State of the Union | Page 5

State. It has not been considered the
policy of our laws to subject an American citizen who in a foreign
country purchases a vessel built in the United States to the
inconvenience of sending her home for a new register before permitting
her to proceed on a voyage. Any alteration of the laws which might
have a tendency to impede the free transfer of property in vessels
between our citizens, or the free navigation of those vessels between
different parts of the world when employed in lawful commerce, should
be well and cautiously considered; but I trust that your wisdom will
devise a method by which our general policy in this respect may be
preserved, and at the same time the abuse of our flag by means of sea
letters, in the manner indicated, may be prevented.
Having ascertained that there is no prospect of the reunion of the five
States of Central America which formerly composed the Republic of
that name, we have separately negotiated with some of them treaties of
amity and commerce, which will be laid before the Senate.
A contract having been concluded with the State of Nicaragua by a

company composed of American citizens for the purpose of
constructing a ship canal through the territory of that State to connect
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, I have directed the negotiation of a
treaty with Nicaragua pledging both Governments to protect those who
shall engage in and perfect the work. All other nations are invited by
the State of Nicaragua to enter into the same treaty stipulations with her;
and the benefit to be derived by each from such an arrangement will be
the protection of this great interoceanic communication against any
power which might seek to obstruct it or to monopolize its advantages.
All States entering into such a treaty will enjoy the right of passage
through the canal on payment of the same tolls. The work, if
constructed under these guaranties, will become a bond of peace
instead of a subject of contention and strife between the nations of the
earth. Should the great maritime States of Europe consent to this
arrangement (and we have no reason to suppose that a proposition so
fair and honorable will be opposed by any), the energies of their people
and ours will cooperate in promoting the success of the enterprise. I do
not recommend any appropriation from the National Treasury for this
purpose, nor do I believe that such an appropriation is necessary.
Private enterprise, if properly protected, will complete the work should
it prove to be feasible. The parties who have procured the charter from
Nicaragua for its construction desire no assistance from this
Government beyond its protection; and they profess that, having
examined the proposed line of communication, they will be ready to
commence the undertaking whenever that protection shall be extended
to them. Should there appear to be reason, on examining the whole
evidence, to entertain a serious doubt of the practicability of
constructing such a canal, that doubt could be speedily solved by an
actual exploration of the route.
Should such a work be constructed under the common protection of all
nations, for equal benefits to all, it would be neither just nor expedient
that any great maritime state should command the communication. The
territory through which the canal may be opened ought to be freed from
the claims of any foreign power. No such power should occupy a
position that would enable it hereafter to exercise so controlling an
influence over the commerce of the world or to obstruct a highway
which ought to be dedicated to the common uses of mankind.

The routes across the Isthmus at Tehuantepec and Panama are also
worthy of our serious consideration.. They did not fail to engage the
attention of my predecessor. The negotiator of the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo was instructed to offer a very large sum of money for the right
of transit across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The Mexican Government
did not accede to the proposition for the purchase of the right of way,
probably because it had already contracted with private individuals for
the construction of a passage from the Guasacualco River to
Tehuantepec. I shall not renew any proposition to purchase for money a
right which ought to be equally secured to all nations on payment of a
reasonable toll to the owners of the improvement, who would doubtless
be well contented with that compensation and the guaranties of the
maritime states of the world in separate treaties negotiated with Mexico,
binding her and them to protect those who should construct the work.
Such guaranties would do more to secure the completion of the
communication through the territory of Mexico than any other
reasonable consideration that could be offered; and as Mexico