The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-04
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The Tehuantepec Negotiation.
An editorial in the Republic explanatory Of the
position taken by the Administration upon the TIE.
huantepec question, has occasioned a justification
of Mexico by an anonymous writer over the Gig.
nature of Vcridicus.
Mr.. Fillmore has deliberately declared that Mex
leo had pghtsd faith the grant to GarGy; 'hat
our citizens. relying upon her good faith, have be-
come interested in that grant; they have advanced
large sums Of money for the purpose of carrying
out its objects; they have surveyed route for a
railroad. and demonstrated the practicability Of
constructing it, and IL is not possibls that they
should be deprived Of the privileges guaranteed
by that grant, and sustain the hsapy losses that must
ensus, ritout appealing TO their Government for the
enforcement Of their rights"
"We cannot If we would be Indifferent to it. II
is a duty which every government owes to its own
citizens to protect their rights At home and abroad
and the consequences growing out of the disagree.
ment of the proprietors Of the Garay grant and
the government Of Mexico are such as no true
friend of this county, Of Mexico. can look upon
with indifference"
These declarations made in friendly, yet firm
and prophetic spirit, rendered it proper that a
paper recognised an advocate of the Administra.
ion should explain, and If necessary, defend them.
Had the Mexican vindication been confined to
the motives policy of that government, it would
have required no reply. Any discussion had been
better postponed to a responsible arbitrament In
a few days the only authentic material upon which
correct opinion can be founded will be given to
the public by the Senate. In the mean time con.
troversy between anonymous disputants can result
in nothing decisive.
There ia no tribunal authorized to decide be-
tween them. There are no laws Of evidence or OF
pleading; there ia no rule Of argument test Of
authenticity; there is nothing to preserve distinct
ness OF issue or relevancy of remark.
The communication of Veridicus-to which this
is intended as reply-is based upon an allegation
of fact which has been refuted, and will be pur-
sued through every disguise in which it may be
presented, until public opinion and public law
shall determine upon their validity.
II was unnecessary, in an examination Of a
great question of international policy that Verdi
Gus should impute to others disposition to effect
the result of the pending proposition by "omenting
prcjudces," exciting passion, or engcnderihg
odium." 1t was also unnecessary to assume
that the anonymous writer is alone in pos
session of authentic materials, since those
who contradict him or his authority must
choose between the alternative Of ignorance
or Misrepresentation. Yet, it will be proper to
reduce the desultory discussions of newspaper to
nate the points of issue and pursue the rules Of
argument. This will render necessary
1. An examination of the testimony upon which
tho confident afirmations of Veridicus depends.
We therefore except to the testimony Of a" pam
phlet recently circulated, which contains the COM
plete history of this business, founded upon au.
thentic and unquestionable proofs which on
file in the archives of Mexico, and which were
heretofore unknown Ito the people of the United
States.'')
We do 90 because it is partial and ca
parae appeal made by order of the Mexican
government to the members Of the diplomatic
circle at Mexico, for the express purpose Of
iustifying its coniscation Of the American title
to the right of way across Tehuantepec. 1t was
published pending the treaty which Mexico had
herself originated It sought to prejudice the world
against American citizens, by imputing to them
1'false and garbled statements, SC, Sin order to
establish right, so that the grossest injury that
can be committed against nation might wear the
semblance of an act of justice" E,-E s.
By consequence, it sought to prejudice the world
against the American Government for recognising
and protecting its citizens in this gross injury.
and the unworthy means by which il was to be per.
pctrated. This publication occssioned an indig,
nant remembrance from the American Minister.
who says that che has seen the memorial of his ex-
ocllency with great surprise and painful regret.
Such publication, made under all the existing
circumstances, seems to the undersigned to be in
appropriate, AND altogether unprecedented in the
mails Of negotiation"
similar appeal had been some years before
shade by Mexico in regard to Texas. It had occa.
stoned similar remembrance from the American
Minister. a-str q t@r" .'. *
This pamphlet having been employed in Mexico
10 prejudice foreign nations, is again translated
and circulated to convince the citizens of the Uni
ted States that these epithets have been properly
applied, and that their own Government, recognis-
ing and defending the rights ofits citizens deserve
universal reprobation.
II is reproduction of fact and argument ad-
duced in the report of the Chamber Of Deputies
and Senate of Mexico. These reports were pub.
lished many months since; and 90 perfectly does
the Remembrance" against the resolution of an
pplment with which they conclude, offered by the
American holders Of the Tehuantepec title to the
Government of the United States, anticipate and
reply to the pamphlet, that it was considered
needless repetition to reply again to it. Tho re.
monstrance and pamphlet are before the public; let
them be examined. The pamphlet will be found
but paraphrase of the Senate report. The argu-
ment is borrowcd-the obloquy is its own. The re-
inonstrance will be found to have replied to every
argument except the udcrous view taken by the
pamphlet, that tie American claimants, having
acquired the grant of Garay, have denationalised
Themselves and not entitled to the protection Of
their own governmsnt-an argument to which Mr.
Fillmore had replied 80 conclusivey, that nothing
WIS left to the parties interested
We therefore except to tho testimony of the
pamphlet as er parte, "inappropriate, and alto.
gcther unprecedented in the annals of negotia
ton" We cannot consent to rest our cause upon
the allegations in the bill filed by our adversary.
Nor do we admit that it contains original and au-
thentio proofs for the first time kno,on to the
american people.
For the purpose Of examining the assertions of
"Veridicus," in chronological order, we quote his
view of the original grant to Garay:
sin order TO form correct idea upon this sub
ject in order too that reason may not be led asray,
and that the decision should not be the result OF the
impulse Of the pussons, rather than the inspirn.
tions OF truth and Justice 1t is necessary to bear in
mind an essential fact of great Importance, and it
is, that the privileges to open the way Of communi
cation granted to Garay by General Santa Anna.
at the time of his temporary administration,
itself subject to be submitted to the revision Of the
legislative body, according to the cxprcss article
of the plan of Tacubaya, adopted by the nation as
Il.