56 Doc. No. 75. 



culture and manufactures of the various portions more demanded^ by 

 reason of its opening new markets to each through the increased facility 

 of exchanges. 



7th. And finally, that, in consequence of the more intimate inter- 

 course and communion of such numerous and immense bodies of the 

 human race, the characters of nations would gradually become more im- 

 proved and assimilated, a pacific and harmonious disposition more generally 

 cultivated, forms and the administration of governments amended, liberty, 

 knowledge, and virtue more widely diffused, and prosperity and happiness 

 more generally enjoyed. 



" From this imperfect sketch of the tendency and effects of the execu- 

 tion of this project, it is manifest that there is not an improvement to be 

 made, on the whole globe, so highly beneficial to mankind in general as ^ 

 the one in contemplation; nor, from what has been shown before, is there 

 any one so easy of execution in proportion to its benefits." 



I have inserted this descriptive picture in full, in order that my fellow- 

 citizens may see the magnitude of the undertaking as portrayed by a 

 foreigner, to whom the aggrandizement of our country could have been of 

 no possible interest — who cannot have been led astray by national predi- 

 lections, and who could not have been induced to express these sentiments 

 from any of those considerations of local interest which must influence 

 ourselves. What would this same foreigner have said, if he had been called 

 upon to enumerate the advantages which would redound to Central America 

 from the execution of this project? If his memorial contains nothing upon a 

 point of so much importance to ourselves, 1 will endeavor to supply the 

 defect by presenting my fellow-citizens with a sketch, such as my limited 

 means of information will permit me to give. I implore them to listen to me 

 attentively, for their own sakesj to forget, for a moment, rivalries which are 

 the offspring of a partisan spirit j to turn their eyes towards their own coun- 

 try, and, seeing to what a height of splendor and magnificence they can raise 

 her by their own efforts, to unite in concert of action, until there shall be no 

 voice heard, from one end of the republic to the other, except the echo of 

 the popular voice, reverberated in harmonious sounds on every side, 

 calling aloud for the openinjg^ of the Nicaragua canal, as tending to the 

 welfare and glory of the present generation, as calculated to lay the 

 foundation of a happy destiny for our posterity, and to obtain for us, as a 

 people, a distinguished place among the galaxy of enlightened nations. 



In the sketch I am about to submit, it is my intention to avoid all vain 

 and useless words, and to base my calculations upon comparative data 

 and established facts. The execution of this vast undertaking cannot 

 fail to create a mercantile revolution as great as it will be beneficial,, ena- 

 Ipling our country to emerge from the state of depression and insignifi- 

 cance in which she is plunged at present, and transferring her, as it were 

 by enchantment, into one of the most privileged nations on this conti- 

 nent—as one possessing the best geographical position in the world. For- 

 tune and nature combine together iia unfolding to us the most singular 

 prospects of national greatness and prosperity. If we do not take advan- 

 tage of this, it will only be through excess of ignorance, indolence, or 

 stupidity. Why should we not be the first on the Spanish- American 

 continent to give some evidence of popular energy and political vitality? 

 Why should we not be the first to profit by the example which has been 

 set to us by well- governed nations^ and cast aside that ruinous and big- 



