The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-24
THE REP U BLIC.
California and Texas.

delirered IN the House Of Representatives,
June IL 1850, in the Committee Of the
Whole on the California Message.
In connexion with the boundaries Of New Mex-
co, feel constrained 10 notice speech Of the SEN
ator from Missouri, Colonel Bentln,) which find
in the InieiigencG Of this morning, whichsurprises
me much. lie says
This is what Humboldt says of the eastern boun-
dary o New Mexico and his map illustrates what he
says He places that boundary, as il leaves the RIO
Grande del Norte at about twelve miles below the
mouth Of the Pucrco, in west longitude lO4, aud IN
north tudc 49, and thence twardly the
head vi the Rio San Sa ba, branch of the Rio Colo
RADIO OF Texas, IN north latitude 32o 81 and in
longitude l0l. This is the line he gives as found in
the special maps drawn up by engineers in the ser
vice Of the King Of Spain. and preserved in the ar
chves OF the viceroyalty in the city OF Mexico
Further than that he does not trace ~ bat that Is
far enough for purpose. II is enough to show
that New Mexico, under the Spanish government,
extended as far east l0l degrees OF longitude,
covering the whole Of the Puerco, and enter
ing what is now the county OF Bexar, in Texas.
$50 much for Humboldt: Now for Pike. He says,
at page Of his appendix to the journal Of his jour
ney through New Mexico New Mexico lies be-
30o 30 and 44o of north latitude and l04 and
los degrees of west longitude, and is the mos,
northern province Of the Kingdom Of New Spain
al proceed with the possession of New Mexico,
and show that it has been actual and continuous
from the conquest OF the country by Don Juan d.
Onate, in 1895, to the present.
These are the actual possessions Of New Mexico
on the Rio Puerco On the Rio del Norre, as cut
off by the comnittees bill, there are the little town
of F.ontera, ten miles above Ell Paso, town began
opposite Ell Paso, San Elizario, twenty miles below,
and some houses lower down, opposite FL Preside
| del Norte."
| Such are the statements of the honorable Senator
the present boundaries and present possessions
Of New Mexico; and if made by one of the younger
members on this floor, he would sink down under
the imputation OF gross ignorance OF his subject, or
a wilful intention to misrepresent the "truth OF
history" and do injustice TO just claim Further
on, he says
"The map of DR.. Wislizenus, which now pro-
ducc, agrees with Humboldt and Pike, except III
the correction Of slight differences in longtudes and
lattudes, which his accurate instruments enabled
him to make, and which have no practical conse-
qucnce in this examination"
Now, the map Of Wislizenus does not profess to
delineae with accuracy the civil divisions as the
Senator well knows, but, at page 40 of his work,
he gives the southern boundary OF New Mexico, as
1 exists, as follows:
.sThe settlement of Ell Paso was commenced
about 1850 when Governor Otermin, Of New Mex
ico, and his party were driven from Santa Fe to
the south by revolt Of the Indians. Some Indian
pueDlos, which received them well, already existed
IN the fertile valley; but this seems to have been
the first Spanish settlement
GEL Paso belonged, under the Spanish govern.
| inent to the province of New Mexico; at present
its northern limits, towards New Mexico, as al
ready stated 800 80 latitude NORTH line which by
MexIcans is supposed TO fall near Robledo, our
first camp on the river in coming out Of the Jor-
nado. El Paso itself, according 10 my own obser-
| vatons, lies in 3lo 45 5U' north latitude"
| Was IL quite candid in the honorable Senator tC
exhibit the map Of the author in opposition TO hi'
| tcxG
Upon the subject of the civil divisions Of New
\ Mexico, Lieut. Albert procured from the State de
psrtnent in Santa Fe, AMI published in his report
the following decree circulated by the governor U
that department, issued in ls44, and extracted b,
| the departmental assembly, and which has tI
force OF law in Mexican Jurisprudence:
| "Marino Martink de LeJaza, brevet brigadie
general and constitutional governor of the depart
nlent OF New Mexico, To its inhabitants sends greet
ing that the assembly OF the department has agreeo
TO decree the following;
"Soulheastern district
"Art 3. This district is divided into two coun
ties, called Valencia and Bernalillo. The capital II
! Valencia.
