The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-26
The Tehuantepec Report.


AS tile Senate has fixed day for the 90,
sidefa'ioh OF the Iehuantepec question, we shall
Tomorrow republish the report and resolutions
presented by the Committee on Foreign Rela-
lions. Our readers will be thus advised NJ
the points at issue between the governments
OF the United States and Mexico upon this
important subject.
It's not often that a question apparently SO i'm
material as right of transit through neighbor
territory becomes of such high international
consequence. But with the contest for the
commercial control of the Pacific, and the pro-
gresslve tendencies of our enterprise and in
stltutions, every avenue of access to that ocean
acquires an adventurous importance in our own
estimation and that of our rivals.
The acquisition of territory upon the Pacific
rendered an adequate ingress and. egress indis-
pensable. The administration of Mr.. Pong
therefore coupled, with the application for a
cession OF territory, the incidental "right of
free passage across Tehuantepec.u
! The Mexican government alleged an out
standing title granted to citizen, (Garay, and
transferred with her f'sanctionu to British sub
Jects, as reason why she could not accede to
the desire of the American Government in re-
gard to the fright of free passage" sought for.
This Identical right passed into the hands of
American citizens. They received permission
to 60 upon the granted territory for the purpose
OF locating their right of way. Mexico, how
ever, annulled the title she so solemnly acknow-
led; confiscated the rights she had "pIedged
her faith" to maintain; appropriated the pro-
perfy without compensation to the proprietors,
and offered it to the highest bidder.
The Government of the United States lis
tened with attention to the appeal of the de-
spoiled proprletors. Yet though the subterfuge
| by which Mexico had evaded the ORIGINAL de-
mand was obvious, it yet considered her con-
dItlon and resorted to reason and expostulatIon.
lhree years OF negotiation only caused Mexico
to mistake torbearance for timidity. The sub
Ject was communicated to the Senate, and the
Committee of Foreign Relations concurred with
the Executive Department in affirming the
validity of the original title, and of the subse-
quent transfers. Still, it left Mexico an oppor
tunity within ''a reasonable time' to reconsider
her position and make some distinct proposi
lions for doing justice to the interests involved.
To this date she has made no proposition
responsive to the resolutions; and the Senate
after SIX months delay propose to take definite
action upon the subject.
lie is true that In protecting the rights of its
citizens the Government will secure an object
OF great national importance, but ii has en-
ployed no other than honorable means to effect
its purposes. Lest, therefore, the Govern.
ment OF the United States be charged with i'm
proper pertlnacity In asserting the specific
rights represented by its citizens. it will be
proper to consider the consequences of aban-
donlng them. For, whilst in ordinary cases of
individual reclamation pecuniary adjustment
may be effected, yet when the claimants repre-
sent rights important to the nation, the duty
and Interests of the Government are concur
rent, and any compromise or abandonment be-
comes public misfortune.
The rapid settlement of California and the
peculiar pursuits of its people have created a
commercial intercourse of the most important
character. The whole product of the country
is intended for expectation, and its whole con-
sumption is drawn from abroad. A small pro-
portion of the immense numbers who visit the
country settle permanently. There is there
fore great number of persons and large va
lues always In transttu and at risk between
the Atlantic States and California.
This immense circulation is at present con-
Quoted chiefly by routes circuitous and expen-
sive, and subject to interruption from obvious
causes, physical and political
Nothing can more emphatically demand the
attention of our Government than to secure IA
clllties of intercourse with system of States
now sprnglng into existence, and destined to
the American name upon the shores
of the Pacific
For this purpose our statesmen have with
patriotic unanlmity projected railroad wholly
within our own territory to the Pacific. Such
a work is indispensable; it will render the
Union impregnable and indissoluble. Its cost
is lmmaterlal in view of it's consequences, for
whilst 1t will cost less than war, it will pro-
duce more than conquest.
But such work must occupy some wears in p
construction
"A free passage across Tehuantepecv will
not only accommodate the intercourse with
California, but it will be an invaluable aid TO
the execution of the Pacific road, for that road
cannot be put under simultaneous construction
an enormous increase of cost: and it
will require the aid of all the isthmus cross
lngs to convey the laborers, supplies, and ma.
terial, to the Pacific terminus.
But, during the period which must elapse
before work of such magnitude can be com
pleted, the people of the United States must
not be left without better means of communi-
cation than they at present possess. For it is
worthy OF observation that, owing to the en-
penslve character ofthe present routes, citizens
OF moderate means are practically debarred from
any participation in those treasures for which
they have fought or paid their quota. For
these and other considerations, the right of free
passage, contained IN the charter to GARAy.