Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-12

Of railroad across our part Of continent and those
whe desire the construction OF the Istnus Of
Tehtantepec Sir look ~ what exists In the very
nfaIcy of our commerce and communication with these
seas, by transit acgoss the Southern continent find
private enterprise alone has made u prouueuve 70
degree which enrches ALL Already TWO routes are es'a
bised and in successful useone across the continent az
re thmns ~ Panama and one other by the way Of the
rive, San Juan and Lake Nicaragua in the republic Of
that name and looking to the great results hat are IA
pidly follow these short cuts 70 ue lhaies, non oa
DOUBT had we a railway connexion at Tehnantepec, ana
another from the Mississippi TO the Pacinc shore there
would be found ample and remunerative employment LOT
then all-that which was most speedy would command
the travel whilst exchanges u 0onn'i0o "ou1 y
conceded to its competitors.
There is no conflict there should be conflict between
ry routes or rival interests impair the action OF the
Government this matter IL is because the interests OF
this Government conceive, are more deeply involved
in having q transit Mt Tehuanepec than any where else
where road has been projected, that have felt 1t my
duty ask urgently the attention of the Senate to the
posture in which the question stands between the
Government of the United States and the Government OF
Mexico. 1t is found to be not only practicable way but
since it has into American hands the entire route
has been resurveyed under the superintendent OF most
enlightened engineer, taken from the puohc service,
Major Barnard who occupied some SIX or seven
months in the work. and has made to his employers most
elaborate report in the book from which read an extract
just 1t is shown by actual survey OF the route nat
the highest elevation to be overcome Corresponding Win
the survey made by his predecessor Moro does not ex
coed six hundred and fifty feet and that the OF
grade upon the whole route does not exceed sixty feet 10
the mile The report Of Major Barnard iurtner SHOWS
that the entire length of railway from sea to sea VIII De
but one hundred and eighty six miles But the river
the Atlantic sde is said to be nayigabie
for the largest class of ships high Us the village OF MI
natetlan twenty miles from its mouth; and this De
taken as the Atlantic terminus then the railway will
measure but one hundred and sxty-six miles, ana the
whole cost Of the work. including the full equipment OF
the road brought by his estimates within eight millions
of dollars.
1t is true sir, that the proposed way lies within the
dominion of foreign Power, and were choice 10 De
made, that objection would be conclusive OF the election
Yet highway between nations should be the subject Of
exclusive jurisdiction and it is to retain for 1T that
character with which it has been already clothed by
treaty stipulation that press it upon the attention of
the Senate But sir, in the view to be taken of it
there is really choice. Here have plain, practl-
cable work. demonstrated to be by the most competent
skill that may be finished within two or three years,
and far less than has been incurred by many
private companies under State charters. Against 1t you
oppose be reckoned in its extent by thousands OF
miles, foot of which has been surveyed, and which
may nay must, cost more than one hundred mllions
The first will be in successful operation before you
plant stone in the construction OF the latter
do not propose that the Government shall aid this
company by contributions from the Treasury by grant
Of public land in any other way than by protecting its
own citizens against spoliations by foreign Power
But doing that this Government will not only have
extended proper protection to its citizens but 1t VIII have
secured ITSELF what it is entitled toa way to its pos
sessions on the Pacific coasthe best, the most
sibe, and the shortest way in time at least which can
be obtained.
In the report Of the committee which accompanies
these resolutions the title to this grant has been minute
" traced the committee being satisfied in its judgment
that valid undoubted, and unquestionable title had
passed from the Government Of Mexico to the American
citizens who are now the holders Of it. and those gentle
men who may desire to see it will find it there l come
now to show how the Government has been connected
with it.
After the title thus acquired the Government of the
United States seeing the Importance Of the subject
i ted To not for o.
validity to protecting the title which its citizens had
acquired but for the purpose OF giving protection to the
right Of way when it was made recognising the grant
then the property of citizens of the United States and
inviting Mexico to treat by convention to give the protec
ton of the Governments the communication when
it should be made We know that similar act had been
done already between the Governments Of the United
States and England both Governments assuming
interest in protecting the right of way, which
projected by Of Lake Nicaragua through the terri
tory OF Nicaragua convention entered into
cordngly which is the supreme law of the land the
purpose of which to that way through Lake
Nicaragua rs common highway to the whole world.
Each entered into for its protec
ton, and to keep it open as common highway. The
Government Of the United States, for like reasons, but Of
a urgent character invited Mexico to form
venten for the purpose Of constituting highway
by Of this grant conceded to Garay, and now in
the hands Of American citizens. Mexico acceded to it.
convention formed framed and signed at the city
Of Mexico, between Minister there and the proper
authorities in Mexico with the appreciation of Herrera
who then President of that republic, TO effect these
Objects in which convention the right secured by the
grant fully recognised. When the convention
signed in Mexico it sent here Some alterations and
notifications suggested by the Government wash
ingor and it eventually took the form OF conven
tion which sent back to Mexico. The Government
of Mexico mean the executive government-approyed
it. and it signed in the city OF Mexico, in January
1851
Its object and its terms only TO give the proec
ton Of the two Governments to that way the
tincnt efecnga communication between the two
My 1npt hara ha6C Tnnfn M
the character which unfortunately belongs to the author
ties OF Mexico and the difficulty which that unfortunate
people have encountered from the very birth Of the Re-
public, either in constituting maintaining responsible
Goyernment-torn itseems to be, from extremity
to the other by domestic euds dissensions and
santy in state of revolution. 1t resulted that very
after this convention had been signed in January
1851, there change in the Government; and it
would appear from the best information can obtain in
looking at the history Of the OCCASION this grant Of
right Of way the shmus Tehuanepec was made
the stalking horse by which Administration to
get into power and the other to be thrown The
sequence was that in evil hour for the interests the
world well for the two countries the Congress Of
Mexico induced TO reject the treaty At the time
that convention rejected the American holders this
grant upon tho isthmus in the Of completing
their surveys preparatory to the work They had been
invited to 20 there by the Government Of Mexicoorders
had been issued by the central authority Of Mexico the
States through which the road to pass, only
throw mo distractions difficulties in the way, but
receive the engineers and their party with hospitality
place the of the country at their disposal
and TO give them every facility in their power to execute
the work "A previous order which had been issued by
the Government of Mexico affirmed requiring that
when they ready to the work three hun