The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-02
0UR RELATIONS WITH MEXICO
THE TEHUANTEPEC TREATY.
The sharp Note Of Mr.. Letcher to
the Mexican Government,

ME-. LETouER TO MR.. RAMIREZ.
Lxc ALTON or THE UNITED States or AMEN

The undersigned Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Pienpoentisry Of shs United states Of America has the
honor most resp, cuy TO Jay 10 Ills Excellency MI RAJ
mires Minister VI Fore IGN Relations that he Ia impeed
by sense Of official duty and responsibility which it
impossible Tor him e. avoid more and for the last
time TO request the and grave attention OF Mr.
Ramirez TO summary statement Of facts connected with
the Tehuantepec Convention before that instrument IL
submitted to Congress for final action and also. to
declare in xpc.t the consequences which must
necessarily follow its rlec'ion.
Before however the undersigned proceeds to perform
this undertaking ne bgs TO acknowledge the receipt of
Mr. Ramirez note OF = instant accompanied by me-
moris dedicated To the diplomatic corps purporting to
give accurate history Of the concession made to Mr.
asray' by the Mexican government, which concession
forms the basis the convention in question, and at
the same time making animated appeal to all the
foreign powers to u- lily and sustain Mexico for the de-
termination which il appears from what Is forth
she has already formed reject that convention.
The undersigned say with perfect frankness he
has seen the memorial II Ii H. with feelings Of great
price and painful r,gret. Such publication, made
under all the exice circumstances TO the under
signed to be inappropriate aud altogether unprecedented
rs far ~ he knows in the annals OF sgotation The
dersgned says this split Of unkindness toward
Mr. Rsmirez upon the contrary he enttrtans for him
the warmcs nal regard and the appreciation
OF his int gritty and talent.
Whether this appeal ~ foreign powers will advance the
interests q Mexico will ada 10 the high fame of tho
aubor ~ jurist and statesman remains to be known
Mexico as the uDdeI signed trusts stands in need OF
no advice from foreign powers upon points OF national
honor. matter OF national duty.
II is believed she is fully competent TO understand her
relative obligations aud maintain good faith, without
asking the opinion, cooperation or sympathy Of other
nations Every nation must necessarily be the exclusive
arbter of her honor The Congress Of Mexico, pre-
sumed to be composed of able and enlightened statesmen
moving in their appropriate orbit uninhuencei by the
coordinate bra ch.e % the government, the indie
pendent constitutional advisers Of the executive the
treaty making power and general fact have excu
sye light 70 ratiy reject any treaty that be
submitted 10 them by the executive for their advice and
consent Congress therefore requires no Instructions
no arguments appeal euapating from another
branch Of the nmtn to enable them to dir charge
with fidelity and ability the high duties entrusted to
They the chosen sentinel. of the people to guard
and to protect their rights and the undersigned
recfu suppcees their duries SO far treaties are con-
cerned Are separate dis met and independent of all the
other DEPARTMENTS of the government and ought to be
in every free and well regulated community.
