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quillity, so essential in order that every citizen may enjoy in contentment the welfare which it has been his lot to secure, or which is the result of his labor, is becoming unknown among us. We live a sickly life; political crises are our normal condition; commerce and industry lack the peaceful condition which they require in order to advance. Poverty is knocking at all doors."

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"Our political disturbances have caused the conception of country to be annulled or mistaken. The idea which we have of country is associated in such manner to political revolts and with the fears and distrust engendered thereby that it is not an uncommon thing to hear from one of our countrymen what we would not hear from a native of any other country, viz, 'I should like to have been born somewhere else.'

"Are there many among us who pride themselves in saying, 'I am a Colombian,' as a Frenchman prides himself in saying, 'I am a Frenchman?'" a

Those were the honest words of the chief magistrate of Colombia, inasmuch as they were the exact picture of a general sentiment, subject to the analysis, the candid revelation of the condition of the feelings predominating in the majority of Colombians. Those clear-cut sentences, which sound almost biblical, have a particularly deep meaning for the inhabitants of Panama, and constitute the best, most complete, and eloquent vindication of the present attitude of the isthmians, and of those who, not having been born in our territory, came to it, built happy homes, identified their interests with ours, as well as their ambitions and hopes, suffered by our side by virtue of the awful outrages of the Government of Colombia, and in the supreme moment helped us to make a better country, being magnanimously willing to sacrifice for her sake with us wakefulness, tranquillity, and even life itself if necessary.

Those evils of which, like its predecessors, the present President of Colombia made a brief and gloomy enumeration of, no longer shall produce on the Isthmus their fatal effects, thanks to the glorious independence which destroyed forever their roots. The minds of men recovered their calmness; the mortal enemies of yesterday over the dry fields of the young Republic stripped themselves, as they would of a burning garment, of the political hatred kindled in their bosoms by the parties of Colombia, now come forward with firm and steady step and extend the hand of peace and friendship.

Blessed be the work which commences by accomplishing such a noble need.
Panama, November 18, 1903..

RAMON M. VALDES.

ACTION OF MUNICIPALITIES OF PANAMA APPROVING RATIFICATION OF CANAL TREATY BY THE JUNTA OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Hay.

No. 9.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

ON SPECIAL MISSION, Panama, December 28, 1903.

SIR: I beg to inclose at the request of his excellency the minister for foreign affairs a certified document showing the action had by certain municipalities of this Republic in the matter of the ratification of the action of the junta of the provisional government in making the treaty with our Government known as the Hay-Varilla treaty. This method of ratification, as the Department knows, is that which has been followed in Colombia during many occasions and especially when any matter of importance has been before the country.

In this connection I beg to refer the Department to a portion of my note of the 27th instant.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. BUCHANAN.

a Inaugural address of the President of the Republic, Don. José Manuel Marroquín. Diario Oficial of Colombia, No. 10724, of August 7, 1898.

[Official Gazette, extraordinary number. Panama, December 12, 1903.]

ACT OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF CALOBRE.

At the capital of the municipal district of Calobre, at 2 in the afternoon of the 2d day of December, 1903, in the hall of the municipal house, the district council constituted itself in solemn session with the attendance of its members, Messrs. Cristobal Castillo, president; Belisario Cocio, Salvador Vasquez, and Genarino Castillo; acting as secretary of the same, Mr. Juan Bautista.

There were also present, by special invitation, Mr. Demetrio Vasquez, mayor of the district; Pedro E. Vasquez, municipal attorney, and a large number of citizens.

At the opening of the session the president made known to the corporation the object of the call, and thereupon Salvador Vasquez, voting member, made the following motion:

The municipal council of the district of Calobre, voicing the sentiments of the community it represents, freely and spontaneously resolves

To signify to the junta of government that represents our Republic of Panama that, animated by the absolute confidence we place in it, we give our vote of approval to any action it may take in regard to the canal contract.

This motion being submitted to debate, was approved by a unanimous vote. The council directed these presents be sent to the prefect of this province in order that it may be transmitted through him to the junta of government of Panama.

