The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-28
Our Relations with mexico.


The interest taken by the commercial cities
of the United States in the right of way be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans has in
duced general expression of opinion from the
press as to the duty of the Government in re-
gard to the Tehuantepec project. Some Of
these statements having been controverted, it
has led to communication emanating from the
Office Of the Tehuantepec survey, and published
in the InteIigencer Of the Oath instant. This
is followed by historical narrative in the In
felligencer of the Goth, explanatory of the facts
in regard to the subject. AS it is important to
advise the public of the precise condition of a
matter SO important, we condense from the
sources indicated, and from other authentic
documents, an exact statement Of the facts con-
nected with the original grant of the GARAY
charter, and of its recent revocation by the
Congress of Mexico.
We have heretofore stated what we conceive
to be the policy of the Government in its nego-
tiations with Mexico. We therefore leave
this branch of the subject to those to whom the
Constitution and law has committed it.
AS journalists interested in keeping the public
advised of a measure of Importance, as citizens
interested in promoting the peace and conf
dencesbetween the United States and Mexico,
the least, impolitic on the part of Mexico to re-
fuse her ascent TO the construction of work
across the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec, by the
company which has acquired right to do SO,
Ia making this statement, we expressly ds-
claim any intention to advocate the claims of
this connexion with the Pacific to the exclu-
sion Of any other. There are, we believe, nine
plans Of connexion between the Atlantic and
Pacific mentioned by HUMBOLDT, several of
which traverse Central America. We hope
that they may all be constructed, for they will
all be necessary to accommodate commerce
and TO protect it from the evils of a monopoly.
We wish, indeed, that there were no obstacle
whatsoever to an inter-oceanc intercourse. We
therefore advocate the adjustment of this as
we should of any other connection.
We now proceed to state the circumstances
connected with the grant and revocation of the
charter to GARAY.
In the month of February, 1912, Senior JOSE
DE GARAY addressed memorial to the Mexi-
can government, setting forth the advantages
to be derived from opening an nter-oceanic
communication across the Isthmus of Te-
huantepec, and asking for concession Of the
right Of way in order that the enterprise might
be undertaken. Subsequently, on the lst Of
March of the same year, SANTA ANNA, then
President of Mexico, issued a decree grant
lpcr fba IL
tain privileges and remunerations, and i'm
posing certain conditions on the grantee. A
year afterwards, Senior GARAY addressed an
other memorial to Senior BocANEGRA, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, asking to be put in possession
ofthe waste lands granted to him by the first
decree, and giving an account of the progress he
had already made. This was answered with
an order requiring the Governors of Oajaca and
Vera Cruz TO place the specified lands at the
disposal of Senior GARAY In this same year
an extension Of year was granted for the com
mencement of the work. Up to this time there
is no flaw in the title, every thing is clear and
explicit.
The charter to GARAY was never forfeited
But an extension of its term was granted by
SALAs, because portion Of the territory through
which the work was TO be constructed was,
during the war with the United States, in pos
session of foreign enemy.
Under authority of this extension GARAY
sent out party of engineers, who were engaged
In the prosecution of their work when the corps
of engineers despatched by the american com
Pany reached the Isthmus. The occupancy
and prosecution Of the work, therefore, was
continuous and uninterrupted. Moreover, the
American expedition began and finished its
work under the sanction and with passports
from the Mexican government. The recon
noissance had been completed, and the party. ex-
cept twelve or fifteen persons, had returned to
New Orleans before the Mexican government
ordered the departure of the surveying party. |
The steamer sent to Minatitlan by the company
was intended to bring off the few persons left
We certainly can see no purpose upon the
part Of the Company to complicate the rela-
lions between this country and Mexico in the
following communication from the Office ofthe
lehuantePec Company;