Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-04

In 1857 various capitalists of New
Orleans obtained from President Com
onfort, of the Mexican Republic, in
consideration of their constructing a
ship canal or railroad across the 18TH
mus of Tehuantepec, a valuable grant
of lands, together with the exclusive
use for term of years Of the canal or
railroad, whichever they might elect
to construct. To carry out the scheme
q company, known as the Tehuante-
pee Company, was organized, with
$10,OOO,OOO capital. The time during
which, under the terms of the grant,
the work was to have been accom-
plished passed without anything hav-
ing been done. President Juarez, on
application, extended the term, how
ever, to 1862, and confirmed the origi-
nal grant. A proposition was subse-
quently made to sell the grant to
Northern capitalists; but this propos-
ed arrangement was interfered with
by q change in the government, the
reins of which meanwhile having
passed into the hands of Maximilian,
and Juarez being fugitive and seek
ing secure hiding place among the
Businesses of the mountains. In 1854
Marshal o. Roberts agreed, it is said.
provided he could get legal assign
ment of the grant validity confirmed,
to take it, organize new company
with SIG, 900, 900 capital, construct the
railroad-the land project being now
wholly left out of the scheme and out
of the stock of the new company thus
organized pay $3,0OO,OO0 to the
original holders of the grant. AS it
was then thought, however, that
Macmillan had established on firm
basis the new Empire, his approval of
the grant was considered necessary.
Meanwhile John P. OSullivan had
already obtained from the Mexican
government the grant for a steamship
company. Chevalier Wyckoff accord
ingly introduced Mr.. OSullivan to
Mr.. Roberts as the proper person to
obtain the necessary confirmation of
the grant by Macmillan. The result,
as alleged, was that Mr.. OSullivan
agreed to 60 to Mexico and interview
Macmillan on the matter, Mr.. Rob-
erts, on his side, promising to pay his
expenses, and if successful, to pay him
$50, 900 for his services, or stock of the
new company to this amount.
AS the story runs on Mr.. O'Sullivan
started on his mission, but off the
coast of North Carolina was ship
wrecked. Not in the least disheart-
ened by this seeming Intervention of
the fates he renewed his journey and
at length succeeded in safely reaching
the City of Mexico. At the Mexican
capital he found others in pursuit of
the grant-representatives respective
ly of the Rothschilds, the Spragues,
the Lindsays, and others of the Pacific
road. Despite this opposition his mis-
sion, as he AYERS, was crowned with
success. Scarcely had Macmillan
affixed his imperial autograph and seal
to the grant when the whirligig of
revolution compelled him to vacate,
and Juarez again held triumphant
sway in the capital. Among the first
official acts of the latter was signing
similar grant to Charles Knapp and
others. OF course the capture and ex-
ecutiOn of Macmillan destroyed all
vitality of the grant to Mr.. Roberts,
and that executed by President Juarez
remained in full force.
On arriving in this city Mr.. O'Sul-
Ivan claimed that he had fully exc
cuted his mission and demanded from
Mr.. Roberts the $4,000 he was to re-
ceive for his services. Mr.. Roberts
refused to pay the sum demanded, in
sisting that when he paid Mr.. O'Sul-
livan's expenses to Mexico, amount
ing to some $4,000 in gold, he b ad gone
to the extent of his personal liability
and that the $4,000 agreed upon was
only to be paid out of the stock of the
company when organized, and as the
company was not organized, but on
the contrary, as the entire project fell
through, he was under no obligation
to pay this sum. A suit was accord
ingly brought for the amount, and the
same having been for some time on
the calendar of the Superior Court,
finally came to trial yesterday before
Judge Curtis. The above alleged facts
were set forth in the opening of the
case by Albert Stickney, leading coun-
sci for Mr.. O'Sullivan. The opposing
counsel are ex-Judge Pierrepont and
A. ]. Vanderpoel. 1t is probable that
the trial will last several days.-[N.
Y. Herald.