Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-26
THE TEHUANTErE AFFAIR.

Il
Railroad Company has communicated to the New
Orleans Courier some information on the subject Of
the Tehuantepec expedition which presents its
object in very different light from that in which
it has been viewed by some of the newspapers.
| 1t appears, according to the statement of the
Secretary, that the steamer United States, which
left New Orleans some days ago for the mouth Of
the Coatzacoalcos, carried out only her crew and
coal sufficient for the trip; and that the sole object
of the trip is to look for Major BARNARD and few
other members of the Exploring Expedition, who
are still at the Isthmus. The captain Of the steam
er, it is stated has formal order 10 comply with
all the requirements of the Mexican authorities, in
order to avoid a conflict; and, as to the five hun
dred workmen called for by the Company in a
public advertisement, to commence the work Of
gubbing and grading, it is understood that they are
not to be sent until the present difficulties are set
tied, and only with the consent of Mexico.
In the New York Courier and Enquirer of Mon
day last we find the following remarks on the
subject, which, though written without know
ledge Of the facts above stated appear to us to be
sensible and seasonable
II strikes that we, wise people, have business
get Aasteed with this Tehuantepec affair, which some Of
our brother journalists making much ado about We
can't that Mexico has yet done much wrong in
respect We quite sure all events that she has not
pacsed upon any bad faith done any thing that should
disturb friendly relations toward her. The facts, when
dvaed of all urpusags and exposed just they
ply these The Mexican Govenment granted 70 one Garay,
Frenchman the exclusive and yet transferable privilege Of
constructing canal railroad from Coatzacoacos on the Gull
Tehuantepcc the Pacific coast upon certain conditions.
asy failed to meet those conditions and his grant, in
sequence expressly annued by the Mexican Congress-
The Fenchman however, disposed of his grant company
of Southern capitalists and through their agency PROPOSE
on in the shape Of treaty, made to the Mexican Gov
eminent, renewing the charter, and pedgng, certain
TERMS faith Of Mexico and Of the United States to main
tain it nvoate against each other and the world The treaty
accepted by the Presidents of both Republics but the
Senate Of the United States and the Congress of Mexico have
neither Of them yet ratified it. The latter in fact has not
had the opportunity, since the treaty did not reach the
Mexican capital in to receive the dehnve action OF
the Congress before it's adjournment It, however, is very
well known that Of it's provisions excited the most en-
phatc opposition The treaty has not yet been rejected and
in be before the meeting Of the Mexican Congress
in January EVENT. it had been rejected, the circum
would have given ground for quarrel or even
complaint The Mexican Congress would have only done
what the very fact Of presenting he treaty. implied had
a perfect right to do
But it is said that bad faith has been practised upon the
Tehuantepec surveying expedition We have yet to learn
wherein President ARIsTA after asserting to the treaty
himself not doubling presume, its final rat6caon au-
hozed Major BARNARD and his assistants to make
the projected ehuanpec route, and instructed the Gov
of Vera Cruz and Oaaca 10 lend every facility to
this object It, however, became doubtful whether
the Mexican Congress would confirm the treaty that the
Mexican President felt called upon reract the license he
had granted and await the action of that body The expe
diton however proceeded They landed at the Coatza-
1 hy he and
Notwithstanding il s not port of entry They deliberately
work upon their survey and in spite Of several
energetic taken TO prevent them FINALLY they Ie-
ceved perempoy ORDERS quit the country as has been
said but to suspend their operations and soldiers
dispatched TO enforce the prohibition The surveying party
heeupon returned home, and their employers now advertise
for five hundred labores to and commence the road
Our New Orleans friends be as ardent ABOUT the mat
ter as Southern sun can make he but fear their in
dgnant zeal is ourunnng their sober discretion The Mex
can President had perfect right revoke his permit
the expedition grant originally and though that revo-
cason all It's strictly carried out
would have involved the company in loss Of all its preim
nary expenditures it certainly does not furnish ground for
complaint the expedition, according its statements
completed defiance Of the Mexican authorities all of the
material parts of the survey The present effort to follow up
what already been done by decided aggression originates
far less, believe in Of injured right than in
empuous spirit towards poor, weak, distracted Mexico but
have apprehension of its receiving the sanction Of
| Government.
II is idle say that the present attitude Of Mexico upon
this question the result of foreign interference for there
proof of it. 1t is perhaps unfortunate for that our
Minister who negotiated the treaty, and who is known to
small influence in Mexican counses affecting the
interests of this country should have been long detained
from his post by sickness; and it would not be surprising If
that European suggestions should have had more
than their proper weight But there evidence Of any
improper intermeddng Mexico has in fact always mani
tested strong dsust Of the policy of allowing strangers
this right Of way her territory She expressly refused
have such grant incorporated in the treaty Of Guadalupe
Hidago She burdened the original Garay charter with
numerous restrictions and conditions and svailed herself
afterwards Of every legitimate opportunity to make them yet
more stringent ana eectua This misgvng upon the part
Of Mexico matter for wonder There is doubt that
the proposed line Of the shmus Of Tehuanepec
would be Of great benefit to both Republics SO far relates
to the primary object II would considerably facilitate
access to California, and would impart business life to
1 Southern Mexico such it now knows nothing Of But
need be surprised that the Mexcans, who have already
taken quite memorable lessons the AngoSsxon
croachng propense should seriously question WHETHER after
ALL in granting this perpetual right Of way, they not
giving their cowdng neghbo foothod from which it may
hereafter be very easy supplant him II is very cer
tain would grant to England any similar right of
way territory to her possessions north Of Yet
without hope that the negotiations which have
been long pending this subject between country
and Mexico will reach favorable iesue The mutual ad-
vanages are material and obvious that
effort will be spared establish treaty which shall embody
every needul security both Mexico and the company, and
which shall give substantial satisfaction both This result
should be obtained only by avoidance part Of all
display Of aggressive domneering spirit, and such
scrupGous regard of national rights and duties knows
distinction between physical weakness and strength There
is yet conceive for ndgnation and the less
manifest Of 1t under the circumstances the better for
credit and chances Of final At all events, II
L. IA,shf