, 1852-12-18
The united stateg and Mexioo.

4
result, if any at all, should Mexico prcsist
in the course she la, pursued in the matter
Of the Tehuantcpcc grant, Dut the mode in
which the result is to BE- arrived at, is the
| thing which Just now engages some atten-
ton. The Garay grant having been made
and accepted in good faith, was, according
| to it, terms, to be carried into execution by
virtue of any resources which Garay could
command. The Mexican nation, in fact,
was pledged TO maintain any private indi
vidual or company succeeding or represent
iug Garay, either natives or foreigners, ~
the undisurbed enjoyment ofall the rights
granted 10 him. Garay was, in 1913, put
in possession of the lands conceded for the
purposes Of the grant, which lie, as the
reader will perceive by reference to the
map, in the departments Of Oaxaca and We
ra Cruz. Garay, subsequently assigned
his grant 10 Messrs. Manning and Mackin-
togh, subjects Of Great Britain, and this as.
signmcnt was recognised by Mexico by two
official acts. First, by al order issued BY
Herrera, at the instance of the English com
pany, requiring the Governors Of Oaxaca
and Vera Cruz 10 prohibit the cutting Of
mahogany on the lands conceded by the
grant, by any persons but those authorizcu
under the holders Of lt-the English COM
pany. Secondly, by refusing, al the time
negotiations were in progress between the
United States and Mexico at the close of
the late war, TO cedo right of way 10 the
United States ascross the isthmus, in these
terms :--S9That Mexico could not treat on
this subject, because she had, several years
before, made a grant TO one Of her own cit
liens, who had transferred his right, by su-
lhorization Of the Mexican Government, to
English subjects, of whose rights Mexico
could not dispose"
In lSlS this right was purchased Of the
English company, who failed TO carry out
the purposes of the grant, by Peter A. Har-
gous, citizen Of the United States. An
American company was then formed, in or
der to effect the original prof Mexico
was duly apprised OF the design indicated
assent aud treaty securing 10 the two
governments the JOINT protection Of the en-
tcrprse was suggested. "The government
Of Mexico" the report of the Senate pro.
ceeds to say, at once assented TO enter in-
to negotiations for the proposed treaty aud
a convention, for the government protection
oil the work thus to be executed by Amcri-
can citizens, as assgnees Of The Gatay giant,
was concluded at Mexico, in June, 1850,
and sent to the United States. In This con-
venton, certain notifications being suggest
I'd by the Secretary of State at Washing.
ton, it was returned to our Minister in
Mexico, and the whole terminated by a
new convention, signed at Mexico on the
2Slh Of January, lSjl, with the approval Of
President Herrera. This last convention
WAS ratified by the Senate of the United
States aud returned 10 Mexico, and finally
REJECTED BY the Mexican Congress in April,
1852"
1t is morally and physically certain, that
Mexico acted neither uuadvscdly nor indie
pendcntly, and for the promotion of her
best interests, she could have chosen no
better course Than an intimate alliance with
the United States, in SO imposing and i'm
portant work as that contemplated in this
grant Moreover, the movement on the
part of the company, afforded the assurance,
that the ol ject contemplated would be ef-
iected, and invited the Mexican government,
virtually, 10 participation in the enterprise.
And TO all this, assent was maintained up
to the 2sth of January, 1851. Between
that time and April 1882, the policy Of
Mexico has undergone a change, and the
whole project is now resisted on the ground,
that the Garay right suffered lapse in the
failure to commence the work, according
10 the original grant in lS45. Salas, how
ever, who was then welding the Dictator
ship of Mexico, renewed the grant in 1916,
and this renewal Is now declared void, be-
| cause Salas was usurp2r. But, the en-
tire validity Of the claim has been since
abundently established and officially recog-
nised by the Mexican government in the
several acls stated above.
In vindicating the rights of our ciliz ms,
the government Of the United States has
hitherto acted cautiously, hut frmly-in at
once hopeful, confding, and concilitory
spirit. Correspondence on the sui jcct las
transpncd between the Mexican authorities,
and the Secretary of State of the United
States, and President Fillmore himself
The claims and the rights of the American
company have been pressed urgently and
fairly, under the terms of the grant, until,
by the late action Of the Senate, the ulti-
mate demand of this government has been
announced for the Consideration of Mexico.
There is too much cause to apprchcnd
that in this, as in many other kindred mat
tiers, we are forced into antagonism with the
subtle policy Of England. In every quar-
ter of the globe, English interests conlrive
to interpose some obstacle in American
progress Were British diplomacy of the
frank and candid nature as that Of the Uni
ted States, these difficulties would never
arise but British policy is avarse to cam
dor. 1t is tortuous, designing, and too
often nelarious. In the nrysont case. IT, a,