The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-09
the TEHUANIEpEc RIGHT OF WAY.
Santa Anna's Original Grant to Com
modore Porter.
MTaEsTING DOCUMENTS AND LETTERS.

Garay's Grant ana the Sloo Grant.
There is likely 70 be considerable discussion be-
tween this andthe next session Of Congress, and at
the next session respecting the different grants from
the Government of Mexico to various parties, of
lands &C., on the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec. 1t is
understood that the parties interested in the late
grant to Col Sloo and his associates are seeking the
ratification by President Pierce of the recent treaty
made BY Judge Conkling confirming the grant If
the executive ratification is given the treaty has still
to be ratified by the Senate. The ratification Of this
last treaty Of course annals and abrogates all the
past action OF the executive and Senate in reference
to the Garay grant and may regarded as an aban-
donment and extinguishment OF it, and therefore
those interested (Messrs Haynes, Senator Benjamin,
and their co-partners) will resist such measure 1t
is said that the convention recently concluded with
Mexico by Judge Conkling, concluded without
instructions auhorsng the stipuations it contains
and that the faith Of the United States is pghted by
its past action to sustain the Garay grant, and on
the other hand it is asserted that the SloO contract
is the most advantageous to this country. Letters
from Mexico, for and against both grants are pro-
duced in this city and in Washington replete with
plausible statements and cOgent arguments pro and
con. In the meantime there seems to be an indspo-
stOn to publish TO the world the copies had by some
OF the parties OF the official documents This looks
suspicious. The public wants light, information and
facts. 1t is not satisfied with rigmarole arguments
and assertions and representations, by interested par
ties, or their feed counsel in such matters but they
demand the documents The suppression of these
papers creates distrust that they will not bear the
test OF scrutiny. We have long time since heard
that the late Commodore David Porter had with
Others obtained in 1896 and afterwards grants for
lands at the Isthmus that superior to any con-
cessi0ns made since. Commodore Porter, it will be
remembered, was COMMUNICATIVE chief OF the navy of
Mexico from 1926 to 1929, during which time he
more than once engaged with Spanish ships.of-war
in the Gulf Of Mexico and Straits of Florida. His
brother, Capt. John Porter, killed board the
brig Guerrero in an engagement with the Spanish
squadron under Admiral Laborde. We have OBJ
tanned copy of one of the grants given by the
Mexican Government to Commodore David Porter
OF which copy, faithfully translated, is published
below, with some other proofs upon the subject. His
heirs are entitled we presume to this valuable pro
and it is not to be doubted that General Santa Anna
will recognize and carry out his own acts in 1926 and
1928. There are, we are informed, other important
official documents OF date subsequent to the follow
ing, extending the concession.
SANTA Annals LETTER.
trRASsLAroNl
VERA CkUz March l6 1928.
On the third day Of this month decfee was issued by
this gov. ut the Instance most excellent
Senior Hon Joe Ignacio Eteva asking lands Coatz
coslcos, and communicated to citizen Tadeo Orts Com
missioner General in that territory folows:-
Whereas the N Z. Senior Don Jose Ignacio Esteva
addressed to This in June 1926 petition un
W. q
the public ccnain the Isthmus OF Coatzscoacos and
making slight intlmation OF his merits and ser vices
in the Gauss Of the counry aud these being Of
the most raD scendant order and the government duly
sPpreosting the same. have assigned to him by virtue
Of the powers in vested by the said law and in cons
Iteration OF his distinguished and exalted merit
the mAxinum Quantity allosed by the said Law and
accordingly the Commissioner in Coatzacoalcos will
designate and make out the richest most convenient
and best situated auds the Hacienda de Esteva and
map and title in property Of the same win be forthwith
RENTED to h f. by the raid Commissioner whom this
icaf hiatt ma he od
into. eject communicate the same to you for the
purpose expressed
by Commodore David Porter, General Don vicenta Fe
lisoa, Commissary Don Francisco fabian, Colonel Don
Nicolas Acosta, and Don Manuel NJ Quiros this govern
ment has assigned TO the first in consideration Of his
eminent vices the extent of land as to Senior
seya to the second four square leagues to the third
the same as the preceding to III. fourth square
league and to the fifth, the TO the last
have the honor to transmit the to your honor
for your inicrn alton and as provisional title until the
Commits soner General shall have extended in due form
the proper deeds to give Of the lands you
are TO enjoy under the above stated provision.
