Year: 1869

Catch Cushing's Recent MtsstOn-NapO-


leOn's COunterpIOt- treaty for the Nien-


ragua canal.


CORES pondepce from Panama. dated February
8, saJs:--


The most important news from tAe Istbmus
is the mission OF General Gushing, who returned
fom Bogota yesterday aud leaves on the steamer
to-day for New York. During his short stay
General Cushing has been the guest OF +. W.
hice, the United States Consul at Aspin wall.


On learning that General Cushing was in the
city, the President of the State, General Cor
Ieoso, very courteously sent his compliments to
him, and later in the evening General Cushing
called on his Excellency and was received with
military honors. The party was received In the
government sdld in the most courteous and
friendly manner by the President and his suite,
and an hour was spent in pleasant con-
versation. OF course his Excellency was
regard to the Generals mission, of
which the latter made no special secret He
stated frankly that one OF his principal objects
in visiting BOgota was to confirm the basis of
an arrangement already entered into at Wash
iDgton, to open a canal across the isthmus; that
his ropositions were received by the Govern
ment in the most friendly spirit, and that he
had SO far been successful In his mission as TO
enter into a trea'y y for that purpose, which he
now takes home with him, and which only
awaits the ratification of the Congress in Wash
ingtOD.


Ia connection with this matter let me call
your attention 10 the news from Central
America, by which 1t appears that Senor Ayon
has Just returned from France and perfected a
treaty with the French Government, as Com
missioner from Nicaragua, to open a canal
across that State. This Is NapOleon's pet idea,
and he does not sleep over such notions, Ii he
once gets his scheme into market 1t is bound to
compete with the isthmus canal scheme; SO
there is no time to be lost. He has a couple of
hundred miles to contend against there, while
we have less than fifty here; but he has energy
and pride while We have only personal aggran.
diZement to urge us. a


Let petty jealousy and petty speculation give
way to the great national scheme of opening
canal across this isthmus which will be the
worlds pride, and the United States can stick
feather in her cap that will call forth the admi-
ration of all nations. Europe and ASIA will join
hands across our isthmus, both by sea and land.
England must communicate with Australia aud
the East through this channel France must
look to us for shorter route to her Pacific pos
sessions. The North and South Americas will
become closer allies. Columbus great idea of
finding passage from one ocean to another will
be at last realized, and there will be no more
necessity for enterprising individuals to lose
their lives and be frozen to death in butting
round the North Pole to get into the tropics. II
any man can build this canal in a hurry General
Giant ought to be that man, and the sooner he
builds 1t the better, II he has any ambition to
make his mark.


When ] wrote you last thought the tax
question, so tar IL related to the foreigners on
the isthmus, had been settled at least for
year; but 1t seems i was disappointed. The
Government came to terms with the Panama
merchants, but left those of Aspin wall out in
the cold, and now refuses to deduct q cent from
the original amounts levied on them, although
they naturally expected to be placed on the
same footing as their neighbors, and therefore
took no trouble to make protests, and 30 on.
Now, however, that they find they are to be
mulcted in the whole sum, their danders
rise, and they refuse to pay a dollar
hey ond that stipulated in the law. They are
backed up by the enersetic Omitted States Consul
| Rice, who is doing all in his power to hello them
with his ad vice, and who 1t Is to be hoped will
| be able to obtain some justice tor his country
men. We're the money demanded TO be spent
| for any good purpose, people might be wiling
| TO pay It; but when they see that every cent
| they pay, and more too, is to be squandered in
keeping up an army of Idle. lazy soldiers for the
| sole purpose of keeping one man in po yer, and
that dollar Is never spent for the public good,
they naturally kick against the injnstice. 1t
| will take at least upwards of half the entire
income OF the State to support the militia
| force to be kept under arms in time OF peace,
| when body OF seyenty-fve police would do far
more efficient service.