The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-25


can commissioners. The ounter-project of the
Mexican Government is, indeed, under all the
circumstances q most extraordinary document. Its
extravaganza proves conclusively that they were
insincere in appointing commissioners to treat for
peace, and that the armistice and subsequent ne
goiiatons were intended merely to gain time.
| They must have known that the Government OF
the United States never would surrender, either
the territory between the Nueces and the Rio
1 Grande, or New Mexico, or any portion of Upper
lCalifornia--never would indemnify Mexican clti-
zens for injuries they may have sustained by our
troops in the prosecution Of the present Just and
i necessary war--and never could, without dis
honor, suffer, the Mexican Government to levy
new duties upon goods imported into ports now
in our actual possession, which had already paid
duties to the United States. To propose such
terms, was a mere mockery. And here ought
/ TO observe, in Justice to yourself, that do not
believe there is any truth in the assertion Of the
/ Mexican commissioners, that you had proposed
if the other terms of the treaty were made salts
factory) to refer to your Government, with some
hone Of good result, the question of surrender
| ing to Mexico that portion Of the sovereign State
| Of Texas between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande, or any part Of Upper California.
He was dismissed, and ordered home. because
he even entertained proposals Of that description.
will read, sir, an extract from despatch OF San
- Anna, after the battle Of Buena Vista, to show
| ~ : hat light ne regarded this question. Under
date q, the 9th February, lS47, ne writes to his
Governme.N u;
"From the IMPRESSION we had made on the en-
envy, he did peah uaso.e us ios ,S
the beare! Of the flag, svlor. far sn exehsnae Of
prisoners, and for our SEM. ing FOR the wounded;
who had remained on the fea nso 81 ~
to me the desire which the Amel @.., =, =, nrdar
re-establishment of peace. repLs GsneraIS-
that he might say the same to his \ 60. N,ba
that we sustained the most sacred of caus. Y , 20
nf and
our nationality and rights that we were not the
aggressors, and that our Government had never
offended that Of the United States. observed
that we could say nothing Of peace, while the
Americans were on this side of the Bravo, or oc-
cupied any part Of the Mexican territory, or
blockaded our ports, and that we were resovedto
perish, or vindicate our rights that fortune might
not always be favorable to the enemy and the
experience of the Odd and 23d,, should convince
them that it could change"
From this il will be seen how Santa Anna him
self, pending these negotiations, and before any
treaty was formed, regarded this matter. will
now show what was the opinion of the Mexican
commissioners, even after the treaty was made
These commissioners in communication which
they made to their Government, and which was
published all over Mexico, declare that
'sThe intention Of making the Bravo limit,
has been announced by the clearest signs, for the
last twelve years. and it would have been impos-
sible, at the present day, to change it. After the
defeat Of San Jacnto, in aprii, 1896, that scas the
territory chch zoe stipulated to evacuate, and ,chich
moras. In this place was afterward stationed what
was called the Army OF the North; and though it
is true that expeditions and incursons have been
made there, even as fur as Bexar, we have very
soon retreated, leaving the intermediate space abb
soutely free. In this state General Taylor found
it when, in the early part of last year, he entered
it by order of his Government.
This, sir, is sufficient to show in what estima-
ton it held there. Under this state of things
the Mexicans, after they had broken off this com
muncation with Mr. Trist, again opened negoti-
atoms, and made the treaty, which is now the
law of the land. Mr. Trist, in making this treaty,
had the instructions of his Government in his
hand, and it is idle to say for single moment that
the question of the Texan boundary did not enter
fully into that negotiation. It is charged, now,
and always has been, as the cause of the war.
The establishment of the boundary Of Texas
was the object OF this Government; it had formed
the subject Of instructions to both of our commits
sioners, and map had been furnished to Mr..
Trist as part Of these instruction.. That map
have before me; here it is; and it shows that all
Of New Mexico is on the west side of the Rio
Grande, and describes all east Of it as Texas
Now, with the instructions to Mr.. Slidell in the
first place, before him. with similar Instructions
also IN his possesson with this map, too, before
him, distinctly designating all this territory east
of the Rio Grande, up to the 42d parallel Of north
latitude, as being part of Texas; and with a let
ter in his pocket, dismissing him and ordering
him home, because he even offered to leave any
thing about the Texas boundary open for further
dscusson--with all these evidences is it not pre-
posterous to say, that the question was not among
the first which presented itselfto the attention
of the American commissioner in his negotia-
honss What the Mexican commissioners say, is
clearly evidence, that the question was so under
stood, on their part. Under these circumstances
the treaty negotiated; and it had also direct
reference to this map--it has, / repeat, a direct
reference to this map, as follows n9a't,ist
Filth Article Of the Treaty. Nth Merico.
TART. v. The boundary line between the two
Republics shall commence in the Gulf Of Mexico,
three leagues from land, opposite to the mouth of
the Rio Grande, otherwise called the Rio Bravo
del Norte, or opposite the mouth Of it's deepest
branch, if it should have more than one branch
emptying directly into the sea- 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; thence westwardy along the whole south
ern boundary of New Mexico, which runs north of
the town called Paso,) in the western termination;
thence northward, along the western line Of New
Mexico, until it intersects the first branch of the
river ella; it should not intersect any branch
OF that 'river then to the point on the said line
nearest TO such branch and thence in direct line
to the same; thence down the middle Of the said
branch and Of the said river, until it empties into
the Rio Colorado; thence across the Rio Colorado,
following the division line between Upper and
Lower California, to the Pacific ocean, fTl s45
"The southern and western limits of New
Mexico, mentioned in this article are those laid
down in the map. entitled, Map of the United
Mexican States, organized and defined by va
rious nets Of the Congress of said Republic, and
constructed according to the best authorities.
Revised edition. Published at New York, in
l847, by J. Disturnell;'' Of which map, a copy is
added to this treaty, bearing the signatures and
seals Of the undersigned plenipotentiaries. And,
in order TO preclude all difficulty in tracing upon
the ground the limit separating Upper from Lower
California, it 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 Pacific ocean, dis
tant one marine league due south Of the southern
most point of the port of San Diego, accordingTo
the plan of said port, made in the year 1882, by
Don Juan Pantoia. second sailing-inaster of the