Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-08

Granada then had and possessed owe
the said territory. The name Of New
Granada has passed away, and its ter
ritory has been divided. Its successor
the government Of Colombia, has ccas
ed to own any property in the isthmus
A new republic. that Of Panama, which
was at one time sovereign state anG
at another time mere department OF
the successive considerations known as
New Granada and Colombia, has now
succeeded to the rights which first one
and then the other formerly exercised
over the isthmus. But as long as the
isthmus endures the mere geographical
fact Of it's existence and the peculiar
interest therein which is required by
our position perpetuate the solemn con
tract which binds the holders of the
territory to respect our right to freedom
Of transit across it and binds us in re-
turn to safeguard for the isthmuS and
the world the exercise of that ines
Unable privilege. The true interpreta-
ton of the obligations upon which the
United States entered in this treaty of
1S4G has been given repeatedly in the
utterances Of presidents and secretaries
Of state. Secretary Cass in 1858 off,
cially stated the position Of this gov
eminent as follows:
"The progress of events has rendered
the interoceanic route across the mar
row portion of Central America vastly
important to the commercial world. and
especially to the United States, whose
possessions extend along the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts and demand tine
speediest and easiest modes Of commu-
nication. While the rights of sovereign
ty of the states occupying this region
should always be respected, we shall
expect that these rights be exercised
in a spirit BETTING the occasion and
the wants and circumstances that have
arisen Sovereignty has it's duties as
well as its rights, and none of these To-
cal governments, even if administered
with more regard to the just demands
of other nations than they have been.
would be permitted, in spirit of east
ern isolation, to close the gates Of in
tercourse on the great highways Of the
world and justify the act by the pre-
tension that these avenues Of trade and
travel belong to them and that they
choose to shut them or, what is almost
equivalent, to incumber them with such
unjust relations as would prevent their
general use."
Seven years later, in 1865, Mr.. Seward
in different communications took the
following position:
1.-THE United States have taken and
will take no interest in any question of
internal revolution in the state of Pana-
ma or any state Of the United States
Of Colombia, but will maintain a per-
feet neutrality in connection with such
domestic alterations. The United
States will nevertheless hold them
selves ready to protect the transit trade
across the isthmus against invasion of
either domestic or foreign disturbers of
the peace of the state of Panama.
$ . Neither the text nor the spirit Of
the stipulation in that article by which
the United States engages to preserve
the neutrality of the isthmus of Pana-
ma imposes an obligation on this gov
to comply with the requisition
[of the president of the United States
Of Colombia for force to protect the
isthmus of Panama from body of in.
surgents of that country. The pur-
pose of the stsaNlation was to guaran
tee the isthmus against seizure or in
vasion by foreign power only"
Attorney General Speed. under date
Seward as follows:
From this treaty it cannot be sup
posed that New Granada invited the
United States to become party to the
troubles of that government,
nor did the United States become
bound to take sides in the domestic
oroils of New Granada. The United
States did guarantee New Granada in
he sovereignty and property over the
territory. This was as against other
md foreign governments"
For 400 years, ever since shortly aft
II the discovery of this hemisphere,
he canal across the isthmus has been
planned. For twoscore years it has
)ecn worked at. When made it is
o last for the ages. 1t is to alter the
Of continent and the trade
'outes of the world. We have shown
~ every treaty we have negotiated or
attempted to negotiate with the peo-
lies in control Of the isthmus and with
oreign nations in reference thereto
'ur consistent good faith in observing
'ur obligations, on the one hand to the
peoples Of the isthmus and on the 9TH
n hand to the civilized world. whose
commercial rights we are safeguarding
ind guaranteeing by our action. We
lave done our duty to others in letter
ind in spirit, and we have shown the
Utmost forbearance in exacting our
,wn rights.
Reputation Of Treaty by Colombia.
Last spring under the act above re-
erred to treaty concluded between
he representatives Of the republic. of
Colombia and of our government was
atified by the senate. This treaty was
inferred into at the urgent solicitation