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

a contract profitable TO the grantee, and en-.
force one which was ruinous. Under such a
doctrine public spirit must be discouraged and
enterprise must disappear.
Let US offer an illustration Of the difficulty
which may result from the revocation Of this
charter to Mexico herself
We observe that under authority of Con-
gress the President of Mexico offers to con-
tractors the privilege of building railroad from
Vera Cruz to the city Of Mexico, and thence
to some port on the Pacific, with such branches
as may seem convenient to other towns. The
privilege and conditions TO contractors are similar
to those granted to GARAY. Is it probable that
a. citizen or foreigner would devote his capital
and energy TO the construction Of this work if his
privileges can be revoked, his charter apnulled,
and the grant, rendered more valuable by his
labors, given or sold to another vendee2 If
such privilege could be sold to persons suffi-
GENTLY credulous-revoked by discretion of the
Government-and resold to others, right of
way judiciously retaiIed might enable go
vernment to obtain its construction at very
small cost, since every successive contractor,
finding much Of the work done by his unfortu-
nate predecessors, would undertake for less com
pensation the completion of the work. But
| there are other reasons why we regret that
Mexico should have annuled the grant Of the
American company.
| The company has purchased the grant, and large
sums have been expended in the prosecution of
| the purchase. The connexion with California has
been regarded as an important object. The city
| Of New Orleans desires to be placed upon the
| great line of Pacific trade 1t is subject of
great public moment. There was no disposition
to resist the jurisdiction of Mexico, or to Dust
her possession. There was every disposition to
maintain her government, because the title to
the grant would have depended upon the au-
thority of the country which gave it, We fear
that the unexpected revocation of the charter.
after the treaty recognition, will engender feel
ngs inconsistent with the comfy which
should exist between cotermnous and
friendly nations. Nor is the concluding
paragraph of the communication in the htelL-
gencer without significance. eff the American
company should be exasperated into a forc-
bic maintenance of their riphts.u conse
quences Of a character to be deprecated bv
every friend of order may arise. These may
be more readily obviated by frank and cordial
adjustment between the diplomatic authorities
OF the two countries, whilst international har-
mony exists, than hereafter. The United States
has proven itself magnanimous in war, Just
in peace. 1t will carry out its known doctrines
of neutrality with fidelity uninfluenced by
the weakness or strength of the nations with
whom she may deal. She has everywhere
enforced her treaty stipulations faithfully;
she Will continue to do SO. But the Gov
eminent would not control the spirit of
universal admiration of free and constitu-
tional governments. 1t cannot repress the de-
termination of other States to adopt those forms
of government which have elevated us as
people. Foreigners flock to the Union as to
an asylum; the principles and prosperity of our
Government are themes of universal admit
ration and adoption. The demonstrated pro
blem of civil land religious freedom is conned
and copied all over the world The mission of
America to liberate mankind by the force of ex-
ample, is as manifest as the rays of the risen
sun. Whilst, therefore, the duty Of our Govern
ment viii be sorupulously performed, it cannot
but regard with just pride the universal re-
cognition and progress of those adsaitaOfe prin-
'cfples Of repuDlican freedom upon which its adj
mitted superiority is based. Moreover, the
whole commercial world now looks to a con-
nexion across the Isthmus, through Central
America, and the whole commercial world has
never undertaken any object without sue
cess. If, then, Mexico desires to secure the
integrity OF her own dominions against any
possible danger of innovation or dsmember
ment, would it not be wise to conciliate the con-
hdence of our people by a just and libe |
raj negotiation recognising their rights, and
thus to obtain the aid and guarantee of gov |
eminent whose prowess and whose probity has |
been established Mexico should remember |
that she snot the only holder of the right of way:
that the successful establishment of canals or |
railroads across the Isthmus will be attended
with large and immediate increase of popu- |
lation and value to Central America and
the day may come when Mexico will see
that the innovations and invasons of the GEN.
trail States might have been prevented bv
the very means which is now asked by the |
American claimants. We have written this
article as journalists interested in the prosperity
and peace of our country. We have spoken of |
the Tehuantepec treaty because its title is in
dispute, and is like to be source of national
difficulty. We make no comparison between
1t and other connexions across the Isthmus.
for 1t is not our purpose to disparage others.
We would have urged similar line of argu-
ment in behalf of any other if the same conse-
quences be involved.
What we have written is intended to pre-
pare the minds of the people Of Mexico and of
the United States for an impartial and dispas
slonate consideration of this important question.
We may hereafter revert to the subject. to
prove the importance to both countries of OPEN
ing and completing this and other important
connexions between the Atlantic md Pacific
More "Non-Intorvontion.,'
The Union, indignant at our exposure of ito