The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-10
views entertained in that important quarter upon

the great crossing at Tehuantepec as the means Of
building up the South and establishing for il
what of the independence much require, we
have been recently at some paine 10 learn wnat are
the existing rights and powers to construct IT,
"In the year IS4S the right to connect the oceans
at Tchuantcpec was granted by Mexico to Garay,
citizen of Mexico, with power to assign his right
either to citizens Of Mexico or forcigncrs BY the
terms Of the grant TO Garay he or his assignee was
beginning was extended by the Mexican govern
| ment. Garay sold his right TO the Engish house
Of Manning & Mcintosh, and they transferred to
Mr.. Hargons, an American citizen, now residing
in New York. Others, citizens OF the United
States, have become associated with MIR. Hargous,
and all the rights granted By Mexico are az this
day the property OF citizens Of the United States
united in New Orleans into company, known as
the Tehuantepec Railroad Company Of New Or
leans. This company, within the extended time
| allowed by Mexico, began tho work in good iaitb.
They sent large scientific party under MajeT
Barnard, of the United States Engineers, with
passports4br protection ssued by Mexican author
ity, and that party has made a survey. The re-
suits Of their lahore may DC seen IN volume re
Gently published by the company, from the press of
Appleton & Co., OF New York, complied by J. J.
Williams.
."The party, about the time OF completing their
survey, ordered out Of the country by the gov
ernment of Mexico, although, We have said,
they went there with Mexican passports for their
protection. And more recently the Mexican Con-
grcss, with faithlessncss which no other people
could exhibit, has declared that the assgnees
Of Garay have right to carry on the work.
"ltis matter Of history, notorious over the world
| that when MIR. Trist went to Mexico, during the
late between and that country, as he agent
OF Government, to negotiate treaty Of peace,
| he authorized to offer, and did oicr, hiieen
millions of dollars TO Mexico for the right Vt transit,
SC, over the Isthmus of Tchuantepec. lie was in
| formed by the Mexican commissioners that Mexico
had already granted away the right, and therefore
had no power to accept the offer OF the Unittd
| States. And in the face of this fact Mexico now
pretcnds that the citizens of the United States, wEo
the legal assignees Of Garay, have no right.
The reports OF the Houses Of the Mexican Congress
place the shameful attempt to rcpudate the solemn
grant of Mexico on the ground that the Mexican
decree ofcxtcnsion Of time before referred TO was
issued without authority. The decree was granted
by Salas, who held the supreme power In hex-
leo just as Santa Anna held it when he made the
grant in 1912 to Garay. II is enough to say, that
every act Of Salas stands at this day as an ac-
knowledged part OF the law Of Mexico, without any
special subsequent law to give vitality to his acts,
except this particular decree extending time TO
Garay. And the very repudiating Congress- itself
.has annullcd law OF the State OF sonora, on the
ground that il violated the decree OF Saias on the
subject Of colonization Wasevcr national basencss
exhibited? 1t will scarcely be credited and yet
il the fact that this fathless Mexican Congress,
by the report Of its Senate committee, has had the
temerty and folly to say that as they had feared,
il has become apparent that American Citizens
have the privilege Of crossing, and using every
effort ito obtain the protection OF their Govern-
ment, in order 10 secure the success Of the work,
and the removal Of all obstacles TO its complexion
"lt seems, then, go long the rights granted 10
| garay were held by the English house OF Manning
x Mcintosh, the Mexicans considered themselves
| esoppcd from treating with the United States, !,
though the tempting offer of 8 ,00O, geo was held
] out, but the moment il was placed beyond doubt
that the citizens OF the United States had purchased
| from the English house, the matter assumed an
| other and different color.
"We rejoice, Of course, that the New Orleans
| company has o Government to look 10 Tor protec-
tion-a Government which can. IL need be, coerce
| Mexico to respect their rights. We have un-
| bounded confidence in the ability and the desire OF
the presen Administration TO protect citizens,
| and the whole power Of our Government 10 procure
and establish their rights. There are many faets.
| and there has been some diplomacy touching ibis
| subject, which cannot advert 10 now lest We
/ tire our readers. We doubt not the Administra-
| tion is now engaged in negotiation with the Mexi-
ican republic in reference TO it. We cannot with
hold the expression of our anxiety however, TO zee
| the matter pressed with the utmost vigor. We
| fear the perfidy Of the Mexicans, We know their
proncness To delay. We fear the hatred which
they feel towards the cizens Of this Republic, and
the sooner they taught how properly TO ap
preciate us, the better. We would not have our
Government at once TO place its foot upon the neck
of weak republic. but we feel that there Is point
beyond which the weakness Of Mexico should no
| longer be protection 20 her
Il N .NAIl