"Art 10 The county Of Valencia comprises Va
lencia, San Fernando, Tome, SocOru Liuiitar, Pol
vaderss, Sabiuas, Elames, Casa, Colorado, Cibo
letta, Sabine, Psrioa, Luis Lopez, Belen, Lunes
Leutes, Zuni, Acoma, and Rio. County seat, Va
| lencIa.
This decree shall be made known TO the gov
ernor, that he uay carry At into execution.
JESUS MARIA GALLEGAs,
President.
"JuAS BAPrIsrA vIoIt MAaIs, Secretary.
"By virtue Of the premises, that tins act be pub
lished, circulated anu made known To all whom !
may concern, Tor It's most active observance anS
Iuihlmrnt.
palace Of the Government. Santa Fe.
"MARiANo MARTINEZ.
Joss FELIx JUBIA, Secretary.
"JUEE II, lo4I."
Now, the most southern Of these towns on tn
east bank Of the Rlo Grande, Panda. is placed VI
the accurate map vi Abert, north OF degree "a, ans
the mOst southern on the w,st side. Luis LOp, z,
lew miles south Of that line. All south O that
lett out Of the jurisdiction of New Mexico, for tn
plain reason tIat this department had nY CLAIM I
4 II under the Mexican organization. THIS decree
although not binding on Texas, would be cOnclu
sive, without any tnng further, upon the people u
New Mexico; but la their plan Of territorial gov
erbmvnt they have cSpr, ssly ratified u, and 90 no
set up any clain DeyVnd n. They say:
"sec. Z. Until the legislative power othervis
direct the territory Of New Mckee shall retain tb
division vi counties and districts established by TN
de,rve Oft department Of New Mexico, of Jun
I7th, lo4y," (lo4I
This shows that the people Of New Mexico no
only have no possession, but assert no claim telOD
tire 34th. AuO yet the Senator claims all below, n
lar ss 2S degrees a. the present territory and pos
sessions of New Mexico. Mr.. Bebjsrnln 4. I'D
wards, a lawyer and excellent Spanish scholar, re
siding in san Antonio, tho ekaInIn, q this sObjcc
IA the archives AT Fl Paso, writes thus in relstIo
10 the boundary OF New McxIco:
III IL slsOud he decided that New Mexico is cnti
tied To n separate existence, either under terrific
rial government or otherwise, an attempt will "a
doubt De made I, establish her southern bOubdar
sothtNhtFt tl Nht VI III fhrOs az " ua
been lald down on almost all the maps published d
the United States, and tscitly recognised by Mexc
in the treaty vi Gusosupe, where reference II Insd
TO Disturueii's map AZ correct authority. 1hi.
however, IL far from being the true boundary
New Mexico, as can tie shown by documents ia ex
istcnce ia the archives Of Chihuahua and FL Pass
by these, IL appears that the line lsay,
the cast bank oI the RIO Grande at point in frvn
VI the mountain (dcsignatcd as ono of the land
msrks) winch fOrms the southern hmit Of ia
Jornsda del Muerto.' Thence IL ia a d
rection ifne north oi cast 10 the 'CerrO RedOndo,
a remarkable dome shaped mountain; tneucc, al
uiost IN the same direction, 10 the Sierra Capital
or Cerro BisncO,' winch, its name signifies
Me most prominent peak in that region OF country
thence, 80 far | could discover, due east tO a.
PccOs. From the Sierra capital, could not ss, e.
tain that there existed any prominent Landmark
though IL Is probable, IL cOuid have pursued IN
Investigations further, some such would have com
tO hght, as the Mesicans seem 10 have pursued N
same system in public ms in private sffalrs, OF MAX
ing natural otye, a. the indications Of boundary
land or territory have in my possession cop
OF a grant Of Ian u made within the jurisdiction
the state Of Chihu shua in the time Of the Emperor
under the co0ni. alton law oi the Junta COnst
tutOnap OF 1873. This land lies sOu1c dstauc