Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-15

attention. IN relation to this proposed line. imagine there
be but sentiment pervadng every side OF the cham
ber far the line concerneI with regard point
and mat is the propey of making this division so ss to DO
most conducive to the interests and comfort OF the inhabitants
that be found there. The Of Ell Paso itself 10
about 32o north latitude AT EiPaso and above and below
it. there inhabitants twenty miles will not incldde all the
inhabitants that above it. am told by intelligent gentle-
men, traders from tnat section of country that about sixty or
seventy miles above Ell Paso there town called Dona
Ana, which there are about four hundred Inhabitants
These persons laid off in county in Texas, and are rega
ary organized they have organized their courts and have
recently voted at elections in Texas. The exact point at
which located cannot be aceraned there Is no accu
rscy with regard to where the parallel of latitude the
Rio Grande. What is called the tornado del Muerto com
above the town Of Dona Ana the mountains the
Rio Gande itself render that stream entirely inaccessible for
distance varousy estimated by those best acquainted with
from ninety honded miles, to the east OF this there s
ofmounns running parallel with the o Gran
and in between them plain covered with fine grass but
destitute entirely Of water and of timber; and travellers 10
pcssng from Santa re Ell Faso have to encounter the d
cuy Of passing country of al least ninety milestone
say hundred miles and upwa1ds-wh their animals,
where there is drop of water or stick Of timber Nor
is this the only difficulty, but the mountains shutting N
pretty Gloss in places afford shelter to the most for
mdable tribes of Indians the Camanches the APachss
and Navaos they congegate there, and have done so for
years past and will continue sodo it, venture the assertion
that it will be the last point where their hostes will cease
They get upon the and watch this pass for travel
e their object either blood Punde and BY this means
they frequently become of large amount OF proper
~.
rs the pass either end notice given
the surrounding warriors, and by the time the travellers
reach the other end exhausted with travelling night and
day. out for and their animals not con-
dilon with any velocity the Indians fresh horses
rush upon hem and they become easy prey That pre-
csey the condition of this pass through which the people
Of whom was speaking have go to Santa Fe Whatever
jurisdiction you establish Santa Fe must extend all these
people within the line, aud there this pass which renders 1t
OF difficulty for them to have any intercourse at
all have doubt that many persons here say that these
people very unwilling to Texas who sctuay believe
that it the because there are various motives which
will induce it. One that have doubt has great weight
Of DOORS the suggestion that the great road from the
valley Of the Mississippi the Pacific will pass the Rio
Giande close Ell Paso and therefore the anxiety to
the point where this road will Gloss would be unreasonable
suppose that these people would be desous of forming
connexion with Santa Fe This is altogether mistake but
it is not mate,l go into now Sometimes am told these
people have been subject the jurisdiction Of Santa Fe but
they had at time jurisdiction OF their own, which was
called New Bscay There another difficulty The
land for few miles at this point of but little consequence
as most Of it is covered by titles
If these people should be attached Santa Fe they will
be subjected to the necessity Of going through this pass
reach their seat Of These people would thus be-
located the borders Of Texas subject to another ursdc
on, and the road which emgants to California now
take through Texas and being almost free from the urisdc
ton of Santa Fe, Indians and bad men would congregae
there for bad purposes Being upon the borders Of Texas
and very densey populated portion of the State
collisions with these people would naturally be the result and
they could not get along without great difficulty and trouble
matter of this sort occurred years ago. There
piece Of territory between the United States and Span called
the neutral ground upon which number Of reckless
settled The Spanish Government sent force to Nacogdo
ches preserve quiet and the American sent
army and both the forces could keep the people in SUBJ
lection they subject to jurisdiction, and they
med oil of depredaons in their neighborhood. The
soldiers and burnt down their houses but that did
good for the forces gone they came back and
say that this continent could not raise such des
perae set of raised there Well, If you leave
these people Santa Fe they will be just in the same stu
alton, and bordering close upon Texas and SO far as the
matter Of consideration concerned it amounts to nothing
where the line is for far the value Of this territory is
concerned it will be of benefit Texas, the United
Estates, or Santa Fe, in that respect.
Mr.. DAYTON. understand the Senator to say that the
section Of country below Ell Paso borders Texas and
popuous county. What the county Immediately south Of
Ell Paso and what is the population have understood
that the section Of country intervening between it and the
ppuous part of Texas very sparsey popuaed PoPu
ted at all.
Mr. RUSK. There is portion Of the county Of Ell Paso
that is popuous and portion Of that is populous
Mr.. DAYTON. But how Of the country below Ell Paso :
| is that popuous part Of Texas!
Mr.. RUSK. That is difficult question to There
point called Ell Paso, at which there small settle
men heretofore and am told that there very large
settlement growing up in that neghborhood The roads do
not and down the Rio Grande there any
muncaion up and down that except above Ell Paso.
The communication is the other Way across So far as the
value Of this territory concerned either to the United States
or Texas, 1t amounts to little nothing Ihe land Is all
taken up in titles There is population Of about four hum
ded, mostly Mexican, at Dona Ana is old settlement
and Of the grants Of land back very old date
The object of the amendment is prevent the confusion and
disconent which would result from fixing the line
place these people under the jurisdiction Of Santa Fe, with
which they could have but little intercourse
Mr. MANGUM When this question was under conside-
ration by the Committee Of Thirteen, personally felt strong
inclination to have the point of departure fixed at
the southern limit il has been recognised for many
yearsof New Mexico; that is to say, Ell Paso, the
Pass
Mr.. RUsK Will the Senator allow me- take issue
with him that point has not been recognised the
southern limit.
Mr.. MANGUM. Some very ancient documents represent
being that point all events, including Ell Paso
and taking departure eastward from the Rio Gande
miles below the Pass 1t upon information derived from
this well maps and general representation that
II spoke think such the impression generally of the
committee 1t was represented to the committee that there
settlement of considerable population the side Of
the Rio Gande opposite FL Paso and above for
several miles towards the DESERT Journey Of Death That
desert, far as could collect information from the
very imperfect maps before us and personal representations
was from nine 10 thirty miles from Ell Paso II is repre-
sented seventy eighty miles above the Pass
Upon view of the whole OF these conflicting and ncompa
BILE statements and representations the information even at
this moments must be regarded unreliable and very
tsactory. With the view, however, that this population
presented residing the side Of the Rio Gand near
Ell Paso should not be taken from Texas being alleged that
she had extended her laws and jurisdiction in fact the
county Of Ell Paso. agreed FIRST fl the point of
departure from the Rio Grande miles above the Pass and
upon further consideration, to make douby sure
agreed TO fix II twenty miles in straight line above the
middle Of the Pass. II seemed be well understood that
nl,,Jx H. Al