The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-19

Judge, is authorized to appoint the day.
Another murder was committed in Philadelphia
county last Sunday. James O'Neil, during fracas
at tavern, stabbed and almost instantly killed Geo.
w. Soly
The TehuantePcc ROute-The SlOO CONTRACT
versus the Garay Grant.
The public have been already advised of the
intelligence received few days since from
Mexico of the conclusion of the Sloo treaty.
The plenipotentaries-M Conkling, on the
part of the United States and Sloo & Company.
and Gen. Tornel and Castillo Lanzas. on the
part of Mexico-signed the contract on the 2Sth
ult., in the city of Mexico, guaranteeing the
neutrality and protection Of the Sloo Transit
way across the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec. and the
entire security Of the capital invested therein.
This treaty now therefore, only requires the
ratification of the supreme executive power Of
Mexico. the Mexican Congress and the United
States Senate to render it supreme law of the
land in both countries.
In the meantime we are not exactly informed
of the present position of the Garay treaty, in
reference to this new contract with Col. Sloo.
We know that the Garay treaty was concluded
between the contracting parties in Mexico, rati-
fed by the United States Senate and subse-
quently rejected. upon the question Of its rati-
fcation. by the Mexican Congress. But we also
recollect that the late President Fillmore and
his Secretary of State. Mr.Webster. did make the
ratification of the said treaty by Mexico
sine qua non to the continuance Of
the friendly relations subsisting between
the two governments. And we remem-
her, too, that Mr.. Mason. Chairman on Foreign
Relations Of the Senate at Washington, some
time ago introduced aresolution into that body,
so far taking the same ground upon the Garay
treaty with the late administration, as to make
its ultimate rejection by Mexico casus 5eLi.
We are. aware. however, that that resolution
was permitted to lie and to die upon the table
But we are not yet informed whether the posi-
ton assumed, and so stoutly maintained by Mr..
Fillmore and Mr.. Webster has been abandoned.
by Gen. Pierce and his cabinet OF is to be main
tanned. We are net aware that the subject is
yet sufficiently matured in reference to the Sloo
treaty in any form, to admit Of its official con-
sideration by our cabinet; and we suppose that
the reason why the Senate, at its late executive
session. passed over the whole subject of these
Tehuantcpec treaties in silence was that they
did not wish to interfere in the pending nego-
tiations with Col. Sloo.
But the question still remains to be answered:
What in the event Of the ratification of the Sloo
treaty by Santa Anna, what becomes of the
Garay treaty Has there been compromise
hnfxr fha nrlaano 10
was transferred the charter of Garay. and
Colonel Sloo and his company Or is the
Garay company identified with the Sloo
company in this new treaty? Or did Colonel
Sloo, acting upon the conclusion that the
rejection of the Garay treaty by the Mexican
Congress made a final disposition of it. enter
upon and conclude his negotiations for this inn
portant right of way? In a word do the New
Orleans company, under the Garay charter,
consent to the new charter of Colonel Sloo or
do they still intend to contest their presumption
right to the Tehuantepec route.
If Colonel Sloo, or any authorised agent in
in his behalf can answer the foregoing ques-
tons satisfactorily. then the way is opened
pretty clearly before them. The Garay treaty
being then by Mr. Benjamin and company. an
admitted dead letter. Santa Anna can have no
nor can our government, in the rati-
fcation of the Sloo contract. Otherwise. the
conflicting interests of prior claim may give
endless trouble to all the parties concerned.
Colonel Sloo is a man Of enterprise, tact and
He was the pioneer in the great
project of steamship communication, via Pana-
ma. between New York and California. He s
hardly the man to enter into such contract as
that which he has made with Mexico. for the
Tehuantepec right of way, without understand
ing his business, especially as his charter in
wolves the payment to Mexico of three hundred
thousand dollars some fifty thousand of which
have already been paid in. But, as we have
no recollection from cursory perusal of
the Official papers heretofore published in
tory adjustment of the Garay difficulty, we
should like to know how that matter stands,
before venturing to express any opinion re-
garding the investment Of capital in this great
desideratum of railroad transit across the
isthmus of Tehuantepec.
we WdHt, anu CduHot luuCH lOIpeT ulspeHsc
with, the advantages of the Tehuantepcc route
1t is but one hundred and fifty miles, more or
less, of land travel; and the shortening by this
route Of the distance to San Francisco, over
the Panama and Nicaragua routes, is too i'm
portant an item of saving in fuel, time and
mileage, to be overlooked. For example -
The distance from New York to San
Eroncicco viz Panama ia A nnpx
Or, In round numbers. ............,., 5000
Via Tehuantepec route .............. $500
DkldHCe hdVtu, ..s.s.'s.t*' tZtO miles
or almost equal to the distance between New
York and Havana of clear gain.
From New York TO San Francisco, via
Nicaragua route, the distance is 80, $500 miles
Via Tehuantepec route. .....,...,,., $500
Distance reduced INSTRUMENTATION. 700 miles,
or equal to q saving of three days ordinary