol as will enable the country to protect it's national interests and maintain the rights of those whose pri- vate capital is embarked in the work. An i'm teroceanic canal across the American Isthmus will essentially change the geographical rela- tions between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States and between the United States and the rest of the world. It will be great ocean thoroughfare between our Atlantic and Pacific shores, and virtually part of the coast line of the United States. Our merely commercial interest in it is greater than that of all other countries, while its relations to our power and prosperity as nation, to our means of defense, our unity, peace and safety are matters of para mount concern to the people of the United States. No other great power would under similar circumstances fail to assert rightful control over work so closely and vitally affecting it's interest and welfare. Without urging further grounds of my opinion, I re- peat in conclusion that it is the right and duty of the United States to assert and maintain such supervision and authority over any interoceanic canal across the isthmus that connects North and South America as will protect our national interests, that am sure will be found not only compatible with. but promotive of the widest and most permanent advantage to commerce and civilization.
 Signed, RUTHERFORD B. HATES,
 Executive Mansion, March 8, 1880.