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

quite unpopular in his country; he himself had
denounced A. vs traitor for the part he had take in it
still he resoluy determined he said fearless Of all
consequence to do any sid every thing be could to carry
out In good faith measure Of much imrtanes to tho two
further di.cussion o IN hour en.ued lie lhered most
ott natey and hercey {, Is objecbns Wher,ron took
the liberty to tell him in very plain language not st
all satisfied with his opinions with his and there
fore requested to be heard before the President and his Cabi
net upon the points in dispute"
Sir, should like to what answer the Minister Of
any Power earth would receive who should to
the Secretary Of State Of this nation and tell him that
he not at all satisfied with his and his opin
ions, and demand hearing before the President and
Cabnet What is just and right for one Power is just
and right for another IL exact justice courtesy
from the strong should concede it to the weak Mr.
Letcher obtained his hearing before the President will
be seen from his report in these words:
To this he cheorfully agreed and the day at II
o'clock the time fixed for this meeting by the
rson of the President At the appointed moment found
the President and his Cabinet all attendance They
cordial reception and the most attentive and respectful
hearing imaginable for hour and half and upon taking
leave assured in the kndest manner, should have
every thing desired that they could possibly give me-
The chief arguments urged against the amendments in
question appear to be these:
al That they infringe upon the sovereignty the honor tac
dignity, and national pride of Mexico
a. To adopt them would be at once to parayze to dis
grace and in short to overthrow the
That treaty with such provisions would be rejected by
the Mexican Congress probaby without single dissenting
voice. and therefore would be of the United States
whilst at the time would be the ruin OF the party In
power"
Mr. Letcher then appears to have tried what virtue
there was in threats. Here they are:
Since the final decision had the President and
member Of his Cabinet have manifested the deepest oon
lest you hoald be dpleased the result Gen. Asta
who is the Of the Government is exceedingly
uneasy Every day two sent by some of the
not dissatisfied The only answer have made IS, Mexico
has committed great error
sit may also be proper add during the various discus
sons which took place in relation the points in dispute
availed myself Of suitable occasion to say in the
Mexico refused to enter into fair treaty for the protection
Of enterprise Government in justice her cti-
Eens who had made large in the undertaking.
determined to take the affair into her OWE hands,
Now let us hear the Of this exotic and wind
shaken branch of the ancient and chivarous family,
which, its native peninsula, gave laws to both
hemispheres Here it is and it will remain imperisha
BILE the answer Of oppressed but hghminded and
generous people:
Your Government is srongours is weak You have the
power take the whole any portion of territory
may think fit have the faculty resist We have
done all could do to satisfy country and crafty
you personally We can do no more. What is
required of cannot grant Mr.. Webster knew
condition if he knew the pecarous tenure by which
hold power the violence and strength Of the opposition
the refractory spirit Of the States and the peculiar preudices
Of people, surely he would not exact such terms
But Mr. Webster did exact Castan pride gave way.
Arisa and his Ministers succumbed and the Tehuane
pee treaty, with its odious rectals signed And
for the result Hear the report of the Minister, Mr.
Letcher:
"LEGArros OF TUE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
MEXICO, APRIL s. 1851.
"SIR The Tehuantepec treaty regret say reject
ed last night by the Chamber Of Deputies bare quorum be-
ing present in few minutes after submitted by the Go
for confederation BY note Of sepenyone The
result far from being matter of surprise me, to
else in this country, was most confidently anticipated
The few Deputies who voraby disposed towards the
measure knowing perfectly well that they would be instantly
denounced traitors to their country in case they voted for
it, deemed expedent to absent themselves from the Cham
Der when the vote was taken.
"Such the incorporate and Incorporating hostility to
the Garay grant that no in or out of the Chamber
whn in
per single word in its support In fact the Deputy ho voted
for the ratification decared his Judgment opposed Il IN
euery particular but fearing s rejection might occasion
Other beteen the too countries he felt compelled vote
for Il.
1T is altogether impossible to make treaty having the
least conne1ion with the Garay grant"
That is Mr.. Lstcher's report. And ask my hon.
orable friend from Virginia where it is in these negota
tons that he finds that Mexico recognised the validity of
the Garay grant,
have no hostility to the Garay grant, or to its as
sgnees to their enterprise. therefore shall hold my
mind in to form favorable judgment upon
them in future instead Of endeavoring to bring other
Senators to the conclusion that the grant is invalid
that the assignment is unavang and viii now present
the deductions make from the case, which have thus
traced by history and argument in negative form,
to wit: First that the Committee Foreign Relations
do show that the American asgnees have existing
title to the right to open the isthmus OF Tehuantepec
and secondly that they do not show that the validity of
the grant has been recognised by Mexico since its abro
CATION by the Mexican Congress
Here might leave the question but in that case
should leave undone what it is the duty of Senator
to doexhaus the subject and present fully the grounds
Of the votes which must be given against the resolutions
before the Senate
You will perceive that hitherto have assumed, in this
argument two things first that the grant to Garay was
sssgnable and, secondly that assignment made
by Garay which has to be vested in the hands Of
American citizens. Proceeding upon these assumptions,
ask you TO take notice Of another important point in the
II is indisputable that whatever conditions Sass
attached to his decree entered into the assignments when
made Let show you the conditions imposed by Salas:
cart H. 1t shall be express condition. in all contracts
with coonss that they shah the privileges Of their
original domic 50 long they reside in the country subject
ing themselves to all the existing colonial regulations which
are not in conflict with the present law.
Art IA The enterprise shall submit for the approval Of
Government all which il shall make for the introduce
ton Of families aud sborers and It shall keep public and
authentic register Of all its transactions in respect all mat
tiers Of colonization"
have translated these conditions from the record Of
the decree which is before me. Let show what
the contemporsneous exposition Of them given by Salas
and which accompanied the approval of the assignment
Here IL is:
According TO the spirit Of the aforesaid law this renunc
alton must take place In the most positive and conclusive
the part Of the settlers that whatever circumstances
happen and whatever require nei
ther the settlers aforesaid the propretors may not
for cause plead alien privileges any other
privileges those which granted,
persons and their property be subjected and with
out this requisite they will not be admitted"
Here are American citizens claiming the extension Of
this grant by an assignment which made upon the
express and published condition Of absolute donation
alization and yet interposDg in their behalf
upon the ground OF the very privileges Of aenshp which
they renowned to acquire the rights and claim
ing rights for those who If they have assignment
held by to have renounced altogether their citizenship
Of the United States We required TO mske reprisas