The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-08

las made il productive 10 degree which snrehes all
Already two routes established and IN successful
use-one across the eontihent at the slhmus OF Panama
and on other by the way OF the river San Juan and Lake
Nicaragua in the republic OF that nane and looking 10
the great results that rapidly TO follow these shot
cuts 10 the Indies, doubt had we railway con-
eyion al Tehuantepec and another from the MISSISSIPPI
p 10 the Pacific shore, there would be ound ample and
femuneraiive employment Tor them ai--thal which
most speedy would command the travel, whilst the ex
changes OF would be conceded to It's compet
tors
There is no conhist there should be no conflict be.
tween rival routes rival interests 10 impair the acon
OF the government IN this matter IL IS because the in
teress of this government as conceive are more deeply
involved in having transit at Iehuantepec than any
where else where road has been projected, that have
felt il my duty ask urgently, the attention OF the SEN
ate TO the posture in which the question now stands be-
tween the government OF the United States and the goy
eminent OF Mexico Il is found to be not only pIaeil
cable way but since il has come into American hands The
entire route has been resuveyed under the supeIinend.
OF most enlightened engineer, laken from The pub
lie service MAJOR Barnard who was occupied some SIX
months in the work, and has made to bis en.
poyes most elaborate report IN The book from which
read an extract lust now Ii is shown by actual survey
oil The route that the highest elevation TO be overcome
corresponding with the survey made by his predecessor
Moro) does exceed hundred and nifty feet, and
that the maximum OF grade upon the whole route does
not exceed sixty feet 10 the mile The report OF MaJof
Barnard further shows that the entire length OF railway
from sea will be but hundred and eghy-sx
miles But the river Coa'zacoalcos, the Atlantic
side is said TO be navgable for the largest class OF ships
as high as the village of Minaetlan, twenty miles from
then the railway will measure but one hundred and sixty
elk miles and the whole cost OF the work. including the
full equipment OF the road, is brought by his estimates
within eight millions OF dollars.
Ii s true, that the proposed way lies within the
dominion OF foreign power, and were choice TO be
made that objection would be conclusive OF the election
Yet highway between nations should be the subject Of
exclusive jurisdiction, and is to retain for il that
character with which il has been already clothed by
treaty stipulation that press it upon the attention Of the
Senate Bat sir in The view to be taken of IT there
is really choice. Here have plain, practicable
work, demonstrated TO be by the competent skill
that may be finished within two or three years, and
cost far less than has been incurred by many private
companies under State charters Against il you oppose
to be reckoned lis extent by thousands of miles,
foot of which has been surveyed and which may, nay,
must, cost more than one hundred miloss. The first
will be in successful operation before you cut tree
or plant stone in the construction oil 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 spolatlons by foreign power But
in doing that, this government will not only have extend
ed proper protection TO lis citizens, but ii will have
cured 10 ITSELF whatit is entitled toa 10 its posses
sons the Pacific coastthe best the most accessible,
and the shortest way, time, al least, which be OBJ
tanned.
In the report of the committee which accompanies
these resolutions, the ue 10 this grant has been minute
ly traced, the committee being satisfied in lis Judgment
that valid, undoubted, and unqnesionable title had
passed from the government OF Mexico TO the American
czens, who now the holders OF II, and those gentle
who may desire 10 see it will find il there. come
now 10 snow how the government has been connected
with it
Alter the title was thus acquired the government of
the United States, seeing the Importance OF the subject
invited Mexico 10 negotiate, not Tor the purpose of giving
validity TO protecting the title which its citizens had
acquitted but Tor the purpose OF giving protection TO the
right OF way when 1t was made, recognising the grant,
then the properly OF citizens OF the United States and
wiling Mexico TO treat by convention to give the proec
lion OF the two governments to the communication when
il should be made We know that similar act had
been done already between the OF the Uni
ted States and England, both governments assuming
common interest IN protecting the right OF way which was
projected by means OF LACE Nicaragua, through the terri
tory OF Nicaragua convention was entered into &C
corlingly, which is now the supreme law OF the land
the purpose OF which was TO secure that way through
Lake Nicaragua As common highway TO the whole
world. Each government entered into guarantees for its
protection, and TO keep II open common highway.
The government OF the United States for like reasons but
OF more urgent character, invited Mexico TO form
venton for the purpose OF constituting common high
way by means OF this grant conceded TO Garay, and
in the hands OF American citizens Mexico acceded
IT, convention was formed. framed, and signed at tie
city OF Mexico between our 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 was fully recognised When the convention was
signed IN Mexico, il was sent here Some alterations
and notifications were suggested by the government at
Washington, and IL eventually took the form of
convention, which was sent back TO Mexico. The gov
eminent OF Mexico mean the executive government
approved IT, and 1t was signed in the city of Mexico, in
January, 1851.
It's object and its terms only to give the protection
OF The Two governments 10 that way The continent
efecting a communication between the two seas
Now, Mr. President, we have had some experience oil
The character which unfortunately belongs to the author
tiles OF Mexico and the difficulty which that unfortunate
people have encountered from The very birth OF the
public, either IN constituting maintaining responsible
government-torn as IT seems TO be- from extremity
10 the other by domestic euds Gssensons, and con-
santly IN state sf revolution II resulted that very
soon after this convention had been signed in January
1881, there change in the government; and il
would appear from the best information obtain in
looking at the history OF the OCCASION that this grant OF
right OF way across the s,hmus oil Tehuanttpec
made the stalking horse by which administration
to get into power and the other TO be thrown out
The consequence was, that evil hour for the inter-
ests of the world, well for the two countries the
the time that convention rejected, the American
holders OF this grant upon the shmus, in the act
Of completing their surveys preparatory TO the work
Iney had been invited 10 90 there by The government
OF Mexico-oTders bad been ISSUED by the central
authority OF Mexico TO the States through which
the road 10 pass, not only to throw distractions
or difficulties in The way. but TO receive the engineers and
their party with hospallyto place the resources OF the
country at their disposal and TO give them every facility
In their power TO execute the work. previous order
which had been issued by the government OF Mexico
was reahrmed requiring that when they ready to
commence the work. three hundred convcis should be
put at the disposal OF the company public laborers
This party had been there from December to June, pc
Rod OF some seven nonhs-a party consisting accord
ing 10 my recollection, OF nearly hundred men, in
charge oil Major Barnard, officer of our service,
who had been invited take charge OF work, and
who had been allowed TO go there by the government.