Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-10
The Teras Boundary under the Compromise Bill.
W. ha uo lnd that the object of the Com

The Teras Boundary under the Compromise Bill.
We have remarked that the object of the Com
mttee of Thirtean, in fixing the Western termi-
nus of the proposed Northern boundary of Texas,
at point on the Rio Grande twenty miles north
of Ell Paso, was evidently to cover the boundary
line claimed by New Mexico, and thus to close
her dispute with the State of Texas. The Com
mittee were probably guided in fixing upon
this point, by the fifth article of the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo, which, in prescribing the
Southern boundary of New Mexico West of the
Rio Grande, establishes the point where it crosses
that river. The material part of the article is in
these words:
ART V. The boundary line between the two Re-
publics shall commence in the gulf OF Mexico, three
leagues from land, opposite the mouth of the Rio
Grande otherwise called the Bravo del Norte oppo
site the mouth OF its deepest branch if it should have
than branch emptying directly into the
from thence up the middle Of that river, following the
deepest channel, where it has more than one, TO the
point where it strikes the southern boundary OF New
Mexico (Which north OF the town called Paso) to
its western termination. thence northward along the
western line OF New Mexico until it intersects the east
branch Of the river ella Tor if it should not nersec
any branch OF that river then to the point the said
line to such branch, and then in direct line to
the thence down the middle of the said branch
and OF the said river, until it emples into the Rio Colo
RADIO; thence across the Rio Colorado, following the
division between Upper and Lower California, to the
Pacific ocean.
The southern and western limits of New Mexico,
mentioned in this article, those laid down in the map
organized and defnedy Uari0us acts Of the Congress
of the said republic ind constructed according to
the best authorities Reeiaed Edition. Published at
Neac York, in l847, By J. DistwneH" OF which map
copy added this treaty, bearing the signatures and
seals OF the undersigned plenipoenaries. And in Or
der to preclude all difficulty tracing upon the ground
the limit separating Upper from Lower California, is
agreed that the said limit shall consist OF straight line
drawn from the middle OF the Rio Gila where it unites
with the Colorado to point on the coast OF the Paci-
nc ocean, distant one marine league due south OF the
southenmost point OF the port OF San Diego, according
tothe plan OF said port, made in the year 1882 by Don
Juan Pantoa, second sailing master of the Spanish
fleet, and published at Madrid in the year 1862 in the
Atlas to the voyage OF the sehooners SutI and Meat
cana, OF which plan copy is hereunto added signed
and sealed by the respective penpotentlarles.
1t will be observed that the treaty carefully sets
forth that the Southern boundary of New Mexi.
moreover, declares that the Southern and Wes-
tern limits of New Mexico, mentioned in this ar
ticle are those laid down. in the revised edition of
Disturnell's map Of the Mexican States, publish
ed at New York in 1847.
We have before us copy of the first edition of
was not modified, as to the Southern boundary of
New Mexico, in the edition of l847. This map
makes that boundary a nearly East and West line
intersectng the Rio Grande in about SO deg. 25
nin, and short distance North of Ell Paso; and
East OF the river, the line is continued in a d.
recton North of East, to the Southwestern
corner OF the Indian Territory, which the
A.
OF the new boundary of Texas. Although
Disturnell's map does not colour the part of New
Mexico East of the Rio Grande, and thus far sus
tains the claim of Texas, it gives the original IL
mts of New Mexico as above described includ-
ing the whole Of the Territory West of our " In
dian Territory" and gives also the boundary be-
tween Texas, as it was prior to the revolution,
and the Mexican States of Coahuila, Tamaulipas
and New Leon, that boundary being the river
Nueces, and line extending in the same direction
with the Nueces from its headwaters to the South
ern border Of New Mexico. The point of parti-
cuar interest developed by this map, is the fact
that the boundary proposed to be established, by
the Compromise bill, with the assent of Texas, is
very nearly identical with the old boundary of
New Mexico. 1t includes the territory now in
dispute between her and Texas, no more, but
something less; for the whole of the region lying
between the Rio Grande and the Indian Terri
tory" was part of the Mexican State of New
Mexico, or Santa Fe. This latter name. by the
way, should be adopted by Congress, rather than
ahe former, as being much the more appropriate