treaty what is now offered by implication only--the same advantages
which we propose for ourselves on the same conditions upon which we
shall have acquired them. The policy of this treaty is not novel, nor
does it originate from any suggestion either of my immediate predecessor
or myself. On the 3d day of March, 1835, the following resolution,
referred to by the late President in his message to the Senate relative
to the treaty with New Granada, was adopted in executive session by the
Senate without division:

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be respectfully
requested to consider the expediency of opening negotiations with the
Governments of Central America and New Granada for the purpose of
effectually protecting, by suitable treaty stipulations with them,
such individuals or companies as may undertake to open a communication
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by the construction of a ship
canal across the isthmus which connects North and South America, and
of securing forever by such stipulations the free and equal rights
of navigating such a canal to all such nations on the payment of such
reasonable tolls as may be established to compensate the capitalists
who may engage in such undertaking and complete the work.

President Jackson accorded with the policy suggested in this resolution,
and in pursuance of it sent Charles Biddle as agent to negotiate with
the Governments of Central America and New Granada. The result is fully
set forth in the report of a select committee of the House of
Representatives of the 20th of February, 1849, upon a joint resolution
of Congress to authorize the survey of certain routes for a canal or
railroad between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The policy indicated
in the resolution of the 3d March, 1835, then adopted by the President
and Senate, is that now proposed for the consideration and sanction of