The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-02
THE PAoIFIc RAfLRoAp.

THE PAoIyIc RAfLzoAD.
OF railroad to The Pacific was taken up.
On motion Of Mr. RUSK, the bill reported by tn
Committee on Territories was substituted as tn
special order for the one introduced by Mr.. GwIn
and be then goved that the one reported bv hin
from thu select committee as a substitute for In,
pending bill be taken up.
Mr.. BRODHEAD laid on the table suhst;tnt,
for the several bills, one appropriatine 400 00
Tor the necessary surveys and reconnaissance of th
route. -
The subject was then postponed
THE TEHUANTEPEc ROUTE,
The Senate proceeded to consider the following
resolutions reported at the last session by the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations:
Resolred, As the judgment of the Senate, that il
the present posture of the question the grant O
q. right of way through the territory of Mexico, a
the lsthmus of Tehuantepec, conceded by that re
public to one of its citizens, and the property
of citizens Of the United States, as the same pre-
companying the message of the President of tn,
United States of the 9th July, 1852, it is not com
patbe with the dignity of this Government to pro
secute the subject further by negotiation.
z Should the government of Mexico propose
renewal of such negotiation, it should be accedeo
to only upon distinct propositions from Mexico, mo-
inconsistent with the demands made by this Go
vernment in reference to said grant
$. mat the Government of the United States
stands committed to all of its citizens to protect
them In their rights, abroad as we'll as at home
within the sphere of its jurisdiction; and should
Mexico; within reasonable time, fail to reconsider
her position concerning said grant, it will then be
come the duty OF this Government to review ali
existing relations with that republic and to adont
such measures as will preserve the honor of the
country and the rights of its citizens
Mr.. MASON said that the subject had been con.
adered 6y the committee az one of deep import
ance The acquisition of California and the inter.
yenlng territory had placed this Government in the
awkward position of having some of its depend
encles 30 situated as to be almost inaccessible The
Importance of having communication with the
possessions on the Pacific was thought of by Mr..
Polk in his instructions to Mr.. Trist to propo &c
large sum of money to Mexico for a right
OF way across the lsthmus of Tehuantepec, which
Mexico declined, on the ground that she had seye.
raj years before made the grant to one of her own
citizens, and could not now disturb that grant.
The discovery of California of it's 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 governmentthere. Mexico alone-from
whom our possessions were acquired-has 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 communicate on
between the two great oceans at Tehuantepec: and
the minds OF the people of this country have been
concentrated upon that plan of communication
which sbail be the least expensive and most efca-
cious between the two oceans
MIR. NJ detailed the origin of the Garav grant
and Its subsequent transfers, detailed in the re-
port of the committee, which appeared in this
paper on Monday last; and read from an account
OF surveys made at the time, which show the en-
tire practicability of the proposed route
He thought there was not, and ought not to he
any conflict between the friends of the overland
railroad and those who desired communication
by Tehuantepec. The road by Tehuantepec could
be constructed for eight millions of dollars 1t
was not within the territory of the United States.
yet for all Government uses and commercial pur
poses 1t could not be surpassed. He did not pro
pose that the company should be aided by any
money grant, but that this Government would in.
erfere to protect the rights of its citizens aud Sc
cure to itself the best, safest, and most certain
means OF communication with its possessions on
the Pacific
He referred to the various regulations on this
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 American
company to commence the work the aid promised
and extended them, their expenditures. Sc. and
then their contumelious expulsion by Mexico He
examined the defence set up by Mexico that Salas
had no authority for his acts. he being usurper
&C., and maintained that Mexico had recopnised
and was bound by his acts.
He read tables of the comparative distance be-
tween New York and New Orleans and San Fran.
cisco by the Chagres and the Tehuantepec routes:
and also of the comparative time occupied in trav.
cling by those routes, and deduced from them re.
suits favorable to the Tehuantepec route.
He considered that the new propositions invited
BY Mexico for the construction of this road would
il made and completed, place this right of way for
ever under the exclusive control of the Mexican
government. He thought Mexico, had she the
enlightened government she ought to have, would
see and know that such means of communication
ought to beopen to the world, and under the ex
elusive charge and control 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 secured
by the grant to Garay; and insisted that it was th
duty OF this government to protect and maintain
the rights of its citizens
He pointed out the facilities which this ropte
would afford to the commerce of the United States
finding its way to the Gulf of Mexico by the mouth
of the Mississippi.
He contended that it was clearly established bv
the law OF nations that a nation had the light of
way over another's territory, to communicate with
Its own, whenever an indispensable necessity re-
CURED that communication. He intended no dis
enlargement to the friends of the several bills for
railroad to the Paclhc In our territories but the
latter he considered impracticabIe for wears To
come; In the meantime there was necessity for
a 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 administra tion
would take measures to assure Mexico that the
United States have no desire to despoi her of anv
d her terrtory that our desire is to preserve the
most fraternal relations with her, and to point out
me poilcy OF making that right of way great
common highway between the two oceans
He expressed his unwillingness to have any war
with Mexico for many reasons, but particularly
because in such war Mexico would fall dead on
our hands. va
mr.. DOWNS obtained the floor, and
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WAGON ROAD TO THE PACIFIC.
4 Mr. GIDDINCS fr,,,, AZ r, -,