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APPENDIX. 
for enterprising men are at this very moment turning their attention 
to this route without the advantages of an artificial communication 
across it. 
In time of war, too, the route by the Caribbean Sea would bring us un- 
der the guns of hostile forts and fleets, without any port of our own to re- 
sort to either for shelter or repairs ; whereas, by the Tehuantepec route, 
we would be all the time within the limits of our own sea — for such, in 
truth, the Gulf of Mexico may be considered in relation to us. 
Your petitioner has already adverted to the fact that, under the grant 
from Mexico, 150 miles on each side of the route of the proposed road 
across the Isthmus are open to the emigration of foreigners, who are en- 
titled to the privileges of holding lands in fee. From the inducements of 
climate and production throughout this region, and more from its great 
water-power, which is abundant on all the table-land, your petitioner is 
firmly convinced that in the course of a few years this whole country will 
be settled by people from the United States and Europe ; and thus, while 
all these rights will be in our hands, the blessings of our civilization will 
silently but powerfully extend themselves. 
Besides these civil and moral advantages, which of themselves are suf- 
ficient to show the important character of this route, there is a considera- 
tion of a political kind not less important than all of them. The policy of 
cultivating the most friendly relations, and of cementing the good under- 
standing which now so happily exists between the United States and Mex- 
ico, must be strikingly obvious to every American statesman. Political 
friendships are best secured through the interests of nations, and especial- 
ly where they can be made mutual and identical. The broadest founda- 
tion is laid for an extensive and lucrative commerce between the two coun- 
tries, from the fact that we are neighbors, both by land and sea, with 
ports facing, and almost within sight of each other, and each possessing 
what the other wants. It is, therefore, clearly for our interests to take 
all the necessary steps to promote this desirable end. Nothing could be 
more opportune than a communication across the Isthmus of Tehuante- 
pec under the guidance and capital of the United States ; for the advan- ' 
tages will incidentally be so great to Mexico, that her interests, as well as 
a wise policy on her part, will induce that Republic to cherish the most 
friendly relations with us ; and hence, through the harmonizing influence 
of reciprocal commercial interests, we will secure a firm ally in our neigh- 
bor. All other routes carry us into the land of strangers, far from our 
own shores, with interests dissimilar if not adverse to ours, and where, 
from the nature of the climate and the character of the people, no affilia- 
