The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-04

ample dictatorship, which lasted till the publica
ton Of the new constitution" The minister ther
set forth, with great minuteness in report printed
and submitted to Congress, all the DEGREES rem
dered by Salas Amongst them are the following
decree organizing the bureau of general
chves.
decree relative to the liberty of the press.
decree relative to colonization
decree relative TO literary property.
1Hs decree of NoUeHsber, 1916, extending for to,
gears to Garay the period for commencing tDork OF
the Isthrnus Of 1ehilantepec
A decree authorizing popular meetings.
A decree concerning naturalization.
And, IN closing, he stated "that he had called
the Congress together at the earliest possible mo
ment in order 10 put an end 10 the dicldoriGI pc
riod''
When this account was thus rendered by a die
tator laying down his temporary powerin the face
OF the constitutional authorities, not one voice
heard in Mexico, in her counsels nor in her press
breathing suspicion of tho purity Of his motives
the validity OF his acts, tho extent and nature
the power which he declared he had just exercised
Ever since then the Mexican Congress, executive
courts OF justice, and public functionares of al
classes, have been in the habit OF citing the DEGREES
oil salas as part OF the fundamental law of .Mexi
co; nay, 1t will scarcely be credited that the very
Congress which declared that Salas had no power
TO pass decree in favor ofthe Tehuantepec grant
annullsd lao ofthe StGteof Sonora the ground a
It Violated the decree II Saias the subject Of coloni
cation.
Comment on facts like these could not aid in pro
per appreciation of them. Six successive Mexican
administrations have directly Indirectly declared
the validity of the grant now held by the citizens
of the United States. Three different administra-
tions, in negotiating with this Government, have
In the most solemn manner, recognised its binding
force Whence now springs the difficulty or the
doubt? There can be but one answer. Mexico had
avowedly no control this concession, when il
belonged to English subjects. Her views of her
rights were only changed when a transfer had
been made to citizons of the United States.
That this Ia not asgratuitous assertion is appa-
rent from the report of the committee of the Mesi-
asserted that s'the fact has now become apparent
which was before only suspected, and had been the
object Of serious the enterprise has taken root IN
the United States, and the privilege is now, as has
been announced in public documents, in the hands
OF inhabitants of that nation, who using every
effort TO obtain the protection of their Govern
ment, in order to secure the success OF the work
and the removal of all obstacles to its completion y
1t is in this spirit that the officers engaged
in the survey, whose conduct, in conformity with
the instructions of the company, has been such as
to secure the friendship and sympathy of the entire
population OF the Isthmus, have been exposed to
wanton insults and outrages from the very govern
ment which had promised them aid and hospitali-
ty, and invited their presence by its passports
that, in fine, proclamation has been published
directing their expulsion from the country, and
derng troops to be sent to the Isthmus for the
forcetnent of this decree.
There is, however, yet reason to hope that better
and wiser counsels will prevail in that unhappy
country, and that returning sense of justice will
induce such action is due to the pligbted faith
Of the nation j. p. BENJAMIN,
Chairman of the Company.