What the undersigned thinks he has right to COM
pain Of respectfully and free Of all manner OF excite
convention in question Ills ExcelleDcy makes address
10 foreign powers attacking the basis upon which it is
founded
This powerful intellectual artillery to be directed
TO that point aud to that point alone If the foundation
Is undermined Of course the superstructure
must fall AMI tho ,rk OF destruction il thus indirectly
accomplished Ills Exccllercy very adroitly and very
cautiously avoids attack upon the merits Of that in
be takes special pains TO keep out of view the
great advantages which secured by it, and secured
borrower 20 Mexico In this mode of attack His Exclen-
cy has manifested the skill and tact of advocate who
Las had great experience in the management OF bad
causes uniformly endeayorpg TO cast vel over the
Why allow the undersigned respectfully to inquire
put forh this memorial only few days before Congress
has the convention under adviscmentt Why not leave
Copgtess act upon constitutional response
biIty Why mske an argument, the effect of which
moive) might posb, mislsad influence the lion of
that body! WY Wait until the subject was disposed
OF aud then make the appeal ~ @ o. tne decision
obtain by the course he has chosen to adopt momentary
ecothe may justly entitlc himself to the credit OF
having done than any other individual has done to
destroy rather delay the greatest enterprise Of the
ageap enterprise IN which I'll the world less
Gexiso interested 'u' no P0f''H " . MUCH - 80
1t viii be perceived by the Fpulatons Of the conven-
ton Mexico has this important Improvement within her
has not surrendered single particle Of her sovepsny
m.ds sLoud the be approved without costing her
the expenditure Of single dollar. She receives one
fourth OF the tolls the undertaking finished
and after the expiration of nineteen and eleven
month"; Mexico would receive half Of the tolls; and
in less than forty years she would be the sole and excu
evc proprietor OF the entire Improvement OF incalcuabe
value. Independent of all these advantages the pro-
ducts Of Mexican citizens according to an article in the
tho products belopgngipg to the citizens Oh other
countyies
According TO the eetinate which appears have been
made with great accuracy by skfu .ngineers will re-
qurc about ten millions Of dollars 10 complete the COM
municaon between the two gr at oceans Ateas twenty
thousand Mexican citizens would find employment ut good
wages in the undertaking Industry would be rewarded
and her dormant would at once become
sctive All the many extraordinary benefits which would
accrue to Mexico ia every respect by furnishing this
great highway for the commercial world the
decide for her clf-h. burey alludes them In f.ct
they too obvious 10 who tekes the trou
BILE to think to require anything more than passing re-
lark
Ana what does Mexico allow the undersigned to in
qure give in return for these immense advantages The
answer s concession of vacant and unappropriated
lands-iapds which add not ioa. at present. TO the
national wealth and altogether useless aud will pre-
badly remsn 70 forever unless the contemplated Improve.
ment should be conducted .
mates the value Of the land embraced In the conces
sion have been circulated both in this country and else
where, TO effect particular objects 1t will be found
the undersigned is not very much msled from inorma
sion deemed reliable that most q the good lands have
been previously appropriated by claimants holding para
mount titles
The undersigned b gs TO PROFOUND to bis Exceency'
in view Of theee facts single interrosatory.
Let Il be supposed for the cake Of the argument that
the concession held 10y Gaiay is invalid and that now,
for the first time the proposition should be made to Mex
leo TO give, consideration the very denticai hnds
contained in the aforesaid first the fourth OF
The tolls AFT er the transit way should be finished second
Iy, the half OF the fame IN twenty years tmidiy
transfer Of the entire work to Mexico In perpet IN
forty Years fourlhy the mean time to convey Mex
lean products the road at fifth less cost than citi
zens OF all other nations would be compelled to pay for
tie transportation OF their products.
What would b. the answer Of Mexico and what
ought to be her answer IN Justice TO her own in
terests TO such an oier ane unaefsgnea Leaves
here, appears ia the difficulty. and that difficulty,
in the estimation Of His Exceltncy, Is insupe-
rable The grant to Garay. after the lapse OF many
years and long after had passed into the hands Of In
bocent purchasers for heavy consideration has been
discovered 70 be fraudulent, null. and void. This the
Undersigned cay with great respect is a most sin
puar discovery and at the same time. Is presented TO
The knowledge of tb. world under equally
sneuar opp sit in this form IL gotten against
the concession and against the treaty both which
seem to be denounced in the moot unneasured terms
by editors OF newspapers BY orators and what u still
astonisbng the undersigned by Statesmen hold
ing high places. ana Of great equation
Upder the influence II this excitement the under
signed exceedingly sorry to say cool resction seems
70 have given way to passion and prejudice
The under signed avas himself OF this occasion to say
IL there ever was time a subject which required calm
elaboration this Ia the time and this Is the subject
The undersigned feels the deepest anxicy-in fact the
greatest possible socitudsthat nothing should now or
hereafter occur 70 oil urb the friendly relations existing
between the two cunes and such Is the sincere wish
his government and q the people ofthe United states
Tho undersigned saoiy greved to perceive that the
concession In question and the treaty with which IL
ndissoiuby connected both CONDEMNED as II appears
TO ths undersgnsd without full aud fair hearing-con-
oemned before the DAY OF trial comes ocondemned by
an edict from the Psace in the form Of memoriacon-
demned before an Impartial jury Of Congress mpannel
led TO the its unwexer hefnra the