Democratic banner., 1847-05-24

mPnt, easy OF attainment by NleXlco luliy
sufficient for a remuneration for us, and Of
lincalcIlablc advantages in IFS consequent
fees; not only to Mexico and the U. S., but
to the world at large. 1t is the cession to
lis of the isthmns of Tehuantepec, for the
purpose of forming a ship canal from the
Pacific ocean to the Atlantic. AS to the
constitutional objections, that may be urg-
ed against the expenditure of money for
this purpose, we are not prepared to say.
We are in favour Of a strict construction of
the constitution in all cases. But certain
it is, if any thing could be calculated to
raise a wish to the contrary, this would as
surcdly be that thing. However we shall
revert to this subject again and examine
these objections, or rather the causes of
the objections which may be made against
it: at present we give the rout as proposed
by Vice President DALLAS:
"This route runs through Mexican terri
tory. 1t commences at the mouth of a riv-
or called the Iluasacualco, emptying itself
into the southern section ofthe Gulf ofMex-
leo: it thence takes a generally southern
and wostcIn direction until it reaches Ia
rifa, at which town a canal or railroad be-
gins: and the route which it continues in the
same course to westcr lakes which then
furnish IA direct highway to the river, the
city and the Gulfuf T%riiuantepec on the Pa
cilic. The topography of this isthmus has
been investigated with some care: it might,
indeed be unwisc 10 begin practical opera
tions without a fresh and thorough survey;
but enough is known TO Ienderit quite GER
tain that the communication can be opened
without unreasonable expenditure Of labor
or money.
The width ofthc isthmus. from the mouth
of the HuasacuaIco on the Mexican gulf to
is aboute one hundred and thirty five miles.
The central mountainous chain, which con-
formally to its relative position throughout
both Americas, is much nearer TO the Pa
cifc than to the Atlantic ocean, exhibits
here a depression which continues from
SANTA Mlriu P0tnpa TO Miguel de Chtaia-
pa, for 4 distance OF about twenty-five miles
a summit-lcvcl or plain is formed whose
streams flow north, and whose boundaries
at the south and southeast are a chain OF
small hills called Ccrros (highlands) Of
Masnkna, and of Espsnosa, which scperate
the waters flowing north from those flowing
south, and between which, here and there.
are passengers, such as the POrfiNo( gate )ut
NirOM and the PortHeJ Tariff. Streams
starting from this space of depression in the
great mountainous ridges, and running norM
empty themselves in the Huascualo; those
running souM empty themselves in the Chi.
capa, which in the turn discharges itselfin.
to the lakes east of Tchuantepec and it is
one or both of these rivers-Huasaculco
and Chicapa-which may be employed il
effccting the transit across the Isthmus, BY
uniting them either by a canal, a railway
or a good M~acadamised road.
This route for the junction was pointed
out by Fernando, Cortcz the conqucrer, a.
long ago as the year 1920"
A proposition, to Mexico, to settle all dis.
putes on the above terms, or on terms SINH
lar to the above, well becomes the execu.
tive agents of a great people. 1t will re
pay us without making her one jot the poor
;. er. We can, at the same time, be Just We
generous. To this amicable settlement Of
difficulties, it would seem that no impedi
ments can intervene. Here would be nc
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of empire; for a right Of
way, pcrpetually, can be given without
trenching upon her title in fec simple (if VT
may be allowed to illustrate in that man.
neI.) Tehuantepec may remain al integ'
raj portion of the Mexican confederacy
and still the permission, to construct a ca.
nal through it, may be granted to the Anne.
rican people. The East India company
and the IIudson's Bay company, not, by any
means, consisting exclusively of British
subjects, have charters similar in import
but different in time. Numerous chartered
companies, in these U. States, are crowded
with foreign Stockholders. The case
would be no anomaly, for in no sense oil
the term, could America be considered 9th.
er than a foreign stakeholder. Indeed
our own government by the Oregon treaty
permits similar rights for a limited period