The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-15

The Tehusnt~s~c Mast Cost~act-A Now
re,nt msde IN Our America" Policy.
We learn from Washington that contracts
have been entered into by the Post Office De-
par'ment, the Tehuantepec Company and the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company for the con-
vey ance of a semi-monthly mail to California
via the Lthmus OF Tcnuantepec.
Under many points of view, and especially in
the present conjuncture of affairs relating to
the istbmus questions, this is one Of the most
important steps that could be taken by the gov
eminent. The route by the Isthmus of Te-
busnsepec is much shorter than either Of the
other present or prospective routes 10 Ca),foc-
mia; ard the first practical effect of its open
ing will be the great one that Intelligence, pas
sengers and treasure from San Francisco can be
placed on the Atlantic board in six days less
time than is now required to bring them either
by Panama or Nicaragua. This OF itself is a
material benefit to an immense domestic trsd.,
which would have been of sufficient Importance
10 warrant the making of these contracts BY the
government without any other considerations.
But there are other reasons of the highest cha
racter, and which weigh now with peculiar en-
phasis in favor of the immediate opening of the
Tehuantepec route.
For several years past the trade and travel
OF the Atlantic board with our Pacific States
have been made the sport and prey of certain
powerful monopo'es These have not only
forced the Post Office Department to agree to
the most oDerous terms for the transportation of
the mails, but have, by playing into each Others
bsnCs, eDbsDc.d the cost Of travel to California
to such point as to retard in q serious degree
The Development of our Pacific empire
Against the fret of these difficulties the govern.
meDt has carried On a continual bu. uusuc cess
full struggle, as will be seen by reference to the
last port of the late Postmaster General The
other has been subject of coutiaaal COMPLIANT
by every interest connected with our Pacific
States, but to no purpose. Occasionally n
seeming competition has arisen between the
powerful companies intel ested in tue Panama
and Nicaragua routes, and The price of passage
bias been temporarily reduced to a reasonable
and living rate. But no sooner has travel
obeyed it's natural impulse under these favora.
BILE conditions, than sJme secret arrangemeo at l.
made, the competition ceases, ana tue price of
passage Is sgsin run up to an .xorbitant sun
Nor is this material disad vantage to the int.
rests OF the government aud the people the
only evil flowing from the ooen and secret in
trigues Of the companies holding the Panama
and Nicaragua routes They have succeeded
in embarrassing the policy of our government
In its efforts to restore peace and security to
the lsthDus routes, aud to open them cheapy
to commerce and travel; and have, by their in.
uigues with the weak governments that con
troll them, brought into a condition of great
danger the negotiations that have recently been
made with the view Of establishing a con.
trolling American policy over those coun
tries. They have got the Nicaragua AID
New Granular treaties iDto such snarl that
their ratification by the weak Powers that rule
those republics has become question of much
ooubt The opening OF the Tehu shtepec route
will not only dimisisb the Importance vi those
rstifcations, but by placing tue Ncarasu. aud
Panama routes some tHeive hundred miles out
OF the Ire Of travel to the Pacific, will render
1t subject Of very little Importance to the
peope OF the United s ates whether those trea.
ties are accepted OF not
there is another point Of view in which the
opening OF the Tehuantepec route is mos, de.
slraoie thing. The NJ sic,n probl IN is close
upon u, with n demand Tor i,s solution
lD this matter great difficulties present them
selves; but the carrying OF the tide OF American
travel and commerce across the ntbmus @,
1ahauntepec may help to a satisfactory resolv-
ing vi some, IL not all, of these d ficulties
Mexico needs al impulse to her population aud
Der labor, which che will receive 10 part from
the opening Of the Tebuaotepec route She
Deeds an interest on the part Of our government
m h.r internal stability, which can only be ex-
T. ndtd where we have large m .ters interests
at stake. in this view these new Contracts 10y
the government Of the United States may con-
tain the germ Of Mexico's regeneration, and of
the maintenance, at the SAINT same time, of her
independent nationality.
In every point of view, therefore, these con-
tracts for the carrying of the mails across the
lstbDus of Tehuantepec have deep importance
to the whole country. We look now for an
early reduction, within reasonable limits. of the
present enormous price Of passage to California:
ior Il much quicker transportation of the nails
Tor more plant policy on the part Of the gov
ernments of New Granada and Nicaragua TO.
ward American interests; for q more stable
order of things in Mexico; and for greater con-
sideration toward the travelling public on the
part OF the steamboat commodores and their
monopolzing companies. In the establishment
of an American policy for the American 18th |
mus, Mr. Buchanan could not have taken a
wiser and more effective step than this OF
opening the Tebuantepec route; and IT IL one |
that must meet the appreciation of every ia |
serest, except those Immediately connected with |
the preservation Of the existing state Of Affairs
In connection with our Istbmus transit.