The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-19
N 9 xicaa 30 "a diary Com mis.lon.

tflualgo, Is from Tue lIO'lushVc VVuihai
IN CAMP ON TIE Rio GRANDE,
Near Dona Ana. New Mexico,
Lat 80 deg % min, Apn 20, 1851.
The commissioner and suite lett III Paso on me lg'h
instant for This place, which we reached on 'he evening
OF The goth III Paso, we were leaving y, wore
more attractive appearance than ever II woaiu indeed
be difficult mag sudden ana oeauilu chahges
than have passed The landscape within lew weeks
They remind OF the gradual blending OF scenes when
are presented by The "dssolvIng views Inc VAIN,
glowing lint OF The peach gave place to The white OF
The apple and pear and for several days HE valley from
a distance looked busted with light snow ms
has been succeeded 10y the rich green oil me ifu ees
which, conlIasled with the delicate fresh foliage OF me
woods, gives TO the place glory oil vedure whcn
have never seen equalled Our road after leaving III
Paso is directly up the RIO Grande and Tor the most al
along s bottom. Eight miles above the town Is From
terra or Whites rancho, where the astronomical observa
tory is established. and potion Of the ASTRONOMICAL
corps stationed LEAVING FloneGa With toe exception OF
two houses, there s no settlement Tor lorty miles Inc
land OF the bottom is IN many places oil line quay anu
will doubtless be under cultivation soon as 1t is iet TO
| be secure from Indian Expectations.
Las Cruces is settlement OF population oil about
! 800 and is six miles below Dona Ana The chief bust
OF the people agriculture and that confined chiefly
to the raising OF Indian corn The great consumption OF
this product al the military posts along The ohte mas
induced many, both Americans and Mexeans to engage
in lis culture. SO sngnarly mprovident are the Next
cans, that am informed BY dealer that he now sell
ing them Tor planting, taking their obgaon 10 re-
turn six unegas in the fall for each furnished now,
and that this very which he is now furnishing them
was received IL payment for similar debt last year
The aspect of Dona Ana has nothing abou, II TO please
Stranger the barracks and the principal buildings are
upon slight elevation. and. though great improvements
have been made the place Is yey dusty ana ofy; VA
Shepard ID infantry Is commandment OF The post the mi-
iiary force OF which consists oil one company OF infantry
and one company OF Isl regiment OF Dragons, com.
manded by Captain Buord. Our camp is about three
miles from town, and within short distance OF the river.
Yesterday at O'Clock the determination OF tue initial
point OF the boundary line BY the astronomers OF bolh
nations was ratified About II o'clock large party as
semblcd 10 witness The ceremony. The whole Mexican
commission present, and as many OF our own as
were MOI upon duty at other poins Inc splendid corps
OF dragons, commanded by their gallant captain, es-
cored the American commission 10 the spot. ana people
from FL Paso, Onnas, Meshla, aud Dona Ana were
presest the occasion The spot where the monument
is be erected is high bluff the west bank OF the
river, and commands most charming view Just here
the river makes bend, and exposes broad, beautiful
valley, through which the river is seen gsenng toward
the east The view is closed by the Jagged and stern
peaks OF The Sierra de los OrgGnos. The documents
atfy The decision OF the astronomers being signed,
| Mr. Bartlett addressed the assemblage:
"GENTLEMEN The event we about to celebrate is
one which, though apparently OF little moment, Is OF
deep and peculiar interest II one winch may MI an
important place in coun,ys history tor ages 10 come
The boundaries of great nation Intended 10 be per-
maneH;, and defined and marked for that purpose.
though subsequent events may cause an ALTERATION o.
and republics which lioushed IN ages past, though
the respective nations they were designed to separate
have passed away. still have their places IN The worlds
history, and prove important landmarks 10 the historian.
They guide us in tracing the extent OF nations Ihey
exhibit the greater or lees power exeIied by them They
.
their union with adjoining States Again, these bounda-
res designate 10 future generations the aphcal posi-
lion Of nation under the several forms OF government
under which II may have existed, IN the various phases
OF It's rise, It's prosperity and lis decline They show us
what nation has accomplished an empire, as king
DOM and a republic The boundaries OF country are
important lines IN other respects. They often mark the
progress and limit of branch Of the great human family
on the earhs surface, Independent, OF lis civil position
Language, and customs, science the arts, re-
lgon and civilization itself characterized by the
boundaries OF a country. This may be the case, not
wi,hstanding the boundary referred to is constituted by
an arbitrary mere imaginary line. Natural boundaries
tend IN much greater degree, 10 perpetuale the chaIac
tersucs OF nalion in fact it may with truth be said
tina, they invariably preserve them The point we are
about establish and mark is important one 10 the
United States and the determining OF 1t rs not less so TO
Mexico. The commissioners who signed the treaty OF
n peace between the two republics stipulated that the
boundary line between them. west OF the Rio GIande or
Bravo del Norie, should run. from the point where the
q ad river strikes The southern boundary Of New Mexico,
according 10 certain map which the commissioners had
before them.
" twas agreed by The commissioners whohave now me,
here together that the point referred TO is IN latitude 81 deg
% min norh To ascertain this on the earhs surface was
matter Of great 'abor and only TO be determined by the
astronomers of the two commissions These gentlemen,
Senior Saguian on the part OF Mexico. and Lieutenant A.
W. Whppe the parl OF the United States with their
specve assistants, have made large number OF obser-
yatons Independent OF each other, ~ order 10 ascertain
The true locston OF pon, in question, and have
ualy agreed and determined II 10 be at the spot whereon
we now stand
\ The commissioners and surveyors OF the two repub
astronomers do therefore rstfy their decision and IN
conformity herewith do establish this as the initial
point OF that portion OF the boundary between The United
States and the republic OF Mexico which, al 80 deg ~ min
north latitude 10 run three degrees wes,wsrdly along
the whole southern boundary OF New Mexico As future
evidence OF the decisions made and agreements entered
into by the authorities representing and acting IN behalf
OF the two republics they depose in the ground al
the spot wherein The initial point monument 10 be
erected glass vessel containing copy in Spanish and
English OF The following document, duly signed, sealed
and witnessed :"
The following then read in the two languages by
the secretaries
BE il remembered that. the twenty fourth day OF
April, IN the year OF our Lord thousand eight hun
behalf OF the United States and Mexico, named to run
the boundary ne between the two republics, in conform
ty with the treaty OF peace dated nj the city OF Guada
loupe Hdago, the second OF February. lS4S, and
changed at Querearo the thirteenth day OF May OF the
sane year, being fully satisfied with the operations made,
and the results obtained by the astronomers OF the two
commissions, do establish this point on the right bank
OF the rlver Bravo, Grande del Norle in 80 deg ~
min. (brlytwo degrees twenty-five mnutes) north aii-
fifth article OF said treaty, is the point where il 1.-THE
said river Bravo, Grande del Nore strikes the south
ern boundary of New Mexico
"Be II likewise remembered that the distance from this
point TO the centre OF the bed where actually runs
the river IN the direction OF the parallel is 2l9d
two hundred and nineteen metres and iourienths) fol
| lowing the line east from said point
For the greater soIemny of this-aot appear wit
the part Of The United States Brevet Captain
Abraham Buford, the ist Dragons, commanding Com.
pany H. present the occason,) and Colonel Charles
A. Hoppln, aid-de.camp TO his excellenoy James Cal
boun, governor of the Territory OF New Mexico; and
the par! OF Mexico. M B. Juan Jose Sanchez, political