Year: 1859

time we have peculiar ideas on the subject of how
these results are 70 be brought about. 1t is well
shown that our national mania has been for the ac
luisition OF territory and most people in the United
States to-day think the present negotiation simply
involves question Of land and money. But, as /
intimated to you in my first communication, Mr.. NC
Lane does not incline to this view of the question
and would rather, If have rightly understood him
acquire commercial advantages than be the purchaser
of thousands of square miles of the barren and un
productive country adjoining the Meslla purchase.
Between our Southern boundary of Arizona and the
valuable lands of Northern Mexico, there is belt Of
territory well known to be rich in minerals; but
these mines vaueless-frst, because the Indians
are too troublesome and secondly because there is
no water. Under these considerations it would be a
useless expenditure Of money to invest his or their
millions Of dollars in buying country that can be ap
piled to no useful purpose whatever, and which it
will require years to make available, for there is
nothing to attract people there but the mining quail
ties of the land, and those are not general and
adapted to all classes, but rather special and at
tractive to few capitalists and speculators.


Under these considerations, look upon it as one
Of the greatest pieces of folly imaginable for Mr. Nc
Lane to turn his attention towards Sonora or Arizo-
ma, for those places that now and must con-
time for years. utterly beyond the useful considera
tion of the treaty making authority If my premises
correct and if Mr.. McLane has determined to me-
gotiate for commercial advantages where can he find
another field for his operations than in connection
with the 1sthmus of Tehuantepec :? The Rio Grande,


it is true, opens some prospect for him to secure ad
Vanages but that ground is almost covered for the
restrictions to be removed in that quarter are COM
paratiyey few 1t then results that he is shut out in
every other section, either by physical opposition or
foregone conclusion, except this Isthmus and the
amount Of benefit possible to be achieved here is suf


cient to fill up the measure of his desire to leave
lasting fame behind him.


set out with the belief that our Minister was sent
to Mexico with power to make treaty of some sort in
volvng mutual benefits to Mexico and to the United
States. take this for granted else he is down here
on useless errand. There are but two kinds of ad
vantages to be had from Mexico and these are first,
q purchase Of additional territory from her. or the
concession Of commercial advantages In exchange
for both either of these advantages we can offer
in return nothing but money, for between nations
know Of no other consideration that passes current.
have shown, think that we do not want any terri
tory in the North we have no need for commercial
advantages in that direction; that would preclude us
from acquiring the same benefits elsewhere, and
therefore have but direction in which to turn
cur eyes.


The Isthmus of Tehuantepec lies on our nearest
route to California and to the Pacific trade, and it
offers to ambition both considerations extension
of territory and increase of trade. scarcely believe
it can be bought although Mexico came near accept
ing the offer of fifteen millions of dollars proposed by
Mr.. Trist but this do kno,c that in consideration
of one or two millions of dollars, or say even five,
she would consent to grant such commercial conces-
sons to this secton say to the extent of the Transit
route alone as will make almost an American depend
ency for it will be free from Mexico in every respect
except in the right of sovereignty do not say that
the Isthmus cannot be bought for do think that ten
millions of doars-one tenth Of what is proposed for
Cuba-would annex Tehuantepec and the State of
Chiapas to the United States.


But even supposing that we cannot purchase it, but
that we can by the judcious expenditure of little
money, makeit a commercial dependence ofthe United
States, would it not be better than to allow it to con-
tnue as is constant Of annoyance to u.s. and
a constant attraction to filibusters? American resi-
dents the Ishmus while the present state of things
continue to exist will be safe from molestation
both in their persons and properes and there is no
prophesying the day when some uncalled for act of
Mexican interference here may provoke fight which
will become general and most destructive. In fact :,
the result is inevitable unless the United States take
some step to remedy the evils of the local government
on this Isthmus-for there too many American n
terests growing up here, and too many America
settlers to defend those interests to long permit the
course Of legal and military msrule to be SO far cor
rupted and perverted as it has been in this part.


1t is the duty of Mr.. McLane, in this respect, to
meet the difficulty and have it settled, so that the
good will of Mexico may not be lost. Once engraft
upon treaty that Americans the Isthmus are en-.
titled to the full enjoyment of their religious opnions
that they not to be subject to any of the peculiar
features of the clerical rule that they shall elect
their judges and arbitrate their own cases. that
they shall not be required to do their business in the
Spanish language that they shall be exempted from
the of stamped paper that they shall not be ha.
rassed by lazy custom-house officials, and that they
shall not be subject in their persons to the nerer.
ence of the military and we will have colony down
here which will make commerce for New Orleans
worth millions of dollars. And more than this it
will be colony that will ensure order in the State
and that will create here that security which is not
felt elsewhere in Mexico 1t will be double blessing
to the people of the country and to the foreigners
resident among them.


1t may be urged that Mexico will not acquiesce in
any such treaty; but say, and experience as well
private information will bear me out in the asser
ton, that money will bring about the consummation
Mexico had rather trade privileges than territory any
day. and she will trade territory if we insist upon it,
at this particular time. She must do something
This sentence embraces all the argument necessary
on this point; and it only needs that Mr.. McLane
should understand this, and should take advantage of
it before somebody else does. 1t is well enough to
be delicate with people that are independent but it
is mark of the material to hold back PROPOSE
tons when they are looked for and anxiously awaited
Mexico with her revenues sequestraed, with millions
of dollars hanging over her from abroad, with cor
ruption of the vilest sort eating up the resources
Within is in condition to accept any offer; and
even if she needs little forcible argument we have
sufficient ground togive it. This isthmus must be
protected by treaty stpuations, or it must protect
itself; and in the event the latter alternative results
there is computing the loss that must come of it.
The route will be but enactment of the Nicara-
qua misery, and, as matter of course, our people
will not suffer that to be reproduced this route.


judicial course of policy will bring US all out on
this sthmus, and place one Of the great highways of
commerce and travel under our control, to the i'm
mense benefit Of the world at large, and of our own
people. But, on the contrary, timd policy, fear
of spending few millions of that treasure which is