The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-02
The Tchuentepec Report.

The report of the Senate Committee OF
Foreign Relations in relation to the Tehuante-
pee affair is State paper drawn with ability, and
honorable for the American position which it has
taken. The resolutions are distinct and en-
phatic, adopted, as we learn, with entire unan-
unity by the committee.
This action, emanating from the Democratic
statesmen who are at the head Of the commit
tee, shows that the course Of the Administration
upon the subject of Tehuantepec has met the
approval of enlightened antagonists, and that
upon a great proposition, affecting the rights
of our citizens and the honor of our country,
there Is no division of parties.
The lucid reasoning of the report shows the
legal rights of those who have purchased the
RIGHT of way across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec
to be indisputabe.
1t shows that il, after the repeated recogni-
ton of those rights, Mexico shall be permitted
to disavow her own declarations, there can be
no obligations of national faith strong enough
to bind her; and that if we are bound by our
contrasts according to the law and faith of ma
tons, whilst she can review and repeal her own
obligations without responsibility, all treaty
obligations with her must be snare and
delusion.
1t so happens that. IL the action of the Senate
committee, not only is the great duty OF the
Government to protect the rights Of its citizens
INDICATED, but rights of the utmost consequence
to the American people are maintained.
We all have common interest in Calitor-
MIA and our Pacific settlements. The present
way of communication is attended with NOR
tally and expense. Our people 60 BY the plains,
and their march is strewed with the wreck of
their fortunes, and they arrive with nothing
but their lives and energies. In many in
stances, all that they afterwards acquire would
| be no compensation for the miseries of a five
| months journey. 49,. ..s...f
The way across the Isthmus of Panama and
Nicaragua is subject to many disadvantages.
The voyage around Cape Horn is an obstacle
which can never be obviated or improved.
Whilst, therefore, we have planted upon the
shores of the Pacific the most enlightened and
energetic colonies that the history of the world
has ever known, common sense must teach US
that there must be better means of intercom-
munication provided to preserve our connection
with them. If that is not done efficiently and
speedily, they will have every inducement to
constitute separate system; for they will be
SO far from us that il. war they would fall the
first victims; whilst in peace they must main
tain, through the routes that we have described.
commercial and political conneSion replete
with disadvantages
If, then, they shall have to protec, them
selves-by Notifications or by treaties with
other powers-from the responsibility of belong
ing to the Union, may it not occur to them that
they can manufacture as good laws at San
Francisco US can be manufactured for them in
Washington Seated upon the wayside of
that vast commerce which has governed the
world, may they not prefer constituting point
Of commercial distribution to enjoying the
mere factorage for other merchants!
Unless better means of intercourse and pro-
lection be provided by the mother States, may
we not anticipate that the men and capital of
the Atlantic New York, Philadelphia, and
Boston, will create Pacific New York. Phila
delphia. and Boston These consequences,
thus Swallowed forth, are worthy our serious
consideration, and had certainly better be pro
vided against.
The reasons, therefore, that the American
people are 50 deeply interested in sustaining
the maintenance Of the Garay grant, are, that