The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-08-19
Correspondence Of the Charleston Courier
WASHINGTON, August !.


The TeIsaantepec documents, now before
the Senate Committee on foreign Affairs are
verv voluminous, and show that this Gov
eminent has taken every measure and made
every effort to obtain the right Of transit q
cross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, aud with
out success. so far. The negotiation with
the American Government on the subject
commenced in 1849 and has been brought
to close, here and in Mexico, without sue
cess. The Tehuantepec treaty, giving 70
government and its citizens the rightof tran
sit, was negotiated in Mexico, in 1880 IL
was ratified by the U. s. Senate and return
ed to Mexico, and there, after a contest OF
fifteen months, its ratification was refused Dy
the Mexican Congress. This treaty would
have guaranteed the right of citizens of the
United States to use the road, and would
have recognised the grant made by the Mex
lean Government to Don Jose de Garay, a
Mexican citizen, who transferred his rights
to the American Company (which is represen-
ted by Mr. Benjamin, of New Orleans, as
president. 1t appears from Mr. Letcher' s
statement that he failed in procuring the rat
ifcation of the treaty in consequence of the
hostile Interference Of foreigners, and his own
countrymen An American influence was
excited against the treaty The reason Of
this was that many of our citizens were in
terested in rival routes that would not be
benefited by opening of the Tehuantepec
route.
But the chief reason given for the rejec-
ton of the treaty, and the revocation of the
Garay grant, and the expulsion of the A
merican Company from the Isthmus, is the
bitter national hostility of the United States.
So deep was this feeling says Mr.. Letcher,
that Mexican friends of the Garay grant, and
even those Mexicans who were interested in
! it did not dare support it.
The fact seems to be that the feeling a.
CAST citizens of the United States is so strong
/ in Mexico, that the American Company con.
sidered it useless to go to Mexico for redress
But they say, and have publicly announced
that they are prepared to make concessions
and submit to any reasonable curtailment o.
their functions, or to take indemnity fol
their expenses and losses.
The objections made the Garay grant are en-
tirely of technical character, and arise from
national aversion, and from the influence o
adverse interests. 1t is not pretended tina
the company was not proceeding, with am
pie means, and in good faith, to execute thei
contract. They would have had the roac
open for passengers by this time, had the.
not been elected. They propose to make
common turnpike road first; then arailroad
and ultimately an inter-marine canal. Thr
work can never fall into better hands thar
the existing American Company.
The claim made upon Mexico by the Com
pany, for losses and expenses, is $685. 900
The value of the grant made by Mexico i
estimated at S3,500,000. The balance i
for actual expenses, &c.
The Senate is now to consider this subject
Some way will be ultimately found for Civ
ing this transit to the people of the United
States. The necessities of commerce anC
travel will bring it about.