Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-19


years Of extension allowed by the decree Of Saas Man
ming Mcintosh announced TO the Mexican Government
hat Don Jose Garay had transferred to their house tbs
privilege of constructing way OF communication be-
tween the two by the way OF the Ishmus Of Tebuan
teprc On receiving this note the Mexican Government
acted decidedly and promptly reminding the assgnees
that part of the grant untransersble and also
that the whole grant was extinct; the last extension
granted by Saas Like all the preceding ones, having
pired without commencing the work.
1t remains this point only to say that whatever title
any American citizens may have they have only the
title which Manning Mcintosh and Snyder Co. had,
with all its imperfections on its head.
shall omit the question whether the original grant of
Santa Anna to his favorte Don Jose Garry of the prvi
lege of opening the Isthmus assignabe The Mexi
Government say that it mott that Garay
trusted to execute great national work as mere agent
If such question as that should arise in the United
States what should The President OF the United
States every day issues commissions to individuals to per-
form certain duties Congress every day pass laws au-
thOrizing individuals to build custom houses, &C. would
like know who there is in Congress out of it that
would admit that administrative officer architect
upon public building has contract which he assign
foreigner and thereby convey to foreign Power the
right to tell us that we must execute the contract with
its subjects.
Mr. DowEs would ask the Senator to state if this
contract be not assgnable why it that the Mexican
Government declared to Mr. Tris that it assgnabe
and that il had been assigned? Is not the Mexican Gov
eminent competent to decide that question as the
Senate of the United States
Mr. SEWARD. II my honorable and very esteemed
LOUISIANA,
ability the other day. had not had his attention diverted,
he would have that have already anticipated the
question which he has propounded to me- threw out this
view Of the subject to show that what Mexico insists
upon has at least the merit of plausbility ask only
that be considered 1t is enough for my purpose
that according to the view which have taken, the
mitee have shown the validity of the assignment and
the validity Of the title of the claimants
| ask you to consider what the unreasonable
demands which Mexico makes, and which Is supposed
that cannot allow and shall take that in the words
of the honorable chairman Of the Committee Foreign
Relations, Mr.. MASON J
In all the propositions which have since emanaed from
tho Mexican Government in their proposals inviting new
companies construct this work. they have imposed m
tons and restrictions which must discourage all from attempt
ing it, which would have the effect if complied with, of
leaving that work exclusively the charge of the Mexican
Government The propositions are of this character the
contractors required in the first place. acknowledge the
unqualified sovereignty Of Mexico the transit and her
right impose any political charges whatever upon persons
property passing They required acknowledge
right in the Government Of Mexico to fix the
charges They to their mail
steamers under the national flag Of Mexico and all their
sells be to tonnage and ghterage duties They
required to to transport troops munitions OF
the Ithmus except with the express permission Of
Mexico They required discriminate in favor Of such
nations shall guaranty this monopoly by dedueng twenty
FIVE cent from the corporate charges in their avor they
required to transfer the work at cost to Mexico and more
than all, those who there constructing this work
qured their right to the protection of their
Governments, and become de faetO Mexican citizens"
Now sir, you what the whole difficulty is; that
what claimed Tor these American proprletors is that
they shall not be obliged to denatonaze themselves but
that Mexico shall be obliged denatonalize herself;
that the Congress of the United States the citizens of
the United States, shall have control the
Of the sthmus in all the particulars which have been read
from the speech Of the honorable Senator Now consd-
er the condition of the United States which will not
portray consider the present condition of Mexico which
need not descrbe consider the character of the popu
ation of the United States and of Mexico which need
not illustrate consider the extent of the franchises thus
insisted upon and tell what result happen to Mex
leo by her concedng what demanded of her. short of
dismemberment later Of the Mexican nation
dissolution Of the Federal Union of the States and the
extinction of the Republic of Mexico, if, while
here, that extinction has not already come about.
Sir in that Mexico will not be sefsustaning Pow
er. She must be sustained by somebody. Except the
United States there is American power that can
guaranty the maintenance Of government in Mexico.
The United States will not consent that any European
Power shall guaranty the preservation Of Government
there The Monroe doctrine, and the traditions cherish
ed by prohibit that What them As consequence
Of making these concessions Mexico must fall into the
United States.
Mr.. President began this examination if not in favor
of the propositions Of the committee at least favorable
to result which would enable to support these claim
therefore to say tat cannot vote TO sustain the
tons. will briefly review the points made by the
committee, in my order. And first, this point is
made by the committee:
That the United States stands committed TO all Of it's
citizens protect them in all their rights abroad well
at home, within the sphere Of its jurisdiction"
hope the Senate has considered the length and the
breadth Of this proposition. obliged to ask
modification of it. am glad to know that have the
support Of Mr. Hargous, who has charge Of this claim
and also Of the late distinguished Secretary Of State
What is the opinion Of the New Orleans company upon
that subjects Mr. Hargous tells in his letter to the
late Secretary Of State Mr. Webster when invoking the
Intervention of the Government
"They are aware that ordinary the prac
tce Of the United States Government officially to interfere
in behalf Of citizens Of the United States who may complain
Of the violation Of contract which they may have entered
into with foreign Government but inasmuch all general
rules have their exceptions and the interest Of the Amer
Government and public and especially those Of the c
Of the West and Southwest largely involved in the
Of the Tehuantepec enterprise they faer themselves
that In just complaint they may have to prefer
against the Mexican Government they shall receive the
hearty protection Of their
"Your upon this point especially respectfully
lcited, and will be anIousy awaited"
Here these proprietors telling the Government Of
the United States that they know that what they ask for
is reception to the law OF nations prscsed by this
Government There is the honorable Committee For
eign Relations telling that the rule is universal
shall subscribe to this rule with qualifications
which will submit to the consideration Of the Senate
The first qualification lie, that the rights Of CITIZEN
which the Government is bound protect just rights
not unjust ones that they not unjust unconscien-
tious, immoral rights.
Mr. Mason. What is just right?
Mr.. SEWARD. say just rights in distinction from
legal rights According TO the honorable Senator'S
tons and mine there things that right because
they declared by law Therea things that right
whether they declared by law or not The second
qualification is that the rights which the Government
bound to protect must be certain and absolute not
certain doubtful Third that the right Of the ndvi
dual to the protection Of his Government Is subordinate
to the general welfare and interest of the State Upon
this point the honorable chairman Of the committee
win give some authority / will repose myself on Mr..