Ulysses S. Grant photo

Proclamation—Establishing the Interoceanic Canal Commission

March 13, 1872

TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING:

Know Ye, That, reposing special trust and confidence in the Integrity and Ability of Brevet Major General Andrew A. Humphreys of the United States Army, Professor Benjamin Pierce, of Massachusetts, and Captain Daniel Ammen, of the United States Navy, I do hereby appoint them jointly and severally to be Commissioners for the United States, to examine and consider all surveys, plans, proposals or suggestions of routes of communication by Canal or water connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across over or near the Isthmus connecting North and South America which have already been submitted or which may be hereafter submitted to the President of the United States, during the pendency of this appointment or which may be referred to them by the President and to report in writing their conclusions and the result of such examination to the President of the United States with their opinion as to the probable cost and practicability of each route or plan and such other matters in connection therewith as they may think proper and pertinent. And I do hereby authorize them and each of them, to execute and fulfil the duties of that appointment according to law and the instructions which they shall from time to time receive from the President, and to have and to hold the said appointment with all the powers and privileges thereunto of right appertaining unto them the said Brevet Major General Andrew A. Humphreys of the United States Army, Professor Benjamin Pierce of Massachusetts and Captain Daniel Ammen of the United States Navy, during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being.

Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two and of the Independence of the United States the Ninety-sixth.

U. S. GRANT

Ulysses S. Grant, Proclamation—Establishing the Interoceanic Canal Commission Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/354839

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