The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-21
The Mexican boundary Commission.


We publish most ehesrfully the annexed communca-
lion, addressed to the Western Texan, by Major WIN.
II Emory in reply 10 letter which originally appeared
IN our columns Before the reception of that letter,
had been convinced by many concerning statements that
the boundary commission had been badly managed but
we had never thought that that bad management could
he charged on the head OF the scientific corps attached TO
he commission; and in publishing the communication
AZ our FL Paso correspondent did not perceive that
400 mpulaon was cast on the manner in which the
scientific operations had been performed Congress has
been forced 10 arrest the work OF the commission but
The causes which made that step necessary 10 be
attributed entirely the commissioner and 10 the admins
ration which. with characteristic folly and hardhood
sustained him in his plumbers.
EAGLE Pass, October 10, 1864.
n he Editor Of ihs WtSern Isran:
S,a In your paper OF the 30h OF September is letter
.1lsssed TO The editor OF the Union" dated FL Paso
1Msxico1 July Is, 1884," signed "Melnoe."
ii il NOT nv purpose 20 notice the wild attacks OF Mon
;enr Melnoe on the government, the army. the United
e,aa boundary conmss oaer, presumng that each ins-
,nion and individual attacked is capable OF self defence
ia has however made statements rejecting on myself
h;ch you will presently are without foundation and
hch should have been known to be without foundation
a,,v person in III Paso. Melnotte state, under date
n Idv 49, 1882 when practically in charge OF the
sammission growing ont of the absence OF the commits
s;oner that while the boundary commission is passing
m and down the river aselessy the United States troops
oecupy themselves in ingorious ideness, &C., &c.
He also states, "ihe Mexican boundary commission
numbered twelve men, OF proper altanments, and they
have in every instance performed their duties more salts
facory and more scientifically than the $50 OF which ours
was composed Thousands and hundreds OF thousands
If dollars have been expended by the administration, and
s results have been worse than nothing. Everything
has been done wrongly, from the fixing OF the initial
Oont 10 the completion OF The observations at Pesdio
When took charge OF The survey in December, 1851,
nv predecessor had brought down from the initial point
!, near I'll Paso am therefore responsible for all tina,
hanoened below III Paso and as the Preside de San Ella
zario is below thai point am responsible for the COM
Melton of the observations at the Pesido" The obser
vaons AT the Preside were made with fortysix inch
transit by 1'roughton and Smms OF London, and run
through four lunatons; simultaneous observations
made al Fontera and the places connected by flashes
and there probably at this moment point in the in
terror of the continent OF North America well deter
mined as Froniea and its astronomical dependencies the
Pfesido amongst them.
AT the moment wlen Melnotle wrote the boundary
commission g is uselessly passing up and down The
river" not one soul belonging to the commission was,
had been for time, passing up the river but all who
were passing a, all passing down the river. AT tba
moment the American survey and observations had pro
crossed as far down the Preside del Noe, and all III.
observations had bean completed to that point; BESIDES
very large section OF the work had been completed by
detached party under The immediate charge of comps
tent officer in the neighborhood of Eagle Pass; wherea
the Mexican commission had only progressed far al
Gaudalupe and made no observations whatev yer, excep
Anew at FL Paso and, Official documents in my posses
sion viii show we were that very time, and are now
fully eight months ahead OF the Mexican commission IL
the survey.
The whole amount drawn by nae from the treasury
during this PERIOD the account current OF the quarter
master shsgs about eleven thousand dollars (Sl1 ooo
the employees being yet unpaid.
No desire is entertained 10 interfere in Mr. Menotte's
personal or political auimosities dsquisons but h
has chosen TO step out OF his way attack the scientific
operations this boundary for which hold myself re
sponsble and TO depreciate the work Of men who hsv
no, been stopped By severe winter, lbe scaping kn
Of the Apsches, which Mr.. Melnole informs for III,
first lime has made such terrible havoc in the vay of
paso This il the first attempt made to involve scientific
results in political and personal discussions, and II il
hoped will be the last il would have been attempt
ed except by Ignorant OF science, and certainly would
never have been noticed by me but for its appearance ID
such respectable journals the Union and Western
Texan The American results have. from lime 10 time
been Published BY in the scientific journals OF the
dag and circulated in this country and Europe and these
results, and the methods by which they are attained
have been received and approved by OF science in
this country and Europe. II Mr. Menolte desires The
ungacious task oil making comparisons, IL is suggested
a, he arragn the parties before tribunal competent
Judge
The great scientific work this boundary the de-
termination Of the line the Pacific side connecting the
Natal point there with the mouth OF the ella This was
done by myself and assistants, and rsceued by the Mexi
can astronomers and surveyors
This TACT IS stated, Menotle is believed 10 be in The
employment 81 Tue Mexican commission, and TO show
ai that commission be supposed to sanction his
assertions Indeed, the commission was at the date oil
Aenotes letter. on its way 10 meet at the Preside
bel Norle.
request, through your columns that the Union do me
The iutce 10 copy the above
VIM. H. EMORY,
Cbief Astronomer, &c, Boundary Commission
nffoled