Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-10-02

wished to embark in tie splendid enterprise of opening
ihs way. On the part oil these, II was inquired dis
tInctly of President Polk, whether our Government
weud respect and protect such investment. HIS an
swer was manly aud direct. The Government of the
United States looked tie acquisition of the right
way through that important section of the most
precious compensaOns Tor the war, and exceeding
y anxious 10 il literally and beyond dispute to
our citizens which, however he tIouehi need not inter.
ere with individual interests the rights of the Mex
can nation. MIR. Buchanan manifested vet liyelier in.
erest and anxious study into the capabilities
the route and the situation OF the conflicting. interests
There doubt that the right of the Pacific
was prominent and steady Object in that satesman's
policy, and such held its place in the Instructions
then agents.
In the winter Of lS46-47 the question was PROFOUND.
ed to Gen Almonte and other of the snundest and
aest lurIsts oi Mexico, the validity of the excu-
sve charter TO Garay; and the reply this: II, at
hrst, some iormalties wanting consequence ol
The revolutionary and unsettled of the country,
'hey were subsequently, e2liimated and the charter
made valid by the OF the existing and actual
authorities OF the country, and by the action of the
grantee IN making his surveys and preparing for the
! prosecution oi the work.
The existence of individual right charter being
thus lar settled, Gen. Amonte invited negotiate
Tor The purchase OF twotlrds. least one-ha OF
the Carry interest, which, ii obtained, be put
shares, aud thc work about n carucst by the Amer
ican and Irish pit tlists who made the roficr No
Nj Xican, of influence character objected 10 this
arrangement; for il did MT atiint the honor
regniy, while IL insured rank the nation and
the people of Mexico But suddenly clamor ras-
cd and the suspicious of the Mexican Government
ndustrously directed against the agents of American
yers under the absurd pretex of their being spies.
little sitting seemed fix the origin of these danger
o"s attacks an the British Consul, whom it
eertaned beyond denial purchasing Gaays interest
himself, and aborng To procure the inter position
England II the United States should attempt 10 claim
the right of way without conPounding with him.
In brcl, the American negotiaors were oiled. The
British Consul had substituted himself for the original
grantees, and Tor the Mexican Government; and for
Time the participation of any share in tins noble under
taking was denied to our citizens
The wonder and the mystery lies deeper that this
however. The shutting out of individual Americans
from sharing in the uction and profits oil the high
way across the sihmus did not necessarily shut out The
people of the United States from using and protecting
his peerless this necessary artery Of trade and eommu
uIcallOn BY whose default by what trick ol diploma
this prccious advantage rhed om victorious
han Is! That question is covered with dark veil but
some faint outlines of the truth are dImy traced behind
IT. By negatives it is proved that whose duty lay
clearly before them have strangely overlooked
II we presume them incapable OF betraying 1t. Only
this is certain that the Cabinet through a March oil
lS47 sfond well Informed of the interference of the
British Consul in the city of Mexico, and that it
explicit in its Instructions to It's agents IN that city,
" 10 lose sight cf such desirable OF CT the right
IF rGJ" In February Of that year. Black, the
faithful and viCant representative oil the American IN
teresis there knew and notified his government that
party existed and advised the early appearance oil
edited agent with the outlines of definite
y in order TO press its acceptance at the moment Vera
Cruz YIELDED to arms On this Mr.. Trst was de-
>patched, but in the interval between this and his arri
val, intimate friend of the British Consul publicly de-
clared, that resolved not to permit the Americans
gain the pass of Tehuantepec footing therein;
that II. b. Nj. CunsuPs deeply interested, both as
of the British and proprietor IN the
Saray grant tn prevent ~ and that he would prevent
n. Gel Scott and Com. Perry were both noiihed ol
he value of the right oi way and warned not 10
iromi>e it, and the Commodore in particular,
i've and infereSte in The protection of iooihod
here. What Mr.. TIist has done left undone, is
nldesl in the silent rccesses of the State Department
hut unfortunately, his friendly confidence other
.ause threw hn hcadlong into the embraces Oi the
British Consul, and he was induced to forget the prin
.ipal interest he was sent guard The negotiation
went as fast as the British Consul Mr.. Trst and
Gen couli hnnt down and pen up at Qacretero
The frightened disbanded and irregular Mexican
rrnment. Mr.. Macintosh became the army banker AT
magnificent per centa9c, and Gen. Scott per-
>rIaded 10 lend his and military powei TO aid ia ri
pening the most unaccounralle and The unIortu
sanctioned 10y the seal of the Union
| The instructions ni his government, and the cont
SONS Of peace revised ia. the banking of the
Consul, and the clanse of Tehuantepec was boldly
struck oui 10 make room Tor an indirect gut oi nan v
snlen valley of Sacramento to Ills friend Mcnamara.
Aer this bold alteration, the Consul had deep inter
est in having the treaty acknowedged, and he was
quite busy Mr. Trist in gathering up the estrays
# the Mexican government. He had excellent reason
fear this cool disposal of the right of way To the Pa
chc might not please the American Cabinet, and was
naturally anxious 10 send home the changeng treaty so
tar grown that il would cmharrass President Polk to
throw il overheard. All this very well for the
Speculang British Consul-the marvels how he conid
This i sill n secret and a wonder We know they de-
parted from the wishes and instructions OF their own
noyernuasi..+serve MIR Mackntosh against their own
cnnniry---lyc ubSx fiistt not in the power oi
J Nfexia neiilcr il the work the wish of MeXi-
j -fo-lprivc us of this right Of way. We know.
h"wcver. that Mexico did lcgitmatze and the United
States did recognize the Garay charter in those negoii-
aiiOns while II stiH in The hands OF the British Con-
sui and it is more than magnanmous Ia recall
and nuy lliiy understanding at the moment our o@n
irizen pass into these rights. II should he enough to
throw away once the golden link that binds Ike a bri-
al ring The spousas of the oceans. 1t now becomes
the pressing duty of the administration moi permit
the contract which is now held by American citizens to
he violated with impunily In case of snch national
gntnde the best highway tn the Pacific. there u
no space for iriing- for tmidity The peo-
Pile of every State in the Unon who have anything 10
uv anything sell. have right to exact from the
President instant and manly action. There is no ex-
cuse for this empty and solemn Of mystery, when
great interests in peril. and Americcn statesmen
should permit them become the foot ball OF Mex
lean trickery, or British diplomacy.