The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-25
TIL e r EP u B Lie :
TCoMMUNIcA
Tehuantepeo NegOtistion-NO. ".


and published in the Republic of the 18th ns,an,,
did not reach me until to-day; hence l could not
have it in view when refuted the article published
on the 9th, numbered ii; and l believed that the
first which had been written on this matter was
the publication of the 2Sih of last month"; otherwise
the said article would have been examined by me,
because il is not proper in this kind Of ques tons TO
overlook any thing nor to exclude from the dis
cussion what may be sustained with very good
reasons. After reasonable discussion truth al
ways appears; and he who 10 certain of being able
to demonstrate it, does not refuse 10 anime and
closely analyse every point. make this expla-
nation for the better understanding of the subject
matter contained in the articles published down to
this time. -... .a.fa. .'r '..
The starting point of the author of the article is
two paragraphs of the letter of Mr. Fillmore to
General Arista In those paragraphs was exhibited
the aspect in which was viewed the question aris-
ing from the grant to Garay. Those who may
have read this important correspondence will re-
member the answer given by President Arista,
and will Judge if it has been satisfactory or not
From this answer, it appears that Mexico has not
failed in her plighted faith in the grant to Garay;
but the condition of is subsequent examination by
Congress involved in that contract being complied
with, the contract has become void by its own vir
tue, and not by any fault which can be imputed to
the government Of that republic.
President Fillmore wrote according to the state
ment OF facts as had been presented by the inter-
ested parties, relying on the presumption that
nothing had been omitted; but when he shall have
examined the circumstances not heretofore ex-
planned, the condition to which this grant and all
the other acts of the provisional administration of
General Santa Anna were submitted, and the
remuneration of their nationality by the holders
OF the privilege. he will have then understood the
whole force Of the truth; and the solid bases on
which are founded the measures adopted in this
matter, which had been designated with the most
injurious epithets by those who have been de-
prWed of hopes Of great protts and thus disappears
the tlattering perspective presented by specula-
ton of that kind. '....
President Arista, in one of the paragraphs Of his
letter to President Fillmore, speaking of the me-
mor OF the Minister of Foreign Affairs, says
"Every page bearing evidence that II there ID
any cause for complaint, Mexico, who has been
the victim of every kind OF outrage offensive to her
character and derogatory OF her rights, alone has
the right to complain. repeat, thar recommend
its perusal to the impartial consideration Of the
first magistrate of the nation, whose duty it ia to
decide rrevocably concerning the preservation OF
friendship with Mexico; 30 that. by reading it
without bias or prejudice, he may say, on closing
the last page, whether his convictions remain I'M
changed"
The publication of this letter is worthy of euo-
GUM, because in this manner the public ia in.
strueted, and good many things heretofore little
known are discovered. / therefore con1der that
discussion upon this matter is useful and advan-
tagcous, as il contributes to place the in its
true point OF view; 1t dssipates the shades which
conceal the TRUTH and, instead OF uncertainty and
yacilaton, the mind is fixed upon certainty and
upon proved facts. There is tribunal which al
ways decides in such disc ussions, although the
thor of the article does not find either the tribunal
or the laws and rules which guide in this matter.
That tribunal is public opinion; the laws and rules
arc those OF good criticism; and the consequence
the result OF the comparative analysis OF all the
data and arguments brought forward by both par
ties. write with the hope that all impartial, en-
lghtened, and reasonable men will decide upon
the controvcrted points, and. being convinced that
leads to another, l have thought that no.
Thing ought to appear obscure and confused Ill or
der that reason may exercise her full authority.
The tone OF some of the writings, the strong in
culpations which have been made, the uniavorable
aspect in which the conduct of Mexico has been
presented, without any good reason therefor, and
the feelings always hostile supposed to exist on the
part OF her Ctlzens, are reasons enough 10 lead to
the belief hat the object has not been to enghten
the public, but to loment prcjudices, enkinde pas
sions, and nurse hatred, which ought to be extin-
guished and put an end to, in order that the i'm
partial voice o! truth and justice might be heard
The statement l made, that had full conf
dence in the data made use of in my article, Is
censured. l have not had the presumption to
make il appear that only possessed them. All
that desired was, solely to show that they ema-
mated from pure source; that my assertions were
not gratuitous, and that, In order to be more
tain OF their exactitude, the originals might be
referred to, with which object specified the dates
particularly.
For this reason the instructive memoir written
by the Minister Of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
against which the author OF the article with such
frequency directs his attacks-ls go worthy OF com
mendation Ii the history of the facts therein re-
ferred TO be compared with the reports Of The Sen
ate of that republic of the Odd March, 1851, OF the
Chamber of Deputies of the 18th May of the same
year, and with other publications worthy Of conf
dence, they will be found entirely in harmony,
which proves that it is worthy OF entire faith and
credit and that what Is stated therein Is to be re-
lied on Since, as President Arista says to Pres-
dent Fillmore:
.'In it you will find every thng-absolutey eve
ry thing for none of the facts have been lett out,
or even exaggerated. The truth appears in all its
simplicity and nakedness."
And shall what is written by private individ-
ual, who has not before him the papers i'll relation
to this business, be worthy OF more credit than
what is affirmed unanimously and uniformly by
persons and assemblies OF so much character
those already mentioned? Is it perchance the same
thing to write an article for newspaper, in which
is noted what at once occurs, and 10 prepare the
reports of bodies respectable, whose committees
are bound to speak the truth, and no more than the
truth, to their respective chambers, being rcspon.
sible Tor what is contained in them! There is abb
solutcly comparison between the one and the
other; and, by rule of good criticism, the point
10 be pursued ia distinctly marked, 50 as TO form
correct Judgment. The author OF the article knows
what, on the proof OF witnesses, is the value Of
the deposition OF single person, when in contra
diction many others are brought forward, cspe-
ciay under the circumstances just indicated.
In nowisc is the merit If the memoir dimin-
ished, which has been brought forward with the
object to sustain the rights and just causes Mexico
has for not recognising the existence of Garay's
privilege nor the legitimacy of the transfer, be-
cause the reasons set forth cannot be considered
simple appeal, cE parte, as libel, such any of
the liugant parties might produce in suit as APP
pears to be the judgment formed OF il by the author
of the article it is document of another class of
other circumstances, in which, considering who it
is that speaks and to whom 1t ID addressed, il must
be believed that it is based upon certain facts pre-
scnted with purity and without any Disguise
Communicating these facts is act OF pru-
dcnce and of self Defence and for that the govern
mcnt is not to be ccnsured, because it ia a inca ms
of which every enlightened nation makes use
when it adopts any resolution in important sub
| iects presenting the motives and reasons which
have induced it to such action in order to justify
its conduct in the eyes of the whole world; because
every nation is jealous Of its good name its honor
dignity, and decorum, and no nation likes to ap.
pear worthy OF ccnsurc, and acting in n manner
dshonorabie to her.
Attention has been strongly attracted heretofore
to the Issuing Of the decree of the 22d May 1851
by the questions touching the grant to Garay; and
although all the proceedings in this matter were