In order to practically attain the fulfillment of the resolution of the people of Panama of emancipating themselves from the Government of Colombia, making use of their autonomy in order to dispose of their destiny, to establish a new nationality free from all foreign elements, the municipal council of the district of Panama, for itself and in the name of the other municipal councils of the department, places the administration, working, and direction of affairs, temporarily and while the new Republic be constituted, in a board of government composed of Messrs Jose Agustin Arango, Federico Boyd, and Tomas Arias, in whom and without any reserve whatsoever it gives powers, authorizations, and faculties necessary and sufficient for the satisfactory compliance of the duties which in the name of the Fatherland are confided to them. It was ordered that the inhabitants of Panama be assembled to an open council in order to submit for their approval the ordinance that the present minutes contain, and which was signed by the officers and members of the corporation present. Demetrio H Brid, R. Aizpuru, A. Arias F.. Manuel J. Cucalon P., Fabio Arosemena, Oscar M. McKay, Alcides Dominguez, Enrique Linares, J. M. Chiari R., Dario Vallarino, S. Lewis. Manuel M. Mendez. The secretary of the council, Ernesto J. Goti. In our next issue we will publish the very extensive list of the signers of the above declaration. MANIFESTO. The transcendental act that by a spontaneous movement the inhabitants of the Isthmus of Panama have just executed is the inevitable consequence of a situation which has become graver daily. Long is the recital of the grievances that the inhabitants of the Isthmus have suffered from their Colombian brothers; but those grievances would have been withstood with resignation for the sake of harmony and national union had its separation been possible and if we could have entertained well-founded hopes of improvement and of effective progress under the system to which we were submitted by that Republic. We have to solemnly declare that we have the sincere and profound conviction that all the hopes were futile and useless, all the sacrifices on our part. The Isthmus of Panama has been governed by the Republic of Colombia with the narrow-mindedness that in past times were applied to their colonies by the European nations-the isthmian people and territory was a source of fiscal resources and nothing more. The contracts and negotiations regarding the railroad and the Panama Canal and the national taxes collected in the Isthmus have netted to Colombia tremendous sums which we will not detail, not wishing to appear in this exposition which will go down to posterity as being moved by a mercenary spirit, which has never been nor is our purpose; and of these large sums the Isthmus has not received the benefit of a bridge for any of its numerous rivers, nor the construction of a single road between its towns, nor of any public building, nor of a single college, and has neither seen any interest displayed in advancing her industries, nor has a most infinite part of those sums been applied toward her prosperity. A very recent example of what we have related above is what has occurred with the negotiations of the Panama Canal, which, when taken under consideration by Congress, was rejected in a summary manner. There were a few public men who expressed their adverse opinion, on the ground that the Isthmus of Panama alone was to be favored by the opening of the canal by virtue of a treaty with the United States, and that the rest of Colombia would not receive any direct benefits of any sort by that work, as if that way of reasoning, even though it be correct, would justify the irreparable and perpetual damage which would be caused to the Isthmus by the rejection of the treaty in the manner in which it was done, which was equivalent to the closing of the doors to future negotiations. The people of the Isthmus, in view of such notorious causes, have decided to recover their sovereignty and begin to form a part of the society of the free and independent nations, in order to work out its own destiny, to insure its future in a stable manner, and discharge the duties which it is called on to do by the situation of its territory and its immense richness. To that we, the initiators of the movement effected, aspire and have obtained a unanimous approval. We aspire to the formation of a true republic, where tolerance will prevail, where the law should be the invariable guide of those governing and those governed, where effective peace be established, which consists in the frequent and harmonious play of all interests and all activities, and where, finally, civilization and progress will find perpetual stability. At the commencement of the life of an independent nation we fully appreciate the responsibilities that state means, but we have profound faith in the good sense and patriotism of the isthmian people, and we possess sufficient energy to open our way by means of labor to a happy future without any worry or any danger. At separating from our brothers of Colombia we do it without any hatred and without any joy. Just as a son withdraws from his paternal roof, the isthmian people in adopting the lot it has chosen have done it with grief, but in compliance with the supreme and inevitable duty it owes to itself-that of its own preservation and of working for its own welfare. We therefore begin to form a part among the free nations of the world, considering Colombia as a sister nation, with which we shall be whenever circumstances may require it, and for whose prosperity we have the most fervent and sincere wishes. JOSE AGUSTIN ARANGO. TOMAS ARIAS. No. 13. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE GIVING CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND COLOMBIA. [Senate Document No. 51, Fifty-eighth Congress, second session.] CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND COLOMBIA FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTEROCEANIC CANAL ACROSS THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING A REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WITH ACCOMPANYING PAPERS, CONCERNING THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND COLOMBIA FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTEROCEANIC CANAL ACROSS THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. [December 19, 1903: Read; referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed.] To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit, for the information of the Congress, in connection with the correspondence already transmitted relating to the recent revolution on the Isthmus of Panama, and contained in House Document No. 8, Fifty-eighth Congress, first session, parts 1 and 2, a report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers, concerning the convention between the United States and Colombia for the construction of an interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Panama. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. WHITE HOUSE, Washington, December 18, 1903. The PRESIDENT: The undersigned, Secretary of State, has the honor to lay before the President, with a view to their transmission to Congress for the information of that body, in connection with the correspondence already transmitted, relating to the recent revolution on the Isthmus of Panama, and contained in House Document No. 8, Fifty-eighth Congress, first session, parts 1 and 2, copies of the correspondence between the Department of State and the legation of the United States at Bogotá concerning the convention between the United States and Colombia for the construction of an interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Panama. Respectfully submitted. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 18, 1903. JOHN HAY. 1 See Nos. 11 and 12, appendix. Mr. Hay to Mr. Beaupré. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 7, 1903, Referring to requests of Colombia to canal and railroad companies for appointment of agents to negotiate cancellation of the present concessions, et cetera, if the subject arises inform the Colombian Government that the treaty covers entire matter, and any change would be in violation of Spooner law and not permissible. Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay. HAY. No. 741.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The matter of the ratification of the Panama Canal convention is intensely interesting to the people of this capital, and there is much public discussion of it. Without question public opinion is strongly against its ratification, but, of course, public opinion in Colombia is not necessarily a potent factor in controlling legislation. It is quite impossible to come to a definite conclusion as to the outcome until the result of the recent elections for members of Congress is known. It has been generally thought that the Government would be able to control the elections and that the members returned would be favorable to the administration's view on the canal question; but there has been serious disappointment to the governmental party in the result of some of the elections heard from, prominent and able members of the National Party, opposed to the Marroquin administration and to the canal convention, have been elected. Ex-President Caro and Gen. Pedro Nel Ospina, Nationalists, are to represent the Department of Antioquia in the Senate. It seems altogether probable that unless the Government is thoroughly in earnest in its desire to have the convention ratified, it will not be done; and there is a possibility that it may not go through in any event. There is no public information as to the date at which the Congress will be called, but from private source I am given to understand that it will be about the 20th of May, owing to the slowness of returns from remote election districts. It is apparent lately that the French Canal Company is to take a decided interest in securing the ratification of the convention, and that its influence to that end will be of much importance. I am, sir, your obedient servant, A. M. BEAUPRÉ. Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay. No. 6.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Bogotá, April 15, 1903. SIR: I have the honor to advise you that within the last month there has been such a sudden outburst of controversy, both in the Bogotá press and among the public in this city, with regard to the |
