The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-01
n. grantees noula nol b. aeeed Without ihsir own com

sa,,s, Ia,sa ~ ihe treaty provided 'srhat the ac
ua helders the grant should ME ther assent 10 the
treaty before lis ratification by the two governments
AID In MS form The treaty concluded in Mexico be-
tween Mr. Lecher and The Mexican President and
cabinet
the Mexican government can now pretend that there
isis no grant-ihat The concession is utterly null and
void!
in this country, the holders Of the grant invited by
the Secretary OF State TO examine H. in accordance with
It's terms, and to signify their approval dissent. On
examination although satisfied with the provisions OF the
treaty. they were fearful OF future difficulties that might
arise from the ambiguity OF certain passages and declined
TO approve IT, stating the clauses 10 which amendments
The treaty was sent back 10 Mexico. In the mean
time new election for The presidency OF that republic
had been held--a new President inauguraed-a new
cabinet formed On the application for amendment OF
the treaty. the requests OF the grantees, through Their
government, favorably considered many OF them
accorded, and new treaty negotiated During this en-
tire negotiation hint thrown out not sugges
ton made, indicating the part OF either OF the two
Presidents OF Mexico or any member OF the two success
sve cabinets, doubt as to the entire validity and binding
force OF the grants and DEGREES above related nor as 10
the titles of the present holders And perhaps worthy
OF remark that they both negotiated in the city OF
Mexico by Manuel G. Pedaza, an ex- President OF that
republic. and at that lime president OF the Mexican Sen
ate.
The second treaty sent to this country for approval
and ratification and on the 18th February, 1881 he io
lowing letter was written, VIZ
DEPARTMENT STATE,
Washington, February 10, 1851.
SIR have 10 inform yon that convention between the
United States and the Mexican republic, relative 70 uan
the city of Mexico the 25h umo As its twelfth article
can pursuant to It's decree Of the s OF March,
1872 shall file his to the convention in the Office OF
ment shall be submitted United States,
you requested to call at this department. for the purpose
OF examining the convention.
DANIEL WEBSTER
To p A HARaous, esq, Washington.
In compliance with this invitation, the treaty was ex
amned by Mr. hrgous, and approved for himself and IN
behalf of the company The treaty, together loih the
titles 70 the grant, were submitted to the Senate unanl'
mOusIy approved and ratified, and the treaty was en-
crossed, signed, and returned.
In the mean time and before the treaty had been sent
back Mexico, PedraZa had died. and sudden change
have occurred in the views, opinions, and feel
ngs Of the leading OF that country Il would not be
proper al this tme to state the nature OF the influences
brought to bear the subject the parties most ac-
lively engaged IN exciting feeling OF hostility towards
the people OF this country, with the view OF defeating the
enterprise Ii sufces TO state that law was introduced
INTO the s and wnssIy 'as
November. 1916, null and void, because he had no
power TO make such decree"
This is the only action of the Mexican Congress on
the subject; and although the evident intention s TO
null the original grant made BY Santa Anna IN S42 yet
preexl could be invented for attacking it, the
miltees OF The Mexican Congress were driven in their
reports TO the Two houses 10 rely solely the ground
that Salas without the power 10 grant TO Garay de-
lay of two years for commencing his work. feeling Ger.
tam that if they could succeed in this point they would
be able afterwards TO attack the original grant the
ground that the work had not been commenced in su
cient time.
neither onnued the original grant rejected the treaty
The rights OF The company precisely such as they
were prior TO the law OF the Mexican Congress- with this
single exception that the law just passed affords pre-
text on which the government might bring sun against
the company 10 annul Its grant.
Whether the prelex thus sought by the Mexican Con-
gre he IN FL UufD ia
The subject for consideration.
II might be sufficient this point TO say that the gov
eminent OF Saas government de dco, and that the
universal principle which all civilized nations act is
consider that the government actually exercising
preme power in country is entitled to represent that
country all foreign relations. and that, its pow
usurped its acts binding would be those
of a regularly constituted government Our country,
its relations with others never undertakes to determine
whether the parties found IN session OF the sovereign
ty rightfully entitled TO IL, but treats with them
having the undoubted authority to act snd to bind the
country whose destinies are at the moment under their
control.
But the application of this general principle is not
CURED in the present and plain recital OF the his
tory OF Saass administration affords the ampest fefuta
ton OF The position now, for the first time, assumed by
Mexico.
In his pronuneian,iento, when he into power he
declared that 1.-The cessation OF all anterior pacts is inds
pensable because they are all either affected with nuy
or Tepugnant to portion OF society but the common
law which is in full force. and those rhieh Mu propts-
ionai government ioil publish WILL TO certain extent,
fill the void created by the present state Of things"
SO that, on assuming power, he declared himself au-
thorzed make and publish laws or in other words,
declared himself dictator.
After having accomplished bis purpose OF creating a
federal system OF government after causing be held an
cleo on for President, which resulted in the choice of
Santa Anna, and after convokiDg the Congress in order
10 surrender his dictatorship, he proceeded through his
Minister OF Foreign Relations, TO render account TO
4 Congress OF wha, he had done.
This minister reported TO Congress ''that the provs-
ional government OF Saas had exercised the of
the required, real and very ample dictatorship,
which lasted I'LL the publication OF the constitution
The minister then set FORTH with great mnueness in
report printed and submitted 10 Congress, all the DEGREES
rendered by Slas. Amongs, them are the following:
eecree organizing the bureau ofgeneral archives.
decree relative TO the liberty OF the press
A decree relative TO colonization.
4 decree relative TO literary property.
The deerte Of November, 1885, attending for po udrs
10 Goray the period for commencing work the stnu
1 Of Ishuanfepec.
decree authorizing popular meetings.
/ A decree concerning naturalization.
And in closing, Ne stated "thai he had called the Con-
gress together the earliest possible in order TO
put end 10 the d,ofdforiai period"
When this account was thus rendered by dictator
laying down bis temporary power IN the face OF the
sutioDal authorities, not one voice heard in Mex
in her councils in her press breathing suspicion
OF the purity OF his motives the validity of his acts
the extent and nature OF the power which he declared he
had Just exercised Ever then, the Mexican Com
gress, Executive courts Of justice and public functional
res OF all classes, have been the habit OF citing the
DEGREES of Salas part OF the fundamental law OF
Mexco nay, it will scarcely be credited that the very
Congress which declared that Saas had power to pass
the decree in favor of the Tehuantcpec grant, anned
a iow of The STATE Of Sonora the ground that II mo
lated The deere Of Saias on The subied of coonisat,on