The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-01


As The attention Of the people OF the United States has
been recently directed TO the present aspect OF our ea
tions with Mexico, and TO the dIfcnues glowing Out OF
The Iehuanlepee giant ana y h NAM som.s
The Tehuanepec Company deem II their duty 10 place
before the public, in succnc manner as possible,
The history The grant, and he nature OF the tle which
is vested in them. :,
On The is, March, ls42 Santa Anna then President OF
The republic OF Mexico, and invested with the supreme
dictatorship, grated concession 10 Don Jose Gafay'
Mexican citizen In it he says that, g in the name OF
the supreme government, and under the most soleln
protests, he declares and promises that all ana every @
OF the concessions mentioned in The prelnseteu ue.
shall be honoraby fulfilled now and al an ulne' !,
pedging the honor and public fam OF me
maintain The protector, Don Jose de uaay 90
private individual company succeeding o. tepeIas
him, either natipes foreigners, IN me uhuis'uioeu Gu
joyment OF all the concessions granted
y The terms OF the decree OF ms dae, the government
of Mexico gave numerous important privileges, and a
large grant OF land comprising ~ hdt was vacant 'of
ten leagues each side OF the line OF communication
~ Lose Gaav for the purpose OF enabling him TO
iablish connexion by steam between the two seas,
across the sthmus OF Tehuantepec, either by railroad
water. 80 49,
issued orders to the governors OF the departments Of
Oajaca and Vera Cruz, (wihn whose limits the istbmus
is comprised) directing that Garay should be pu, pos
session OF the vacant land conceded to him by the first
decree. and that every facility should be granted for the
prosecution OF the enterprise These orders issued
by Nicholas Rravo then President OF The republic and
the same day another decree issued by the same
President, declaring that in the grant Of vacant lands
compehended all lands which had been previously
granted by the government TO natives or Foreigners, and
which renamed unilhabled and uncul,ivated.
These DEGREES executed by the local authorities,
and Garay was put in actual possession OF the lands
On The 9Th October, 1913, Santa Anna who was again
President issued decree stating that the surveys by
Garay had been concluded, and the works about to be
begun and ordering the government OF Oaaca and Vera
Cruz furnish convcls 10 the number OF three hundred
10 be employed on the work.
On the 2Slh December, 1s43 by another decree of
Santa Anna, the period for commencing the works on
he e X
pre on the Isl July, 1914, was extended TO the LIST july
ls45.
in power the country YVES exposed TO constant internal
commissions, resulting from the struggles Tor power of
different leaders, who rapidly succeeded each other in
the presidency; and in the beginning of ls45 The diff
culties with The United States had already assumed a
menacing character Garay became satisfied that the
time allowed him was insufficient for organizing
teprse of such magnitude and in June 1885, he made
application to the Mexican Congress, asking further de-
lay, soliciting additional privileges and facilities for the
Introduction OF the necessary materials and supplies and
praying that further inducements, IN the way OF exemp
ton from and imposis, might be accorded 20 per-
disposed 10 settle as colonisls on the ishmus.
A law was introduced into the Mexican House Of Rep
Iesenatiyes accordance with tie OF this appca-
ton, and passed by that body. 1t was sent to the
Senate, there referred to a committee who reported
favoraby, and the of being submitted TO the
vote OF The Senate when there occurred those
unfortunately too frequent in the history OF our neigh
boring republic.
The administration of Paroles was attacked and sub
verted by Mariana de Salas at the head OF armed
force; the Congress dissolved, and Salas took pos
session, dictator, of the supreme executive power.
This advent OF Saas mark ed by quences much
more important than those which usually accompany
the numberess pronuncamenos which have occurred IN
that country The entire system OF governments was
revoluonized The form changed from central or
consolidated into lederare one; the quotas OF con-
rbution Of the several States OF the republic fixed
the most important administrative measures organized ,
the liberty OF the press established &c. All these
ures which exist in Mexico, and this form OF gov
eminent now established there derive their origin from
nj NaIa nupn Ich bas hap hrpu
for one moment into doubt or question, except IN The
single instance which will presently be noticed
Whilst Salas was thus exercising, de taco, the su.
preme power OF the government, whilst his dictatorship
was thus unquesoned. his attention was called 10 the
law which was the eve oil being passed when the
Congress was dissolved and after examination OF the
subject he promulgated his decree OF the stu OF Novem
Der, 1885, ohseh copy Of The iap that had passed The
Merriam House Of Representatives and The eommitee Of
By the terms of this Decree the delay of commencing
the works on the lshmns was prolonged 10 The 5h OF
November ls4s. The work was actually commenced
prior that date, is established by the Official reports
OF the Mexican authorities on the isinmus.
The simple narration of the foregoing facts
ply sufficient TO establish in the most conclusive manner,
the validity oil The grant IN question: and 10 preclude the
Mexican government al this late date from raising ques
ton the subject All these DEGREES, however, formed
contract which the only paIies IN interest were the
Mexican government and OF It's own citizens, and IN
which no foreign nation would have right to interfere
and however scandaous might be the violation oil public
faith committed by conbscation OF the grant, neither
the government nor people OF the United States would
have the slightest ground for interference.
Ii becomes necessary, therefore, 10 consider IN what
government and people have acquired an IN
tees in this NATTER and the extent oil their right TO en-
force the execution OF the grant -
Ii will be tcolected that by the terms OF the conces
sion Garsy authorized 10 assign his rights 10 any
private ,nd,p,duai eomplny, natives or Jors'gntrs
He awaited himself OF this privilege and made transfers
of all his rights in the years s46 and ls47 10 MessIs
Manning Il Macintosh, English subjects residing u
Mexico This transfer duly notified 10 The Mexican
government. # fully recognised and approved ant
on the complaint of Manning Macintosh, Pfeslden
Herrera on the 9th and 10Th OF August lS4s, issued or
des governors OF Vera Cruz and OaIaca TO proven
the cutting OF mahogany the isthmus by any othe
than the English company .
In ls47. MIR. Tns,, by virtue of instructions from Mr.
Polk when negotiating the treaty OF Guadalupe Hdago
rendered fifteen millions OF dollars 10 the government
Mexico for right of way in favor OF the United States
acroes the sibmus of Tehuaniepec The commissioners
empowered by Mexico 10 treat with HIM replied thai
Mexico could not treat this subject, because she had
several years before made grant 10 one of her own c
zens, who had transferred his right. by the authorization
OF the Mexican government TO English subjects, OF wtos,
rights MeIioo could not dispose"
declaration important as this could not fail TO
awaken the attention and excite the interest of every
American citizen Mexico had declared, the most sol
emn occasion of public intercourse between nations thai
the gran, in her estimation beyond queslon-tha ils
validity admitted OF no doubt Fifteen millions OF dol
lars are offered the sale, and she replies cannot
SELL because what you want 10 buy belongs to o'hesto
English subjects" Accordingly, Mr Z. A. Hargous, q
native OF Penns vania but whose long experience IN the
trade with Mexico bad enabled him TO appreciate The i'm
mense value OF this grant, became ITS purchaser from
Manning & Macintosh, and subsequently associated
with hum. IN the prosecution Of The enterprise, company