Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-10-17
Zine curious Tehaantepec treaty.


porting to be a treaty between Mexico and the Uni
ted States, has found It's way 10 this remote and
mailless frontier If this sTehuanrepec Treaty. is
not the quiz of wicked wit it is exorbitanr
tax on the good natured credulity of our people /
cannot believe the Senate accept and ratiy such
tissue of pompous, high-sounding folly. So far as
is not sheer nonsense, it makes the power of this
Union, 'tbe land and naval forces of the United
Staes' the obedient servant of single individual;
nay, worse, ii crpples for all time the right arm OF
the nation in the defence of coasts by binding
her not act at all, when and where energetic ac
ton would be the first necessity of sepreServation
/ Not 10 be unfair or preciptate, will examine
in order this unique paper, which seems to bear the
signatures of Manuel c. Pedrasa, on the part of
Mexico, and R. P. Letcher, the part of the Uni
ted States, and to have been executed June 3d.
1850, in the city of Mexico.
1t must be stated, for the clear understanding of
this precious moroccan of diplomacy, that General
Santa Anna, in one of his terms of dictatorship,
granted to Senior Garay, an enterprising Mexican
gentleman, charter for the construction of ship
canal across the Isthmus of Tehuantcpec with many
and large privileges of domain, exemptions and
time Mr. Garay transferred this grant, or the chief
|
sui in Mexico Meantime, the war with Mexico in
tervened, and the late Cabinet, alive to the import
ance of securing Isthmus transit TO Oregon and
the Pacific trade which should outlet in the Gulf of
Mexico, and of course be always under the
mand Of our steam marine, necessarily made it
point in their profers and negotiations for peace,
that we should have the right of way through the
ISthmus of Tehuantepec.
1t is understood that Mr. Trst's instructions were
ample and direct on this point but without canvass
ing his motives in departing from them or General
Scott's reasons for countenancng the omission, the
right of way was thrown overheard by them Mr.
Macintosh assisted them in arranging the treaty,
and he deeply interested in having this clause
omitted for he estimated at million sterling the ex-
elusive, though legally imperfect, charter, which the
free right of way to our citizens would nufy We
will leave where found it, the unsolved question
of why this invaluable right was yielded up, appar-
emily without struggle, by our commissioners, and
pass to the treaty before us, which certainly is with
out any fellow in the State Department.
Article 1, confirms and guarantees the charter TO
Gary, but in very awkward or superlatively artfu
manner, the of the grantee is entirely sup
pressed.
Articles 2, 8 and 4, with the same curious if not
premeditaed, clumsiness, stpulate that Mexico and
the United States shall protect this genteman's
works and privileges effectively with land and ma
val forces;'' but always under the direction of
f Mexico.
Article A, particularly declares that this protec-
ton is to be rendered by the United States at the
| command of Mexico, and leaves this country no
. 4. n
subservience, the injury that may accrue TO her
other interests. ''The aid shall be rendered in the
manner and terms and only for the time which the
person making the requisition shall specify" A
somewhat vague and disreputable pledge of obedi-
ence from the sovereignty of the United States to
the service of Mr.. Macintosh, any other specu-
lator.
Articles and 6, provides mode of arbitration in
case of disagreement between Mexico and the char
ter holder, who is the third and the honorably
placed party in this treaty of treaties The United
States have nothing TO do with this, except to keep
the Gland and naval forces'' in readiness to receive
orders when in the opinion of Mexico they are
wanted. AS for example, in England and Mr.
Macintosh should have falling out with Mexico
and Mr.. Garay, and then bound to give ''ef-
fectively the protection guaranteed by the LIST and
ID articles of the treaty. to the property of the per-
son to whom the government of Mexico has con-
ceded this charter. There is lucidty of confusion
in this dcton of these stipuations, quite worthy OF
their indispensable craftsmanship.
o Article 7, imposes the duty of finishing the work
upon the charter holder, but fixes time, and re-
qures no securities 1t also forbids the sale of the
privilege TO any foreign corporation; every char
tered combination of American enterprise is shut
out of that field, with a sagacy and foresight con
sisent with the general character of the production
= Articles and 9, declare the tolls and impoStions
: which the Mexican government retains the sole
power TO regulate-shal be the same TO the people
of both countries, b,st-and this is a most significant
but-''all the products of The soil and industry OF
Mexico shall pass at rates one-6th less than those
: imposed the class of productions of the
4 United States" Besides this, Mexico retains the
right of admitting whatever other nations she peases
: TO all the privileges conceded to the United States.
Article 10, contains the of all this compo-
!, sition. Under most transparent pretence of neu-
trality for the charter-holder's line of works. and
leagues each side thereof this country is requir
ed TO lie up her hands, and under whatever circum
stances of or aggression, refrain from taking
care of this open door TO the Pacific and her western
coasts. If this anything less than the most di-
rect and necessary pathway to possessions there
this insidious proposal of neutrality would not be
traitorously absurd If it related to any distant
opposite extremes of territory, it might be
II a Al