Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-04
Congress of tile United states.
TUESDAY, Feb. 1, 1853.
In SENATE,
THE TEHUANTEPEc ROUTE.

Inc SENATE prOceeue0 TO consider the follow
ing resolutions, reported at the last session by the
Committee on Foreign Relations:
Resolved As the Judgment to the Senate that in the
presentposure of Che question the grant of right ofway
through the territory of Mexico the Isthmus ofTe-
huanepec conceded by that republic to one of its citizens
aud the property OF citizens of the United States as
the same presented by the correspondence and dozen
ments accompanying the message ofthe President of the
United States ofhe Goth July 1852 it is not compatible
with the dignity of this Government to prosecute the sub
ject further by negotla ion.
g. Should the government Of Mexico propose renewal
to such negotiations 1t should be acceded only upon
tinct propo onstrom Mexico not Inconsistent with the
demands made by this Government in reference to said
grant.
B. That the Government of the United States stands
committed to all OF its citizens protect them in their
rights, abroad as we'll home within the sphere ofits
jurisdiction; and should Mexico within reasonable time
fail to reconsider her position concerning said grant it
will then become the duty of this Government review
all existing relations with that republic and adopt such
will preserve the honor of the country and
the rights ofits citizens
Mr.. MASON said that the subject had been con-
sidered by the committee one ofdeep import
ance. The acquisition of California and the in
tervening territory had placed this Government
in the awkward position of having some of its de-
tendencies so situated to be almost inaccessi-
BILE. The importance of having communica-
ton with the possessions on the Pacific was
thought of by Mr.. Polk 10 his instructions to Mr.
Trist to propose large sum of money to Mexico
for ris hit of way across the 1sthmus of Tehuan-
tepec. which Mexico declined, on the ground that
she had several years before made the grant to
one of her own citizens and could not now disturb
that grant.
The discovery of California of its gold, had
given greater importance to this subject, and the
eyes of the world had been seeking the shortest
and best right of way to the Pacific.
The lsthmus of Panama had been sought and
been used, no obstacle having been thrown in the
way by any government there. Mexico aone-
from whom our possessions were acquired-Ias
refused this right of way and not only refused
it, but has set aside rights which she had before
then granted and acknowledged to be just. For
years enterprises have been projected to form
some communication between the two great
oceans at Tehuantepec; and the minds of tile
people of this country have been concentrated
upon that plan of communication which shall be
the least exp ensive and most efficacious between
the two oceans.
Mr. M. detailed the origin of the Garay grant
and its subsequent transfers, as detailed in the
report Of the committee, which appeared in this
paper Monday last and read from an account
of surveys made at the time. which show the en-
tire practicablity of the proposed route.
He thought there was not and ought not to be.
any conflict between the friends of the overland
railroad and those who desired communication
BY Tehuantepec. The road by Tehuantepec
could be constructed for ght millions of dollars
1t was not within the territory of the United
States, vet for all Government uses aud CONNER
cial purposes it could not be surpassed He did
not propose that the company should be aided by
any money grant, but that this Government
would interfere to protect the rights of its cit-
zens and secure to itself the best, safest, and
most certain means OF comm unication with its
possessions on the Pacific.
He referrad to the various ne uotiationo m tb;s
subject, and held that all the United States had
asked was to obtain the protection of both govern
ments to this work, as had been done with Great
Britain over the Nicaragua route. He alluded
to the overtures made by Mexico to the Ameri-
can company to commence the work, the aid
promised and extended them their expenditures,
&C., and then their contumelious expulsion by
Mexico He examined the defence set up by
Mexico chat Salas had no authority for his acts,
he being usurper, and maintained that Mexi-
co had recognised and was bound by his acts.
He read tables of the comparative distance
between New York and New Orleans and San
Franc isco by the Chagres and the Tehuante-
pee routes; and also of the comparative time oc-
cupied in travelling by those routes, and deduced
from them results favorable to the Tehuantepec
route.
He considered that the new propositions in
vited by Mexico for the construction of this road
WOULD if ever made and completed place this
right OF way forever under the exclusive control
of the Mexican government. He thought Mex
leo, had she the enlightened government she
ought to have, would see and know that such q
means OF communication ought to be open to the
world, and under the exclusive charge and con-
troll of no nation.
He thought it possible that it might become
the duty of the United States to insist that this
right of way shall be substantially the same as
1ra1 hv tho orr tO (Nnr,a nd
it was the duty Of this Government to protect
and maintain the lights of its citizens.
He pointed out the facilities which this
route would afford to the commerce of the Uni
ted States, finding its way to the Gulf of Mexi-
CO by the mouth of the Mississippi.
He contended that it was clearly established
by the law of nations that nation had the right
of way over another's territory, to communicate
with its own, whenever an indispensable neces-
sty required that communication. He intended
no Encouragement to the friends of the several
bills for railroad to the Pacific in our own ter
ritories, but the latter he considered as impracti
cable for years to come; in the meantime there
was necessity for communication with the
Pacific, and it must be sought by that route
which will be certain at all seasons.
He asked this Government to do nothing but
to hold Mexico to her faith. He desired the
Senate to adopt these resolutions, that Mexico
might be informed that the Senate will insist
that she shall keep that faith
Our present relations with Mexico were
greatly embarrassed. He hoped the new admin
istration would take measures to assure Mexico
that the United States has no desire to despol
her of any of her territory that our desire is to
preserve the most fraterna relations with her.
and to point out the policy of making that right
of way great common highway between the
two oceans.
He expressed his unwllingness to have any
war with Mexico for many reasons, but paltcn-
larly because in such a war Mexico would fall
dead on our hands.
Mr.. Downs obtained the floor, and
The Senate adjourned.
CONGRESS--WEDNN
SENATE.-Mr. Borand submitted resolution