The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-01-24
TEHUANTEPEC ROUTE.

We regard the action of the Mexican Con-
gress in reference to this improvement, as d.
rect violation of good faith. The contract
made with the American company was as good
as any contract can possibly be, and being
such, it is the duty of the American govern
ment to see it enforced, in spite oflamentatons
in London or elsewhere.
That British agents have been at the bottom
of all the vexations to which the Tehuantepec
| company have been subjected, no longer ad-
mits ola doubt. The inevitable meddling dis
position Of Lord Palmerslon, which left his
country without an ally and almost without
friend on the Continent of Europe, would not
allow him to rest, where there was so fair
chance Of INDUCING it.
That there have been Americans, base
enough to lend their assistance to a foreign
power, gainst their own countrymen in this
instance, we do not doubt. Apparently with
the intention of giving due warning to such
traitors, the National IntelIigencer and Repub-
lie, some short time ago, published the follow.
ing law, which was passed in the year 1909:
"That il any person, being citizen of the
| United States. whether he be actually resident
or abiding within the United States, or in any
| foreign country, SHALL without the permission
or authority of the Government of the United
| States, directly or indirectly commence, or
carry on, any verbal or written correspondence
or intercourse with any foreign government,
| or any officer or agent thereof with an intent
| TO influence the measures or conduct of any
| foreign government, or Of any officer or agent
thereof. in relation 10 any disputes or contro-
rsies with the United States, or defeat the
| measures Of the Government of the United
| States; or if any person, being citizen of, or
| resident within the United States, and not duly
authorized. shall counsel, advise, aid, or assist
in any such correspondence, with intent, as
aforesaid. he or they shall be deemed guilty of
hgh 'misdemeanor, and on conviction before any
court of the United States having jurisdiction
thereof, shall be punished by a fine not ex-
ceeding FIVE thousand dollars, and bv mpris
Onment during term not less than six month S
nor exceeding three years."
At the same time, the following signiican,
paragraph made its appearance in the National
Inteligencer:
1--WE understand there is good reason to be.
lieye that persons in New York and in this city
have been endeavorng TO thwart important
| measures of the Government bearing upon lis
|
huantepee treaty, by corresponding with per.
sons ofsupposed influence or in high office in
that country. Whatever may be the other
motives Of those persons in adopting such a
course, it cannot reasonably be ascrbed to a
sense of patriotic duty, especially when they
| must be presumed TO be aware that they are
gully of the penal offence denounced in the
law of the United States, which we subjon.
The New Orleans Delta says that the per.
sons alluded to are Spanish spies, and their al
lies pretending to be Americans, and adds that
there is number of both description in N. Or
| leans. Most heartily do we hope that they may
be detected and made to suffer the extreme PEN
atty Of the law. The contract is valid one,
and would be esteemed SO in any court of law
in the world. The effect of these intrigues,
| then, can only be to embroil our government
with foreign powers, fori it is bound TO support
the claim Of the Tehuantepec company, even
with arms, If il can be sustained in no other
way.