Year: 1869

The Isthmus Of Panama and the Darien Ship
Canal.


TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALp:-


Your correspondence fromPanama again brings in
terestng news from that section OF the world show
ing the utterly demoralized state Of all political par


ties the republic OF Colombia and the very slender
and rather rotten thread which at present links the
several States composing the Union together. and
especially that which binds the lsthmus OF Panama
to the general government Whether all these
threads are TO be suddenly severed and the Union


allowed to fall helpessly to pieces. In the hope Of
erecting two or three petty little republics on her


ashes, is yet problematical; but that the State OF


Panama must, In self defence, very dissolve the


connection that untes her to the head Of the family
and go to housekeeping on her own account ap-


pears now to be beyond doubt; for she is sick Of


being made political drudge for the different adj
ministrations that from time to time WELD the ma
tonal power at Bogota without gaining for herself,
either directly or indirectly, any benefit whatever.


The final death blow given TO any sympathy tnat
existed on the Isthmus for the parent government
was when, in 1861, the railroad contract was re-
newed at Bogota, IN which all consideration for the
people OF the Isthmus was ruthlessy set aside and
out OF an annual bonus TO be paid by the company
to the nation for the 100 years the contract Is to
last OF $3.50 900 Panama cut of with pittance
of $40 900 annually for term Of twenty years in
consideration OF that State keeping sufficient


force to protect the transit thus saving that expense
to the nation. Beyond this there Is not word in


the contract in favor OF the Isthmus; reduction
made to her merchants or the enormous freight


tariff OF the heavy rate OF passage fare for her


nnab ants the rates charged to the residents OF
other countries-nothing In fact, as compensation
| for thorough monopoly being made OF the only
source OF wealth the lsthmus possesses-her pc


cular geographical position as transit between the
| two oceans.


The only apparent hope for the Isthmus now is to Gus
Tho


il is naturally isolated and form itself into an nde


pendent State what might be still more sensible,
put itself under the protecting power Of the United


States and thus give some security to foreigners to
settle on her shores. This step once accomplished
and acknowledged by the United States the new gov


ernment Of the lshmus would at once enter into an
arrangement on the most favorable terms for the
opening of ship canal from the Atlantic to the
Pacific and all the quibbllng and delay now expe-


rienced BogOta in reference thereto pe put an end


to. The moral support OF the United States ls All
that Is necessary 10 enable the sthmus to make
itself independent and we trust that will not be de-
MED ft Is asked for, sothat there may be no ur-


ther obstacles thrown-m the way OF uniting the two
| oceans by ship canal under the auspices OF the
on the other hand reports from Central America


assure that every effort Will be made py Nicaragua
| to Withdraw attention from the lsthmus OF Panama


route and direct 1t 10 Nicaragua ana there is little


doubt that the French government, which has always


favored the latter In opposition TO the lormer VIII


use its utmost endeavors TO have the Ayen Chevalier


contract pushed ahead before the United States can
| get the consent OF the government at Bogota to
commence operations on the Ishnus. II Is not even
beyond the scope Of probability that the British and


French representatives at Bogota are keeping pack


as much as possible the reconsideration In Congress


OF the Cushing treaty, as II Is now well establs LED


that United Sate8 Is the only foreign Power that
perceably get the right OF cutting canal
through the Isthmus, and ills ever 10 De uOne tue
sooner the better. PANAMENO.
PANAMA, May 20, 1863.