As TO L iSsEy DE SANTA ANNA.
Totem. DAVID PORTER Commanding Mexican squadron
LETTER FROM TADEo oRrIs
TTHuANTEPpc MINoTrrrAN Oct "a 1898
DEAR SR-The Felix has arrived with the effects for my
commission, and have turned perfectly to nv salts
facfioh and without any accident; at the time
received the twenty volumes Of the New Testament that
you had the generosity to send me for distribute among
the poor yigers for which service hasten xpfess
to you, in their lame, my sir thanks
regret not to be able 20 furnish you the deed for the
property which beorgs to you for soon arrived
at this port both eli ard the eogneer whose duty it
to st in the survey Of the taken sick
but as soon as his health is established it shall be my
hrst attention TO verify this operation and comply with
your wishes notwithstanding that tell you that YOU
might dispose of OF the best pieces of property aud
nize II if think it worth while the deed (which
will be essential for the future) it is actually mere
; hicn can IN no way as the principal Oh
Ject which is the cultivation of the lani and to carry
TINS out appears to me better for you to send at
torney who can take possess on at once.
The schooner OILY detained in this port two DAYS
after her ditchsrge but IL the bar where
she was detained without cause five days which attri.
butte to the want OF proper regu in this port and
want Of Captain of the Port which is lamented by all
since the administration OF Acaycan
With sentiments Of the highe respect &c, &c,
Commissioner General for Mexico.
Com. DAVID PORTER, Commanding Mexican Squadron
LETTER OF J. C. oRossMAN.
DEAR SrE-Your friend, Captain Ord, of the United
states Navy requests me 10 communicate TO you the
nce in relation to the intere. your father had in the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
1t was this In he month Of August or september-I
forget which while my way from the city Mexico
TO Vera Cruz, topped at the town OF Jalapa yeral
days, waiting for vessel bound to the United States
dore Porter then 10 Jaa and bad in the
same hotel Law daily aud while there drew for hi
two large maps Of tbs Itnmus Of Tehuaniepec from sur
vey which understcod had just then been completed for
him by the Mexican government He informed me, as
old also Gene al Baregan the Governor II the State Of
Vera Cruz, whom also frequently saw that tbs stbrous
Of Iebuanteptc. embracing he ~hole of the Coat
zscoalc. with some miles OF territory either
side Ct thai stream. had been given to him by
the republic Of Mexico that it was his intentioa
TO cooDize IL with people from this country and to con-
meet the paygabe waters Of the Coa. coacos with the
Gulf Of Tebuastepec, the Pacific. Commodore Porter
also informed me that he had had tue Guasacastcos
sounded, at his own expense, from its mouth to its
and that be had also private report lopo
gapby OF the country fir Of the Surveying party
or person who accompanied it
From what Then heard and saw there Il no doubt in
my mind that The Itbmus Of Tehuanepec of right be.
longs TO Commodore Porers beirs and the Mexican
government had any regard for its contracts or engage
ments am satisfied that the claim of any other party
would never have been admitted
u General Bauegsn Is still living he would be able
ana eel confident would be ~illing TO ri Won fu
IaIucuars OIL me conveyance number OF miles Of terri
tory embraced IN the deed &C. know be to * Off i,
any very ecuye part in the Transaction and VA. ex
tremey soctous 10 secure etmaneuty the ser vices Of
Commodore Porter for the Nexiclu Navy
IL this statement can be II any service 20 Won ,h,u
be GLAD If my declaration uneer ath TO these r,c ia
desirable aill eheefy give them you ia that form
Captain Ord, you will from what have written