Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-18
agreement, signed not only by Mr., Bartlett, but
also by Lieut.. Whipple, will show

also by Lieut.. Whipple, VIII show:
MEXICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION
SANTA RITA COPPER MINES, MAY =, 1851
To the Hon ALEXANDER H. Ill. STUART,
Secretary Of The Inferior,
sra In my last despatch, bearing date the 4th utimo
had the honor Of advising you the movements Of Act
ing Chief Astronomer Lieut.. A. W.WHirrLE preliminary
to the establishment Of the initial point Of the boundary
line the Rio Grande
The Chief Astronomers Of the two Commissions having
mutually agreed upon and advised the Commissioners Of
the spot where according to the results OF their united
observations the point should be fixed, the joint commits
sion the place the oath ultmo for the purpose
Of examining and ratng the proceedings of said
nomers should they be satisfied with regard to their
accuracy.
According the treaty of Guadalupe Hdago the pre-
of the chief surveyors is requisite this occasion
The absence of Mr. A. D. GRAY placed me In very deli
cate position which rendered still more perpiexng
by the fact that the treaty distinctly declares that
the chief surveyor no less than the commissioner shall
be appointed by Government and provisions are made
for contingencies like the present one have been
clothed with power to appoint individual TO act tempo
arily surveyor. The difficulty stated the Next
Commissioner who, in reply observed all the neces-
arrangements his part had been made to go forward
with the survey once and he trusted il would be pro-
ceeded with accordingly Being unwilling that any OBJ
saces in my power remove should impede the progress
Of this important business, did not hesitate to make
known my readiness to the responsibility OF de-
signaling some one in the Of Mr. Gray for the
time being provided the Mexican Commissioner in behalf
of his Government would consent to the course and thus
prevent obyiate any supposed cause OF complaint by
that Republic hereafter. Gen. Condo asserting to the
proposition, designated Lieut.. A. W. Whippe as acting
| chief surveyor.
The commissioners and surveyors having visited the
spot designated and examined the observations made,
conferred together and being satisfied with the proceed
hinge the astronomers raG6ad their decision, and
nounced in the presence of the assebege collected
the occasion that they then and there established the
initial point that portion Of the boundary between the
United States ana the Republic of Mexico, which, at 32
% north latitude, is westward 80 along the whole
southern boundary of New Mexico.
And future evidence of the decision made and
entered into by the authorities representing and
acting in behalf the two Republics they then deposited
the spot whereon the initial point monument is to DC
erected glass vessel containing copy in Spanish and
English Of the accompanying document marked A. duly
signed sealed and witnessed In the vessel were
placed list of the members of the United States Com
mission and fragment of the cornerstone of the Wash
| ington National Monument.
/ A-Copy Of Document deposited at The Initial Point.
/ Be REMEMBERED that the twenty -fourth day Of
April in the year of our Lord thousand eight hundred
and yone, the Commissioners and Surveyors on behalf
Of the United States and of Mexico named TO run the
boundary line between the two Republics in conformity
with the treaty of peace dated at the city of Guadalupe
Hidago the second day of February, one thousand
eight hundred and forty eight and exchanged at the city
of Queretaro the Both day Of May of the same year.
being fully satisfied with the operations made and the
results obtained by the chief astronomers Of the two Com
missions do establish this point the right bank OF the
/ ]
degrees twenty-five minutes north latitude which, in
corance with the provisions of the fifth article OF said
treaty is the point where it the said River Bravo
Grande del Norte strikes the southern boundary of New
Mexico"
BE it likewise remembered that the distance from this
point the centre Of the bed where actually
the river the direction Of the parallels 2l9m4
hundred and nineteen and fourtenths follow
ing the line east from said point.
For the greater solemnty of this act appear, wit
the part Of the United States, Breyet Captain
Abraham Buford, Of the First Dragons, commanding
company H. present the OCCASION and Colonel Charles
A. Hoppin ad-de-camp to his Excelency James s. Cal
houn Governor of the Territory Of New Mexico and
the part of Mexico Mr. d. Juan Jose Sanchez Political
Chief of the Canton of Bravo in the State of chihuahua,
as first authority of that place.
Written in duplicate in English and Spanish, and signed
and sealed the point established the day of the
month and year aforesaid
PEDRO GARCIA CoNDE
| JOHN RUSSELL BARTLETT,
| Commissioners.
JOSE sALAZAR,
i HAIRCUT,
AGRIMENS0R,
i A. w. WHIPPLE, t. L.
Surveyor and Astronomer.
/ In presence Of
THOMAS II. WEBB, Secretary.
JOAN JOSH SANCHEZ,
Francisco JUSERIZ,
! A. BUFoRD, Brew. Capt. 1st Dragons.
/ CHARLES A. HoPPN,
Aid-de-Camp to his Excelency the
Governor of New Mexico.
| When Mr.. Gray dissented from the act Of Com
missioner Bartlett, he sgnifed his dissent by refus
ing to sign the agreement. But did Lieut.. Whip
pie refuse Did he indicate any unwillingness to
sign? Did he put forth any protest If SO, where
is the evidence Of it? On the contrary, it seems
that he willingly appeared on the ground, signed
the paper and participated in all the ceremonies at
tending its formal proclamation. Nay, more. The
agreement itself recites that the Commissioner and
Surveyor on the part of the United States, "being
fully satisfied with the operations made and the
results obtained by the chief astronomers of the
two Commissions, do establish this point on the
right bank of the River Bravo or Grande del Norte
$50 % north latitude, which, in accordance with
the provisions Of said treaty. is the point where it
strikes the southern boundary of New Mexico"
Now, we appeal to every candid reader if these
facts would not have warranted the Secretary
in going much further than he did, and affirming
that Lieut.. Whipple agreed with the Commissioner
instead of stating, as he did, merely that he signed
the agreement?
Yet in the face of these facts, and it is to be pre-
sumed with full knowledge of them, the Union
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