The present act is written out for record and signed by all the officers present at the session.

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Resolution unanimously approved at the special session of the 3d of December, 1903.

The municipal council of Panama, considering:

That on the 2d day of this month the treaty concluded in Washington between Mr. Philippe Bunau-Varilla, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Republic of Panama, and His Excellency Mr. John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States of North America, on the 18th of November last, for the excavation of a ship canal across the territory of our Isthmus, was ratified in this city by the junta of provisional government;

That the said treaty maintains and guarantees on the part of the Government of the United States the independence of the Republic of Panama;

That the municipal council of this district, with full knowledge of its high mission, and also considering itself in the full enjoyment of popular sympathy and support, solemnly demonstrated on the 4th of November when the independence of the Isthmus was proclaimed in public meeting, adheres to its firm purpose to give expression to all that it feels ought to be done for the permanent safety of the Republic of Panama, its practicable and immediate advancement;

That it appreciates and applauds the inestimable benefit the Republic of Panama derives from the assurance of its protection given by the power of the American people;

That the Republic of Panama, under the mighty influence of the nation as preeminent as is that of the United States, will shine with splendor among all the other republics of America;

That the redeeming work of the interoceanic canal means material and moral progress, for it opens a wide field to commerce, to agriculture, to the progress of science, arts, and universal navigation, resolves:

To signify its complete approval of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty and give public testimonial of applause to the junta of government and to every one of the ministers of the department.

To send a copy of this resolution to the junta of Government through the regular channel, and to make it known to the public by means of handbills and through the

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Resolution unanimously approved by the municipal council of Aguadulce in special session

on the 2d of December, 1903.

The municipal council of Aguadulce, faithful interpreter of the sentiments of the community it represents, having heard that the most excellent junta of government of the Republic this day approved the treaty concluded with the Government of the United States for the construction of the canal, a measure of salvation and of transcendant importance for the interests of the Isthmus, resolves:

To signify its concurrence in the approbation given to the said treaty to the most excellent junta of government.

This resolution shall be transmitted by telegraph and published in the official bulletin of this city.

JOAQUIN MENDEZ,

President of the Council.
JOSÉ M. GALVO,

Vice-President.

JULIO VARGAS C.,

Voting Member.

LADISLAO SOSA,

Acting Secretary.

Resolution unanimously approved by the municipal council of Natá.

The municipal council of Natá, in the exercise of its legal powers, and faithfully interpreting the tacit will of the people it represents, and considering that the action of the most excellent gentlemen who constitute the junta of the government is in every way identical with the opinion of the communities of this Republic of Panama, resolves:

To give a vote of confidence and applause to the honorable junta of government for its final approval of the canal treaty, concluded between the plenipotentiary ministers of the United States of North America and of our Republic, which vote of confidence and applause for this so successful course we give to include its worthy ministers.

Given in the council hall on the 3d day of the month of December, 1903.

RAIMUNDO GONZALEZ,

President.

JUAN B. URRIOLA O.,
JOSÉ G. BARRAGÁN,
MANUEL SANDOVAL,
BERNARDO MACIAS,

Voting Members.

GREGORIO PORRAS,

Secretary.

No. 8.]

Note of the president of the municipal council at Santiago de Veragua.
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA,
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE MUNICIPAL
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT,
December 2, 1903.

The PREFECT OF THE PROVINCE, Present:

The municipal council of this district at its session of this date has just approved, by a unanimous vote, the following resolution:

The municipal council of Santiago de Veragua, having learned that the convention concluded with the North American Government for the opening of the interoceanic canal across the Isthmus has been signed and has been already approved by the most excellent junta of government of the Republic of Panama and by its ministry, resolves:

Declare its approval of the said treaty and give a vote of confidence to all the members of the Government of the Republic for the patriotic interest they have evinced on behalf of the community of this Republic.

Let it be communicated to the most excellent junta of government to the prefect of this province.

Which I communicate to you for all necessary purposes.
May God have you in His keeping.

ELIZARDO SANCHEZ.

Resolution No. 4, approved by the municipal council of Sona.

