The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1851-10-21
The Mystery Of Tehuantepec.
BY CORA MONTGOMERY.
Indiana State sontinel.

1
There is a strange cloud of mystery ha ogin
over the suifoca,ion Of the Tehuantepec treaty
which certain leading men of both palties ar
equally unwilling TO attack--and for the GOO
reason las they are but too conscious that III
uplifting Of tho veil would reveal far too nucl
10 an astonished couutry.
The immeEse-the unparalleled value to th
United Stales Of short, controllable highwa,
TO the Pacific, with prompt COMMUNICATIVE
with Oregon and California, occupied some at
Icntion during the quesuoa Of Annexation
and on the induction OF MIR. Folks Cabinet
some free conversations on the special impor-
tahoe Of the Isihmus OF Tehuantepec. were
had with Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Bancroft, a:
well as the President. Thus early was the at.
ieuton of that Cabinet called 20 the subject
and il was believed that The right Of way ts
the Pacific would be secured before the close
of Mr.. Polk's Administration, by fair and de
! finite treaty with Mexico. and to the great anc
manifest advantage Of both nations. The pc
culia. circumstance OF the outlet Of the Tahu.
| antepec route falling into our own enclosed sea
(for such in fact, OF naiional power is the Gull
of Mexico,) where ii would lie forever unde
| cover OF our own steam marine, was not les:
urgently dwel! upon than its aIluring vicinity
TO our ports, and the great gain 10 the brevity
Of transit. California was not then ours. but
we dreamed Of its possession with believing
forethought, and Oregon was already claiming 9
a closer care from the Mother Union. To
these, as well as TO the fisheries of the South
ern Ocean, and the trade Of the Asis,c wor Id
Tehuantepec was The golden gate. When il
should be opened to US, the sceptre of com
merce fell at our feet, aod this Republic stood
forth the admitted power of the earth. 1t is
grievous that party jealousies, and the mean
IF ab
so long the enjoyment of this imperial gift
The concession of the Revolutionary Presi-
dent Saas, and the confirmation Of Santa An
na Of charter 10 Senor Garay for Canalling
the Isthmus. was presented by Mexico as an
objection 10 Government negoeiation; and the n
the war intervened. During the war, but while
peace was daily expected, some American
citizens and some Irish capitalists, wished
TO embark Ia the splendid enterprise OF
openisg this way. On the part Of these, il
was inquired distinctly Of President Polk,
whether our government would respect and
protect such an investment. His answer was
manly and direct The Government Of the
United States looked to the acquisition Of the
right of way through that important section as
one Of the most precious compensations Tor
the war, and was exceedingly anxious TO secure
il literally and beyond dispute TO our citizens,
with individual interests or the righls Of the
Mexican nation. Mr.. Buchanan manifested a
yet livelier interest, aud a more anxious study
into the capabilities of the route and the stu
alton of the conflicting interests. There was
no doubt that the right Of way to tho Pacific
was prominent and steady object 10 that
statesman's policy, and as such held its place
10 the Instructions TO the agents.
la the winter of lSi6-'47, tho question
was propouuded TO Gen. Almonle, and some
others Of the soundest and ablest jurists OF
Mexico, as TO the validity of the exclusive
chartei to Garay; and the reply was this: IL,
at first, some formalities were wanting, in con-
sequence Of the revolutionary and unsettled
state of the country, they were subsequently
legitimated, and the charter made valid by the
recognition OF the existing and actual authori-
ties OF the country, and by the action Of the
granted 10 making his surveys aud preparing
for the prosecution OF the work.
The existence OF an individual right or char
ter being thus fer settled, Gen. Almonte was
invited to negotiate for the purchase Of two
thirds, or at least one half, Of the Garay inter
est, which, ir obtained, was TO be put in shares,
and the work set about in earnest, by the A
merican and Irish capitalists who made the
proffer. No Mexican, of any influence or
character, objected TO this arrangement; for il
did not attain the honor or sovereignty, while
il insured rank TO the nation and revenue to the
people OF Mexico But suddenly a clamor
was raised, and the suspicious of the Mexican
government were industriously directed against
tho ag snts Of American buyers, under the alb
surd pretext OF their being spies. A little sft-
ing seemed 10 fix tho origin Of these danger
Gus attacks on the British Consul, whom it
was soon ascertaiped beyond denial was pur-
chasing Garay's interest himself, and laboring
TO procure the interpostion Of England If the
United States should attempt 10 claim the
right of way without compounding with him.
ln brief, the American negotators were foil
ed. The British Consul had substituted him
self for the original grantees, and for the Mex
ican Government and for time the participa-
ton Of any share 10 this noble undertaking
was denied to our citizens.
The wonder and the mystery lies deeper
than this however. The shutting out Of indi-
vidual Americans from sharing 10 the constfuc-
ton and profits Of the highway across the 18TH
mus did not necessarily shut out the people ol
| the United States from using and protecting
this peerless, this necessary artery OF trade and
communication. By whose default, by what
trick Of diplomacy was this precious advantage
ri6ed from our victorious hands! Tha, ques-
lon is covered with dark veil, but some faint
outlines OF the truth are dimly traced behind
1
it. By negatives it is proved that some whose
duty lay clearly before them have strangely
overlooked il, even il we presume them inca
pable Of be'rayine 1t. Only this is certain thai
the Cabinet through all March of AZ stood
well informed of the interference of the Brit
sh Consul in the city Of Mexico. and that il
was explicit in its instructions 10 is agents 10
that city, "never to lose sight Of such desira-
bic object as The right Of icdy." In February
Of that year, Mr.. Black, the faithful and vigi
LIANT representative Of the American interests
there, knew and notified his government that a
peace party existed and advised the early ap
pearance OF an accredited agent with the out
lines OF definite treaty, in order TO press III
acceptance at the moment Vera Cruz yielded
TO our arms. On this. Mr.. Tiis, was despatch
ed, but 10 the interval between this and his ar
rival, an intimate friend Of the British Consu
publicly declared, that il was resolved not tt
| M faI na ANA 10 IN a