Doc. No. 75. 



77 



5th, That by enriching the public treasury at the expense of foreign 

 commerce, (which would, however, be highly beneficial in return,) our 

 people will be exempted, if not from taxation altogether, at least from a 

 considerable portion of those contributions which are indispensable to 

 support the government with that degree of dignity and decorum required 

 by the exigencies of a civilized nation. 



6th. That the value of our land will be immeasurably increased, be- 

 cause the exportation of every kind of produce susceptible of being raised 

 on our soil, not only on the borders of the canal and the Nicaragua lake, 

 but all along the Pacific coast, being facilitated by means of a canal, the 

 land will acquire everywhere a proportionate value, which it does not at 

 present possess — advantages which will redound equally to the benefit of 

 all the other States. 



7th, and finally. That having constantly in view all that has been ac- 

 complished by the governments of the States of New York, Pennsylvr- 

 nia, and Ohio, through the medium of national loans, I am irresistibly 

 led to the conviction, that although our government is destitute of avail- 

 able funds, as it was the case with the governments of those States 

 above mentioned, it has the power to execute the work under considera- 

 tion by resorting to the alternative of a loan. 



Before I conclude, I must be permitted to refer to certain promises, 

 solemnly made to our people about six years ago; which, however, have 

 never been fulfilled. In a message to Congress, dated the 12th of Au- 

 gust, 1830, Senor Barrandia expressed himself in the following terms: 

 ''Above all, citizen representatives, the project for opening the grand 

 canal claims your consideration. The advantages that it presents are of 

 equal importance with the proof it affords that we are progressing in the 

 acquisition of credit and in regularity of conduct. 



'' This is a work of peace and of liberty combined. By carrying such 

 a project into execution, we shall present to the world a striking result of 

 our regeneration as a people, and a successful vindication of those exalted 

 principles by which freemen are actuated in matters of general interest. 

 Over the vestiges of blood and desolation left by an usurping power, 

 there shall be raised a temple, emblematic of the amity of nations and 

 the prosperity of the people. I doubt not but that the heart of every 

 representative swells with pride at this gratifying prospect of national im- 

 portance, and final justification of our principles and our conduct in the 

 face of nations. Then Nicaragua will become the true emporium of com- 

 merce, and present a most eligible location for the residence of the federal 

 government." 



Let it not be supposed that I have transcribed these words for the pur- 

 pose of indulging in satirical comments; seeing that six years have 

 elapsed since they were written, without the slightest approach to a reali- 

 zation of these flattering prospects of national felicity! I desire to see 

 this magnificent temple of concord raised, not under the auspices of a 

 foreign power, but by our own government. I do not wish to see the 

 present generation barter away the honor and the glory of aggrandizing 

 themselves by their own efforts, and of leaving behind them a monu- 

 ment which shall remind their posterity that the Central Americans of 

 1836 were the founders of their greatness. I desire to see this govern- 

 ment, which has certainly not been elevated into power by my vote, use 

 that power to effect the opening of the Nicaragua canal^ whichj if accom- 



