The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-26

who set themselves In direct hostility TO the govern
ment, demanding instant and sweeping measures OF
reform, which might be pernicious to the common
prosperity.
The recent trials in New Orleans may create some
little chagrin and disappointment in the minds OF
Spanish statesmen; but their failure TO produce
conviction should not be deemed any test Of public
opinion with respect to the pratical expedition Of
Lopez. Foreigners cannot Judge so well We can
of the real character Of public opinion, as it
is distilled through the press, through public
speeches, through private conversations, and the
other various Of publicity 1t is usually slow
in making its appearance and in settling down into
a fixed and substantial element; but it is sure to
take shape In this case, it is doing So and though
our government commenced at the wrong end Of the
case they were to manage, yet, with regard to the
position ofthat case there not two opinions.
Lopez was the head and front of the offending, in
the invasion Of Cuba. lie it was who gave name
and action to the affair, and upon his own words
uttered at Savannah, he could have been convicted
but for the bungling manner in which the govern
ment have managed, or rather mismanaged, the
| whole business They have done worse than Van
! Barren did in similar state of things when Mac
kenzie under the action of the laws; and Hunton,
of New Orleans, committed sad error in taking
! hold of and making a show of individuals least
connected with the revolutionary project of Lopez,
and of persons who may be considered US having
scarcely come within the renotest construction Of
the law. On the laundering of the government,
and not on the character Of public opinion, must
rest all the odium arising from the failure Of the
trials in New Orleans.
However, We trust that new views and more ac-
curate knowledge the value of our commercial
relations with Cuba, will be awakened by what has
occurred during the last twelve months, and that
our general political position will teach that we
have had enough of territory annexed to the United
States to last at least for century to come. The
last acquisition of New Mexico and of California,
almost rent the eonfederaey in twain before we
could arrive at the principles by which we could
bear the new load, and satisfy the hungry clamor
of the ant-slayery voice throughout the free
States ANY further attempt at annexation would
bring about terrible disruption of our political
state as a unity, and lead on to eventual ruin. On
this account we all colonies and States
on this continent or near it, that they SAFE SO
far ms the people of the United States concerned
No enlightened man-certainy no lover of this
country and our Union--dreams Of further annexa-
ton. Still, while this is the positive and settled
7
that the benefits arising from the rapid and free
interchange Of products not to be neglected
II is important to extend our commercial relations
everywhere and to add to own prosperity, while
we increase the prosperity of the whole world, by
facilitating the great impulses of commerce, upon
which the wealth of individuals and of nations,
in this age, depend. On this account, we perceive
in the visit of Henry Clay to Cuba, and 10 similar
social interchange Of good fellowship, the harbn-
gers Of suspicious days for all countries which
trade and commerce cement, and we hope that
every such social event will lead to those closer ties
ofrelatonship between great commercial countries
hereafter to be remembered daily in an increase
Of the mutual happiness and prosperity Of the peo
pie who encourage them 1t is in the attrition Of
the minds of great Statesmen of different countries,
that the Of society will find their best Sc
curity, and the means for the true enjoyment of
the products Of their industry, made profitable by
wise legislation.
THU FORFEITURE or THE TEHuANrEPEc GRANT
OTHER MEXICAN GEASrs.-The information
which copied yesterday from the New Orleans
Data. ia relation to the forfeiture Of the Tehuante-
pee grant, seems to be confirmed by private adj
vices The published accounts state that the Mexi-
can Senate, in secret session, declared Jose dc
Gsrays grant of the right of way the lsthmus
Of Tchuantepec, null and void, he having forfeited
the same twice.
The Senate Of Mexico appears to have been
much engaged, Of late, with public grants Of ter
ritory 10 individuals. At first we were inclined to
suppose that all the rumors from Mexico, in rela-
ton to the senatorial action, referred TO the
grant; hut il turns out that public grants have
been under discussion-the one ibeing the Tehuan-
tepec grant to Garay, by the federal government of
Mexico, and the other the grant, by the State Of
sonora. 70 Baron Rubio, and others, for the public
lands within that state.
The grant to Garay, for the Tsthmus Of Tchuante-
pee, wa made in the year ls,2, by General Santa
Anna, President Of the republic. The grant by the
state II sonora, to Baron and others, was made
within the lat year Ii il possible that the latter
J. the richest donation in lands ever made knowing
IN America, to any private company of indi-
,iduals. The rlacers Of Sonora are reputed to be
richer and far extensive than those Of Cali
fornia. In the last century, the most productive
gold mine in all the Spanish dolninions was there
worked.
one II the questions Of dispute between the
Federal and state governments Of Mexico, and
which l. as yet undecided. is in relation to the
ownership Of the public Lands lying within the
respective states. These arc claimed by both, and
both make grants Of them. This has led to much
litigation, and retarded colonization. The last re-
port of senior Laeunza, Minister Of State, to Con-
grc.s. discusses the question at great length, in
which he endcayors to prove that all the public
land. belong to the general government. On this
ground, the state grant in Sonora has been an
nullsd.
The Tchuantcpec grant has been declared null
and Void because the conditions Of the contract UNI
der which it made have not been fulfilled. Garay
was required to open the route within certain
number u years, which be was unable to do. lie
then applied for an extension Of the time, which
was granted; and stl further xtension was again
applied FOR. These extensions have been pronounced
an unwnrrantable exercise Of illegal authority and