New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-07-13
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 10, 1853
TEHUAN'TEPEC RIGHT or u.Hl.

of Tehuantepec, we propose few remarks as t'
the title vested in this Company-how they OBJ
tanned it, on what foundations it is based, anu
by what acts Col Sloo has succeeded in securing
to himself the benefits arising from this mag
nifcent concession.
We pass from the history of the grant, as con
ferred on Don Jose de Garay, in 1872, by SAINT.
Anna, then President of Mexico its ratification
at subsequent period by General Salas, Die
tator and Government de .fdcto of that country
its sale to British capitalists-NIessrs Mannin,
& Northumberland its various transfers after
wards, and come at once to the point at issue
In 1862, after the route had been surveyed
and it had been demonstrated by the report o
practical engineers that railroad could b,
built at a comparatively small cost, Col Sloc
discovered that there was doubt about the
title Of the New Orleans Company and imme.
diately proceeded to avail himself of it. With
consummate impudence he repaired to the city
Of Mexico, and with purse as empty as the
grounds on which he proceeded were weak,
opened negotiations with the Government for
the transfer Of the grant to himself, on the
grounds that Garay was without title, and
that consequently his remote transferees, the
New Orleans Company, were in an equally
bad fix
The Mexican Government, being always ready
to trample on the rights of American citizens
and at the time exceedingly short of funds,
grasped at the proposition made by Sloo, which
was this; To pay for the right of way $500, 0CO
in cash, and $4,000 in monthly instalments Of
$4,000 each. The bargain was closed, although
Moo. at the time Ind oil 81,
to "ante up What does the sagacious SIoo
in this dilemma lie Immediately takes bis
departure for this city, first leaving his power
of Attorney with VIM. DeLee and Angel dc
Iturbide, authorizing them to boyrO,c the mon.y
to make the cash payment and to meet the in
stalments, and to draw upon him for the amounts
Net only this, but he authorized them to piedse
has estate, real and personal, in this CITY. for
the $500, 600. The plan worked ell DeLee
and lturbide hunted up one Falconet, a money
changer, who advanced the amount, the money
was planked up to the Government, and the
contract was sealed
What then
1turbide and DeTee drew upon SIoo for he
Soo0,ooo. Sloo hadn't the " mopuses, and his
only resource was TO plead that as the United
States had not ratified the grant, the contract
was incomplete and he coulln'tpay SO stands
the matter at present, and the question whether
road shall be built across the Isthmus remains
in suspense until the United States Government
decides who has the best right, Col 4 G. Sloo. |
or the New Orleans Company
We think the question may be settled in a |
very few words. The history Of the grant is
shortly this:
In 1912 Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna,
the President Of Mexico, granted the rigbt Of
way across the Isthmus to Don Jose de tiarav,
ana confirmed 1t by subsequent DEGREES, giving
to the grantee specified term wherein to com
mence the works for the opening Of the route
In the mean while Santa Anna went out Of
office, and Garhy did not commence the works
IN the time limited Gen Salas, subsequently.
became Supreme Dictator of the country. and
Garay applied to his Government for an exten.
sion OF the time for the commencement of the
WORKS, and for recognition Of his grant These
requests were conceded by the Administration
the time asked for was granted, and a decree
confirming Garay's title was passed with all the
due solemnities, in November, 1886 Thus was
my deiect IN the title, on account of neglect on
the part OF Garay to commence the works, cured
by the confrmatory decree of Gen Salas.
by the terms of the concession Garay was {
authorized to assign his rights to any nitrate
Hd'oidndfs, or company, mattress or foyejg8 {
ers' In pursuance of this privilege Garay after v
wards made transfer of all his rights to Nessrs
manning y Macintosh, an English house located G
III Mexico, and this transfer was duly notified u
10 the spanish Government 1t was duly an II
proved, as the Government afterwards iespad Sc
orders to the Communicates of Onxaoa and Il
Vera Cruz not to allow the cutting of mahogany
on the Isthmus By any other man Tie EoSEs5 !,
Company.
AT the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mr.
rrist, our Minister, was authorized to tender
hiteen millions of dollars for right of way s.
across the lsthmus The Commissioners on the a
part OF Mexico, deputed to treat with him. an. Fl
swered that Mexico could not treat ON tbis
SUBJECT because she had already made grant h
10 one OF her citizens, who had transferred bi 81
rgh's' by the authority of the Mexican Gov {
frhment' to English subjects Of lrLose fjgbty
'herae0 co"fd not dispose" BY this. Mexico L
clearly declared, and on an occasion tho ,nost Il
'olemn, that the validity of the grant admitted
II no doubt, and that what we wished To mr. {
'hase belonged 10 English subjects ;,
Afterwards Mr. Hargous, citizen of the Uni. 4
ed States, became purchaser Of the grant
md associated with him in the Prosecution ar 5
ne enterprise the "NewOrleans COMPANY II
his Company desired to make thorough re a
nrvey of the Isthmus and our Minister in Mex S,
10 was instructed to communicate that wish a
he Mexican Government made no objection 7,
Or did they suggest doubt Of the right Of the st
'mpany, but actually forwarded passports 70, oi
e engineers and ordered the departments along n,
lie line of the road to afford them all aid and
ospitality The engineers went, the surveys
ere completed, and over one hundred thousand
oilars expended in demonstrating the praet =
ability of the route. u
In 1901 treaty was made between Mexico =
ho .ne United States, affirming the rights Of !.
he Neworleans Company Tie treaty Win -
he titles TO the grant, were su,,oit,oi II,
United States Senate, unanimously, on,.,a,.o,I 10
atihed, signed and sent back to Mexic, !, -,
be meantime the President Of Mexico pe1,.,- -.
led, and the opinions Of the leading men If H., a,
'untry took sudden change, and a law VA, ma
Used declaring the decree OF General s,I,, tia
nfrmatory Of the Garay grant, to be nun anal Nj
'id, because he had no power to make such -, sci
scraa y, =