The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-05-07

world for her commodities, development must
lie what have just predicted.
While these railroads will furnish trans.
portation through the interior for many arti-
cles from one republic to the other, yet the
great line Of commerce will necessarily be
from the different seaports particularly those
on the Gulf Of Mexico. At the present time
there is but Ole harbor on the Gulf within
Mexican territory where vessels OF any con
siderable draught can come in close proximi'
ty to the shore, namely, Vera Cruz. II will be-
found that TO keep up with the march Of pro
gress you will have to look for more ports, and
that the demands for them will probably grow
more rapidly Than the country will find means
to provide for The road which represent looks
to the opening of new port, Anton Lizardo,
which do not look upon as conflicting at all
with the interests of the main port OF the re-
public, Vera Cruz. On the contrary, that port,
even IN the anticipation of what ~ to take
place in the near future, is hardly capable OF
ltransacting the business that 1t 10 called upon
to transact, and l hope an enterprise which Il
have just heard of-,hat OF charging the ca
pacity of Vera Cruz--may be commenced and
carried on as rapidly as men and money can
carry it on. With the contemplated improve
ments l predict that its capacity will be
wholly inadequate to the demands made upon
it. 1t is my desire to get the present grant ex
tended so as to start from Vera Cruz, running
| by or near Anton Lizardo, so that the advan-
tages of two ports may be had when they be.
come necessary. A railroad between the two
ports would always be highly desirable.
| There is nothing In my opinion, to stand
in the way of Mexican progress and grandeur
and wealth but the people themselves. l do
not anticipate their opposition, but fully ex
pect their active support. think that l can
! Zoe nE tha IF
country when say that we have no sinister
motives whatever; we have no designs nor de
sircs that are Inimicable to the honor and
credit of this great republic.
| am aware that some of the papers Of Mexi
co, as well rs possibly some IN the United
States, have made allusion to the possibility
of the annexation Of Mexican territory to the
United States On that subject know thai
there are no grounds whatever for apprehen.
sion.
While was President of the United States
Representatives of the Republic Of Santo Do.
mingo applied to me for annexation, de
,clarlng that such was the desire of the Govern
ment and the wish of all the people of the
island This proposition came to me several
times before considered it at all. At length,
tearing that what had been said to me might
merely the statements Of designing men will
ing to sell their country tor private gam, de-
ltermned, quietly and without the knowledge
of these agents Of Santo Domingo, to send
lthither agents of my own t. discover the real
feeling of her people. BY this means verl
fed the statement that ninety nine hundrcths
of her citizens were anxious for the proposed
annexation. They were fully alive to the sub
IjCCt, and thought over 1t and such a consnmma
ton was the brightest of their dreams. They
desired, as they expressed II, TO become par'
Iof the great republic. | then entered INTO q
treaty with that country (Which has all the ca
pacites of the best part of MeXicO) and sub
mitted it to the Senate of the United States fol
ratification. 1t was with great difficulty, not
wlthstanding my position as head of the Gov
ernment, that could get the question consld
cred at all by the Senate, and when | did II
was defeated by an overwhelming majority.
| am sure that even if it could be shown
that all the people of Mexico were in favor OF
the annexation of a portion of their territory
to the United States it would still be rejected
We want no more land. We do want to i'm
} prove what we have, and we want to see OuI
neighbors improve and grow so strong thai
the designs of any other country could not en-
danger them.
Mexico has the elements of development
and wealth such as no other country possesses
at all events TO so high degree. Her prox.
Unity to the equator, with her elevated plains.
enables her to produce the the fruits of all lati-
ltudes Her mines are the richest III the world
and she possesses every climate, from the tropi,
cal to the frgid, in proximity to each other.
With the contemplated Improvements in in.
ternal communication she must advance be-
yond the dream of her most patriotic citizens
So far as am concerned, shall be very glad
if | can contribute to this result.
l hope that we may be the warmest of
friends and that the two republics may exist
always.