Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-21

under the Guadalupe Hidalgo, was S5OUO(
OF this appropriation Col. Weller's drafts
have been paid to the amount o........ SSSS2s
Drafts have also been presented but not yet
paid, to the amount Of $4,000 .s..#
have been received, paid, and unpad..... Esa.
Leaving Of the appropriation a balance off,. SI67!
Here it proved by the Senator himself while acting
Secretary of the INTERIOR that instead of having pend
ed the whole sum $50 900 and drawn for twenty TWEEN
ty6ve thousand dollars more, Col Weller had bu
S33 1885, and drew drafts for 900 more, which pro
tested and remained under protest for months pros
trating his credit officer and and subjecng hin
heavy pecunry loss How are these extraordinary state
mens from the same source 10 be reconciled
Sir again, how dsparaginsy the Senator speaks of tbs
important services rendered the country by Col Weller
his associates in closing the most difficult part of the labor
be performed in running this boundary line He says all
that was done was " simply to fix the initial point on the
Pecc coast that is to two marine leagues south
of the bay of Diego erect rough there and
find the point of junction Of the ella and Colorado. The
Senator would induce to believe that this light Job
but see what the able associates of Col Weller the
mission, Major Emory the astronomer and Mr. Gray the
veyo who with their assistants did the work. the subject:
The surveys and measurements for defining upon the
ground the souhernmos point OF this port the marine league
and the initial point upon the Pacific referred in the
treaty and also the survey tor the settlement OF the middle
the Rio ella where unites with the Colorado, have
pleed An entire reconnaissance and exploration, with dis
determined and topography aken have also made
the country approximate to the line between the Pacific and
the mouth the Gla being that portion of the boundary
parang Upper from Lower California VERY nearly $50 miles
in straight Plans of the this line with
the topography and the country in their vicinity have pro-
eced and drawn from iangulatons and both OF
which have been authenticated by the signing same by
the commissioners and appointed under the
This the of Mr. Gray, in letter dated Febru-
airy 20h 1850, and addressed to honorable Thomas Ewing
Secretary of the INTERIOR Washington city. In another
msncation, dated March !, Mr.. Gray says:
"My triangulaons surveys and Reconnaissance kept
along with those OF the Mexican commission, chiefly from the
fact that the assistants did the ordinary work Of employees
The high wages demanded by abores with the almost
mpossibty Of procuring any San Diego, anticipated
from the existing of things in California, and hence the
advantages derived under the circumstances from the above
persons being on the work." ."... ="
The following is the statement of Major Emory
The boundary is astronomical line, from the nita
point the Pacific the junction of the Ga and Colorado
The determination OF this line requires the highest exercise Of
geodetc and astronomical skill combined 1t not the work
of day month The precise latitude and longitude of
the two extremtes to be determined rather the
difference of latitude and longitude between the points
with this the azmuth of the line be computed
Now the latitude and longitude OF these points de-
termned series Of elaborate observations running from
the Goth July the middle OF November Then exchange
OF results took place. and the chief astronomer the Amer
side deduced the azmuh direction Of the line and pro-
ton accepted by the Mexican commission. The line
then begun be run and marked and pursued with diff
Guilty. from the rugged nature of the country but still
the absence OF funds The Government not only failed
send the funds voted Congress- and promised the let
OF the Secretary OF the Interior dated April 10TH but with
drew from the officer in charge OF the commission his military
prosecute the work. This officer then left without any
thing and he compelled carry the work by
ing money one place. horses at another and provisions
another.
"Ths line is completed and accepted by the Mexican COM
mission, and nothing remains but the erection of the
But whether the arise or not the line is
rrcyocaby fixed from beginning end and forms the
important part the whole boundayhe important po-
tealy and geographically and that part involving the high
est, and indeed the only high science.
Not given to the people who stood faith
fully this work under all the excitement gold but on the
contrary they cruelty deceived and duped The secre
ay Of the Interior ordered the officer in charge of the Com
mission reorganze He did reorganize it, and reported
the result appears his letters dated March
3D. published by the Senate Part H. This after being ap-
the promised funds and secondly by the failure of the then
Secretary exhibit the this list
sequence of which they thrown overheard after having
sacrificed all their golden visions to Of duty"
After reading these statements what be thought of the
statement OF the Senator that the service performed bore
just relation to the expenditure The Senator mistakes the
distance instead Of two marine leagues south of the
bay Of San Diego. Again, be says "In addition to that,
there were heavy complaints against him from those that
were with him the commission of necency and want of
attention to his duy" in proof Of which he says "A
these things and more appear from the papers accompanying
the reports presented the Senate and gentlemen thew
please do it. read and understand them" have read
these reports to find something to sustain these allegations
but find nothing. Here they are and challenge the Sc
naor point out any paper sustaining them Who among
his associates the commission complained Of him wish
enemies the commission, if he had any, speak out and
they will be promptly met, and their charges reuted.
Again: the Senator in reply request of mine to repeat
the statement he had made says
~"When the account received it ascertaned that
the whole amount Of money had been expended and
the only work done to that time the fixing of the point
OF departure upon the Pacific marine leagues
south OF San Diego and fixing the point junction OF the ella
and was the report received prior the time
of his removal"
Now Mr. President, will turn to these reports sent to
the Senate by T. Ewing, Secretary of the INTERIOR and see
how this statement talies with the facts therein forth In
Senate Document No. 34 page g. find the following letters
will observe that the date of the letter COL Fremont APP
pointing him commissioner, by mistake printed the 2Oth
instead Of the 26th Of June s49 the correct date Here
are the letters to Coils Fremont and Weller:
"DEPARTaEsT OF STATE
49,. "Uashngton, June 30, 1919.
SIR The President having thought proper to appoint
you Commissioner on the OF the United States running
and marking the boundary line under the fifth article of the
treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo transmit yonr commission in
that character You will also herewith copy of the
several instructions which this Department has addressed
Ii considered that Won will need
further instructions Mt this time would however invite
your special attention to the necessity OF the regular
Of and vouchers for their the
drifts also, which you have occasion draw account OF
the of the commission be addressed the
rotary OF State and the Secretary of the Treasury
"You will also forward to this Department full list of the
commission part with the OF allow
ed to each and viii apprze the Department any changes
therein which may from time to time take place.
Your compensation, well that of your predecessor
will be settled by Congress at their next session.
am, SIR respectfully, your obedient servant
John NJ. CLAYTON.
"To J. G. FREMONT, Esq.
:" San Francisco, Cal formal
"DEPARrMEsr STATE,
... .s',. I" Wdshinsfon, June g. 1849.
"Sn Your letter from Panama, under date OF Goth Msrci