The municipal council of Sona, animated by the most generous feelings of patriotism, and as ever consistent with the acts of this corporation, and considering

1. That the separation of the Isthmus of Panama from the remainder of the Republic, an act solemnly achieved in the city of Panama of the 4th of November, 1903, and in the sight of the civilized world, is a fact beyond controversy.

2. That this political evolution and the recognition of the new Republic by the greater powers of the world have in fact cut asunder the ties that united the Isthmus to Colombia and forever sealed the independence of the Isthmus; and

3. That in virtue thereof Colombia has no longer any more right to interfere in the matters concerning Panama than it would in those of Africa or any other region far distant from us, resolves:

To adhere once more and in spontaneous manner to the declaration of the independence of the Isthmus of Panama, signed in the city of that name on the 4th of November last, and to approve and ratify in all its parts the treaty for the interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Panama, whatever be the terms or clauses that constitute the essence of this treaty, as well as all the acts that have emanated or may hereafter emanate from the most excellent junta of Government of the Republic of Panama.

Given in the hall of meetings of the municipal council of Sona, December 2, 1903.

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Resolution No. 2, approved by the municipal council of El Montijo at its extraordinary session of the 3d day of December, 1903.

The municipal council of El Montijo, in the exercise of its legal powers, and considering that the eminent citizens and distinguished patriots who have conducted and brought to success the glorious act of the independence of the Isthmus are called upon to continue to have charge of its general interests, and that at the present critical time they need the encouraging words of all the communities that are benefited thereby, resolves:

That the spontaneous vote of approval and confidence be given the honorable *junta of government of the Republic of Panama, in order that in the name of the people of the Isthmus, its constituents, they may approve the negotiations entered into with the Government of the United States of America in regard to the grand work of the interoceanic canal.

A copy of this resolution shall be transmitted by special delivery to the prefect of Veraguas, in order to be transmitted by him to the proper department with as little delay as possible.

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JUNTA OF GOVERNMENT AND MINISTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT, Panama: Take pleasure in informing you that municipalities of Pesé, Los Santos, Las Minas y Ocu have enthusiastically approved treaty canal concluded by our Republic and the United States.

Resolutions will follow shortly.

The MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT, Panama:

JULIO ARJONA Q.

SANTIAGO, December 2, 1903.

The honorable council of this district authorizes me to inform the most excellent junta of government, through the most worthy channel of your excellency, that at the session of to-day it has given its approval to the canal treaty and passed a vote of confidence in the members of the government of the Republic for their patriotic interest in the great work of the salvation of the Isthmus.

I will send original by mail.

The MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT, Panama:

OSVALDO LOPEZ, Prefect.

CHORRERA, December 7, 1903.

Resolution unanimously approved by the municipal council of the district at the session of to-day, December 6, 1903.

The municipal council of La Chorrera, considering—

That the treaty concluded in Washington on the 18th of November last, for the opening of the Interoceanic Canal on the Isthmus, was approved by the provisional junta of the Republic of Panama, in the city of same name, on the 2d day of the present month;

That by the said treaty the independence of the Republic of Panama is assured and guaranteed by the Government of the United States of America;

That the municipal corporation of this district realizes the urgent necessity of proceeding promptly with the approval of the said document on grounds of external safety, though no official notice of any kind has yet been received;

That by virtue of the treaty in consideration the communities of the Isthmus will acquire the realization of the wishes of its sons and residents, inasmuch as the opening of the canal on their own territory is for the benefit of commerce and to the advantage of the world, resolves:

Unanimously to approve the treaty concluded between His Excellency Mr. BunauVarilla, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Republic of Panama, and His Excellency Mr. John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States.

Let a copy of these presents be sent to the honorable junta of government through the regular channels.

FR 1903-22

JOSÉ DEL C. SANCHEZ,

Vice-President.

EUSEBIO DIAZ.

JOSÉ NEVERA,

I. NEVERA.

J. JIMÉNEZ.

LEOPOLDO ESCALA.

DANIEL AGUILAR.

D. DESEDAS, Secretary.

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