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Doc. No. 75. 



philanthrophist, to regard the proposed undertaking with deeper interest 

 than any which has claimed the attention of mankind. Tire conjunction 

 of time and circumstance is favorable for the work, and it now seems that 

 the star of empire/' which; in its westward progress^ stood still for 

 awhile upon the crown of the Cordilleras, is destined to pass onward to 

 its culmination, while the giant- arm of conjoined capital and labor smites 

 through the barriers which nature has set up between the two hemi- 

 spheres. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE VARIOUS NEGOTIATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN 

 MADE IN RESPECT TO OPENING THE CANAL. 



It will not be uninteresting, now that the project of opening a canal 

 across the isthmus of Nicaragua has assumed a practical form, and seems 

 certain to be carried into execution, to notice briefly some of the measures 

 which have heretofore been taken m respect to it. I have already men- 

 tioned, that early in the IGth century the practicability of such an under- 

 taking was asserted, and its advantages put forward in a striking light; 

 but nothing was practically attempted until late in the 18th century, when 

 the attention of the Spanish government was called to the subject once 

 more by Godoy, ^'^the prince of peace," and a survey of the route was 

 made under his direction. The documents relating to it still exist in the 

 archives of Guatemala. After the independence of Central America, 

 another attempt towards tlie accomplishment of the same object was made 

 by Senor Manuel Antonio de la Cerda, afterwards governor of the State 

 of Nicaragua, who, in July, 1823, urged the matter upon the federal Con- 

 gress, but failed in accomplishing anything at that time. In the year 

 1825 different proposals were made from abroad upon the subject; and 

 the national Congress, in June of that year, passed the following decree: 



^'Article 1st authorizes the opening of a canal fitted for the passage of 

 the largest vessels in the State of Nicaragua. 



^^Art. 2d. The works to be of the most solid construction. 



^'^Art. 3d. The government shall offer to the undertakers an indemni- 

 fication equivalent to the cost and labor of the work. 



^^Art. 4th. The government shall take all means of facihtating the ob- 

 ject; permitting the cutting of wood; assisting the surveyors; forwarding 

 the plans; and, generally, in every manner not injurious to public or pri- 

 vate interests. 



Art. 5th. No duty shall be charged on instruments and machinery 

 imported for the works of the canal. 



Art. 6th. The expense of the work shall be acknowledged as a na- 

 tional debt, and the tolls of the canal shall all be applied to its extinguish- 

 ment, after deducting the necessary costs of maintenance and repairs, and 

 the maintenance of a garrison for its defence. 



Art. Tth. Any dispute regarding its liquidation or proofs of outlay, 

 shall be determined according to the laws of the republic. 



Art. 8th. The Congress shall be entitled to establish, and at all times 

 alter, the rates of toll as it may think proper. 



Art. 9th. The navigation shall be open to all nations, friends or neu- 

 trals, without privilege or exclusion. 



'' Art. 10th. The government shall maintain on the lake the necessary 

 vessels for its defence. 



