Doc. No. 75. 



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respect to the frequency or extent of the use of the ri^ht;, and similar 

 rights and privileges of travel, transit, and transportation for their persons, 

 property, and merchandise, are secured to the citizens of the United 

 States, to be enjoyed on terms as favorable as those granted to the citizens 

 of Nicaragua, or to the citizens or subjects of any other government or 

 country. 



2d. It secures to the United States the right to frame, enact, and issue 

 a charter or act of incorporation for the organization of a company of 

 capitahsts, who are to have and possess the exclusive right and privilege 

 to construct and be the proprietors of the contemplated canals or roads 

 in said State, and (be it observed) this right and privilege is secured in a 

 manner so full and ample that the U'nited States has the most entire and 

 unlimited discretion to make just such charter, and to confer upon a 

 company just such advantages and rights, as may be deemed proper or 

 necessary, upon the most full and mature inquiry and consideration, to 

 secure the investment of the capital required, and the speedy commence- 

 ment and completion of this grand enterprise; which charter Nicaragua is 

 bound to legalize and approve as the supreme law of her State. 



3d. It secures the patronage and protection of the government of the 

 United States for the enterprise, and extends that protection to the State 

 and government of Nicaragua, to maintain and preserve its peaceful 

 sovereignty and dominion over its rightful territories, and guaranties 

 their neutrality. These three main objects are secured by this treaty in 

 a manner as perfect, full, and complete as possible; and I respectfully 

 submit the inquiry. Can it be much improved in these particulars? The 

 residue of the instrument is composed of details which, if not approved, 

 may be amended or stricken out by the Senate. 



If the right of way through Nicaragua, as secured in this treaty for the 

 government and citizens of the United States, is valuable and important, 

 then the United States must protect and become the patron of the great 

 works contemplated, and must protect the government and State of Nicar- 

 agua, and maintain the rights of the company, and the peace and neu- 

 trahty of the country, otherwise the capital will never be furnished and 

 the work never comi^enced or completed; for the State of Nicaragua is 

 small in extent, its government feeble, and its population inconsiderable 

 ill number, though turbulent and disorderly, so that revolutions, civil 

 strife, and intestine commotions are of such frequent occurrence, and 

 foreign aggressions so much to be apprehended, that the enterprise in 

 view would inevitably fail for want ot confidence, and because of the 

 want of that safety and security for the rights, property, and privileges of 

 such company as might undertake the said works, as could only be found 

 in the protection of some strong government and powerful nation, as the 

 United States. I am well satisfied that the right of way, as secured ni 

 this treaty, and the liberal plan agreed to f^r the construction of said Avorks, 

 could never have been obtained from, and would never have been 

 yielded by Nicaragua, except for the purpose of procuring the protection 

 of our government against the aggressions of other stronger States. If 

 the protection is refused, the right of way as secured in the treaty would 

 have to be procured only at immense cost, and no project, contract, or 

 charter could be obtained by an}^ government or company granting to 

 them the exclusive privilege of making and owning said works, except 

 upon such hard terms as would defeat the object in view^ and which 



