416 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



quested to consider the expediency of opening negotia- 

 tions with the governments of other nations, and partic- 

 ularly v^ith the governments of Central America and 

 Grenada, for the purpose of effectually protecting, by 

 suitable treaty stipulations v^ith them, such individuals 

 or companies as may undertake to open a communica- 

 tion between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, by the 

 construction of a ship canal across the isthmus which 

 connects North and South America, and of securing 

 forever, by such stipulations, the free and equal right ot 

 navigating such canal to all nations, on the payment of 

 such reasonable tolls as may be established, to compen- 

 sate the capitalists who may engage in such undertaking 

 and complete the work." 



Under this resolution a special agent was appointed 

 by General Jackson, who was instructed to proceed 

 without delay by the most direct route to Port San 

 Juan, ascend the River San Juan to the Lake of Nica- 

 ragua, and thence by the contemplated route of com- 

 munication, by canal or railroad, to the Pacific Ocean. 

 After having completed an examination of the route 

 of the canal, he was directed to repair to Guatimala, 

 the capital of that republic, and, with the aid of Mr. 

 De Witt, the charge d'affaires of the United States, 

 procure all such public documents connected with the 

 subject as might be had, and especially copies of all 

 such laws as may have been passed to incorporate com- 

 panies to carry into effect the undertaking of any con- 

 vention or conventions that may have been entered into 

 with a foreign power upon the subject, and of any plans, 

 surveys, or estimates in relation to it. From Guatima- 

 la he was directed to proceed to Panama, and make 

 observations and inquiries relative to the proposed 

 connexion of the two oceans at that point. Unfor- 



