Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-30

"
is this all those who urge guilty Of an consistency
gang almost excite the pity Of their opponents The
repudae the Texas boundary bill and condemn Its supporters
because, they aege does not give US all our rights
the very next breath they will tell you they for the line
SO deg 80 min. Ask them If SO deg 80 min gives US al
our rghsl Oh, Has Congrss the constitutions powe
prohibit slavery north ofthat line Certainly not Dut
will take extreme concession What becomes OF tn
principle here They give up absolutely millions OF acres Z
which their title just clear to any portion OF the public
domain and then talk OF going to on principe for mar
strip often miles the Rio Grande Beautiful consistency
Wise and sagacous instructors OF the people Ihere nt
principle involved suenderng fourfhs oil the territory &C
quired from Mexico and consenng unconstiutiona
prohibition of slavery therein but Congress must not touch
Of the valley of the Gande even with the consent
of Texas Now, must confess do not understand VIVA
kind Of honor that is which moment counses the aban
Comment Of an unreasonable right and the next forbds the
friendly settlement of doubtful claim which teaches US to
submit the loss of vast domain, and then to
gage in civil for fe There no honor in such
course and what quite as much to the purpose there
no sense in it either.
II seems however, there Is some magic IN the addition oil
the words extreme concession, which takes away
the niquiy of giving up to the whole territory
north Of So deg. 80 min Well, will add "ss ex-
treme concession the Texas boundary bill il will satisfy
the fasdous taste Of opponents. suppose the words
will be potent in the case as in the other Bu seous
agree with them that SO deg 80 min would have been an
extreme concession II involved the necessity of voting for
admitted to be plain violation of the constitution
think have done better The boundary of Texas is the
subject about which there has been the widest difference Of
opinion and at the risk Of being tedious shall endeavor to
make that question plain that there be msunder
standing hereafter. have here map prepared the
General Land Office since the passage Of the act upon which
propose show you what Texas claimed what New Mexico
claimed, and what each received by the Senate bill Mr.
CLEMENS here traced upon the map the original boundaries
Of Texas, Coahuia, New Mexico, and chihuahua
Now let upon what the claim of New MEXICO and
Texas based Not long had occasion to address
letter to the editors of the Democrat lean save time
hv linz xfroct from lato
The boundaries of New Mexico although defined
with great accuracy, yet sufficiently to establish the
fact that foot OF the territory given to BY the Senate
bill included within her limits Upon this all the autho
rifles both of earlier and later date Wszenus
of science and Of great research thus describes the
boundaries Of New Mexico:
Towards the north and northeast New Mckee meets
with the boundaries of the United States agreed the
2d February 8l9 between the United States and Span to
wit that part the line which from Red river, in the
Tooth degree of longitude of Greenwich, to the Ar
kansas thence along the Arkansas its thence in
agh Line north nor 70 the asd o. n1r s ano
boundary Of New Mexico directly connected with the still
undecided question Of the boundaries of Texas The limits
Of the Mexican province OF Texas previous to ITS revolutions
generally considered the Nueces river the southwest
the Red the norh the Sabine the east and the
Cult of Mexico on the southeast The State Of Texas, after
declaration Of independence from Mexico in 1885, reso
ed, of erpeGency, to extend the southwestern
boundary of Texas from the mouth OF the RO Grande along
the river to its source and up 10 the 4Sd degree OF north
latitude
To give Texas The full benefit all that may be derived
from this resolution think j. right 70 state addition that
Santa Anna by treaty executed while he was prisoner
cognsed her claim the territory within the limits
"Chhuahua forms the principal boundary Of New Mexico
to the SOUTH This State claims as its northern boundary
New Mexico SO deg 80 min latitude line
be proraced towards the east to the Rio Peco Puer
co., Humboldt places the northern boundary of Texas at the
San Saba (abou SO deg north atitude and late German
work by Muehlenpor places her northern boundary at the
degree Of latitude An essay published in chihuahua IN
a.The Pecos river forms the dividing line between the
State Chihuahua and that Of Coahuila and Texas from SO
deg so in north latitude down to its mouth into the Rio
Grande.'
al quote again from Wislizenus
sIf accept in all directions the widest boundaries
New Mexico it would extend from 50 deg 50 min north
latitude AZ deg and from lG0 deg to about la deg ongI-
tude Of Greenwich but the country OF the wild In
dams has never been under any Jurisdiction control Of the
and settlements have extended the whole
country the of New Mexico has generally been applied
the settled country between the SGD deg and SSh deg
tude NORTH and from about o4 deg to lOS deg longitude
west Of Greenwich
the whole territory coded her by the Senate bill and that
the scientific travellers wholly dsinteresed have
united in denying the claim Of Texas But do quote
these authorities conclusive for do regard them
sufficient for my purpose to show that there Is
able doubt of the title OF Texas-such doubt would
settlement by compromise or proper and
pedient. .'
az know it has been urged that the title of Texas the
territory has been placed beyond dispute by the deca
bear examination. Her title the Lower Rio Grande may
have been, and believe, valid There she had
She had organized counties and established
afforded just Of Her title to that territory
been confirmed her boundary extends hundred miles
along the river from its mouth to the SD degree OF north
latitude. But the Upper Rio Grande totally different
safe OF affairs existed. Texas did not have possession OF
foot Of it. The Mexican authorities in the peaceful
OF their functions and the Mexican laws aud
customs in full operation The resolutions Of annexation
provided that the United States might settle the boun
dairy by negotiation. Texas always willing to part with
any claim she might have if the United States thought
dispose of it. The Lower Rio Grande suppos
ed would be parted WITH and accordingly Gen.
ordered to encamp upon banks the Upper Rio Grande
in the undisturbed Of Mexico until HOSTILE
ties actually commenced. 81 s@...
"The inquiry is what is the value of the territory
which New Mexico obtains She gets from 80 deg to SO
deg north atude and from l03 deg to II deg west lon
gtude Of this the whole is unnhabable except the valley
the Rio Grande The valley Of the Rio Grande is about
twenty miles in width about miles each side We
have then, given up New Mexico strip OF country
miles in width and six degrees Of Latitude in length All
east Of ths broken, sandy desert country without
without timber grass For ninety miles it is ut
early Spaniards named tornado del .Htero the Joe,
Of Death The remainder Is but little better. Every thing
value which New Mexico obtains is the valley Of the Rio
Grande rather miles of it, the side The
valley inhabited by about 500 Americans few Spanad
Mexicans and the remainder more than oneha Pueblo
Indians, who profess Christana population which woulc
have added to Texas neither wealth strength So that
title in all respects clear and certain she might vel
afford surrender il for the she is to receive But
has been urged that could honoraby surrender
of ground claimed by Texas because 1t is matter Of ptnc
pie. How can be matter of principle when the title
doubtuwen both parties claim title with equal confidence
Such always settled between individuals
suit arbtration--between nations by treaty Tn
boundaries of Maine and Oregon settled by treaty be
tween the United States and Great Britain the boundar
controversy between Ohio and Michigan settled BY Con
gress and that between Iowa and Missouri by suit in tn
Supreme Court In all these OF the parties
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