Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-03-09
Tehua,itepeC.


The "Tehuantcpec grant" is a matter con-
corning which there has been considerable dis
cussion within the past few years, but dis
cussion that has been principally confined to
political circles. 1t is in reality question of
high national Importance and one of which We
viii attempt a comprehensive outline from its
origin to the obscurity in which it has Iatterly
been involved
The discovery of California awakened per-
haps more than any other event of the age,
the idea Of securing tho spcediest access to our
Pacific shores and the isthmus of Tehuantepec
municalion from shore to shore. This 18th.
mus is the narrowest portion Of the empire, or
republic. or anarchy as it may with more pro-
prety be called, OF Mexico, and so far attracted
the notice even of that unstable government that
under the domination of Santa Anna in lS42. 4
grant of the right of way was made to Mcxi-
can citizen named Garay. lie caused the route
to be surveyed and specifications made of its
course and practicabIily. According to his
estimates the entire height of land to be over.
come is only $50 feet and the distance between
navicabIe waters only Us miles.
In le1S, Garay assigned his grant to certain
Engllshmen residing in Mexico. as by its
terms he was fully authorized to do. These
gentlemen in lSl9 assigned the same to an
American named Hargous, who caused new
surveys to be made and was actually engaged
in the prosecution of the work. when arose one
to attend a connection with government so
wavering and caprciousa as that of Mexico,
which has temporarily and di:astrously to
American interests. suspended the prosecution
of the project.
BY solemn convention in 1851. Mexico and
the United States mutually pledged themselves
to the protection Of this right OF way and of
those upon whom its privileges had fallen, but
soon after upon some new change in her adj
ministration, the former government formally
rejected the treaty, and the party then engaged
in the work, after great sacrifice of money
and labor, were driven from the isthmus sans
ctremOnie.
This high handed outrage gave rise to &C
ton in Congress during the last session
which resulted merely in the introduction of a
report from the committee on Foreign Reln.
tions of which We give the extract below.
"ResOired, (as the judgment of the Senate
That IN the present posture of the question on
the grant OF a right of way through the Terri
tory of Mexico at the isthmus of rehu.ntepec
conceded by that Republic to one of its citi.
Gens, and now the property of citizens of the
mt cd A. tlp Sad -, IL
correspondence and documents accompanying
the message Of the President of the United
States of the 9th July, 1902, it is not compat
lble with the dignity of this Government to
prosecute the SUBJECT further by negotiation.
80. Should the Government Of Mexico pro
pose n renewal OF such negotiation, it should
be acceded TO only upon distinct propositions
from Mexico, not lncosIstant with the demands
made by this Government in reference 10 said
grant.
-. That the Government of the United
States stands committed to all its citizens 10
project them In their rights, abroad as well as
AT home, within the sphere of its jurisdiction;
and should Mexico, within 4 reasonable time
fail to reconsider her position concerning said
grant, 1t will then become the duty OF this
Government to review all existing relations
with that Republic, and to adopt such measures
as will preserve the honor of the country aud
the rights of its citizens.
From the tone of the above resolutions and
from the manifest injustice and treachery of
the Mexican Governmental could hardly DC ex-
pected that the United States would yield the
breadth ola hair, in abiding by the grant and
its successive assignments, letter for letter.
without fear or favor We believe that Mexico
will not persist in the imbeci!e effort to cheat
us ofthe privileges or wrest Us from the obliga
tions, conferred by her solemn act of conven-
ton. THE latest intelligence which we have on
the subject, will be found'in brief despatch
in another column, and the report given be-
low
NEW ORLEANS, Feb 2l.-The steamer Alaba-
tross has arrived from Vera Cruz, bringing as
passengers Mr.. Albert Spcer, who is bearer
Of important dispatches to Washington, and
also of the Tehuantepec contract, which has
been awarded to Mr. A. G.. Sloo, and upon
which $500, goo have already been Paid to the
Mexican government. Mr.. Spicer left the city
Of Mexico on the llth instant on which day
left for the Isthmus to deliver
the road to Mr. Sloo. The Commissioners had
a so been appointed on the part of Mexico to
treat with Judge Conklu, the American min
ster, relative to the neutrality and efficient
protect on of the Isthmus.
We now feel a more than ordinary interest
in this matter-not so much perhaps iroma
natural desire TO compel Mexico to an obser-
vance of her original voluntary stipulations AS
in view of other circumstances which are eth
err robbing US of sacred privileges or indef.
nitely prolonging most desirable consumma-
lions.
England, whose gaze has long been rivcted
upon the isthmus Of Darien, has transferred
from the brain of speculation to the arm of
physical achievement, the scheme of uniting
the oceans by shp.canal.
Our Pacific railroad project so far as the
enterprise lies under the control OF the Federal
Government seems fated to slumber vet while
longer.
We therefore conceive that our deepest in.
terest rests upon the speedy prosecution and
completion of a railway over Che much renown.
cd and often mooted is,hmus Of Tehuantepec.
Italian Instruction.
No very definite idea of the extent or result