The importance of this concession to the commercial and political
interests of the United States can not easily be overrated. The route by
the Isthmus of Panama is the shortest between the two oceans, and from
the information herewith communicated it would seem to be the most
practicable for a railroad or canal.

The vast advantages to our commerce which would result from such a
communication, not only with the west coast of America, but with Asia
and the islands of the Pacific, are too obvious to require any detail.
Such a passage would relieve us from a long and dangerous navigation of
more than 9,000 miles around Cape Horn and render our communication with
our possessions on the northwest coast of America comparatively easy and
speedy.

The communication across the Isthmus has attracted the attention of the
Government of the United States ever since the independence of the South
American Republics. On the 3d of March, 1835, a resolution passed the
Senate in the following words:

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be respectfully
requested to consider the expediency of opening negotiations with the
governments of other nations, and particularly 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 right of navigating such
canal to all nations on the payment of such reasonable tolls as may be