The daily union., 1852-12-14
Mon. WASHINGTON TUESDAY MORNING. DECEMBER A. 1852

Commissioner Bartlett, whose argument in support Of the
line he consented to hardly needs exposure.
AT this point of the case we do not feel at liberty
pass without mentioning fact having reference 10 the
manner in which the administration has dealt with the
public in reference 10 this important subject.
When Mr. Commissioner Bartlett agreed 10 place the
southern boundary OF New Mexico north OF It's true posi-
ton according 20 the treaty The surveyor MIR Gray was
absent, we have already stated. Lieutenant A. w
Whppe was acting in his place Now, Mr. Stuart, the
Secreary OF the Interior in his report TO the President
with regard to the proyso in the last appropriation BILL
which forbade the OF the money voted TO The bound
AIRY survey unless the President should be satisfied that
the line not further north Of FL Paso than the
is laid down on Disernells map, speaks in manner
which is calculated, II not intended to convey the i'm
preston that Lieutenant Whippie. acting surveyor in
the place OF Mr. Gray had confined the initial point
agreed on by the United States and Mexican commits
sioners. This is an extract from Mr. Stuarts report
The result OF the discussions lrelatye 10 the initial
poinil agreement between the commissioners
the part OF the two governments that the Rio Grande
strikes the southern boundary of New Mexico s2 deg 2a
min north atitpds and from this point the
boundary Of New Mexico extends three degrees
and wen agreement that effect signed and pub
lc proclaimed the 2ih day of April 1851, by the
conissoners aad by the surveyor the part Of Mexico,
W "
part OF the United Sales who acted by OF both
in the absence Of Mr. A. b. Gray the regu
arlycommissioned surveyor, who had not been able
reach the theatre operations In consequence oi I'LL health
When Mr. Gray did arrive, however, he objected 70 the
line agreed by the commits the ground that
il established far north, and declined giving his
sanction by signing the convention which had previously
been executed by the Mexican mmsoner and surveyor
the part OF their government and the American
missioner and Lieutenant Whpple, acting surveyor,
the part OF the United States"
This statement conveyed to our mind the belief that
Lieut. Whppe had sanctioned the line fixed by the two
commissioners as The true and proper line. We were,
therefore, much surprised finding, in COL Graham's
report, letter addressed TO Mr. Bartlett dated at Ell
Paso December IL, $780, directly and positively reung
the idea which the two commissioners acted and
tanning the position that the southern line OF New Mex
leo should be marked the distance north OF the true
position OF FL Paso the map line was marked north OF
the map position Of that place This is the language Of
Lieut.. Whippe
"The lines Of latitude and longitude, being referred
the treaty should be followed upon the map; par
ticulay az, from the inaccuracy with which the Rio
Gfande is laid down in longude the designs OF the fra
mers OF the treaty would thereby be frustrated
But Paso, being point OF reference in the treaty.
should be overlooked and the distance of the line north
of IL was intended be represented upon the map From
this starting point the Rio Grande, mark line due
point line nrersects the Rio Ga. appears to
strict OF the treaty it is practicable To
mark upon The ground"
When this language Is conirased with that OF the Sec
reary of the INTERIOR ii excite the suspicion that
undue effort was made 10 bolster up and sustain Mr.
Bartlett in an untenable position.
We have Mr. Gray, Col Graham. and Lieut. Whipple,
all repudating the position taken by the commissioner
and yet The Secretary OF the Interior sustained him IN
course OF procedure whose effect, consummaed, would
deprive the United States Of an immense domain. The
administration fully informed, by knowledge OF
the opinions OF scientific men, to the extent OF The
country proposed to be yielded up while II was fully in
formed by eminent men--members Of the legislative
branch OF the governmenof the value OF that couns
try The Texas delegation in Congress, consisting Of
Messrs Houston and Rusk, in the Senate, and Messrs
Howard and kaufman, in the House OF Representa-
yes, being sppehensive that the treaty might be de-
parted from in marking the boundary, addressed letter
10 the Secretary of the Treasury early January
90 1851, giving information of the importance OF the
country on the southern border OF New Mexico
There can be- therefore, no for Of caution
on the part OF the administration sustaining The conduct
of the commissioner But the administration went on
heedlessly and reckessy, until Mr. Mason, OF Virginia
III ahIcAihk W aplio-
priaon for continuing the boundary survey provso
which forbade the administration that appropra
ton unless Il should be satisfied that the commission
making the line according TO the treaty When thai
provso was enacted the administration seemed TO recol
ect for ,he first time that something necessary
than blind support OF party appointee when great
interests were involved The Secretary OF the Interior
bad claimed diplomatic powers for MIR. Bartetti which
claim, il II could be sustained, would give binding
force TO his error, and override investigation. But
The treaty sustained such claim and when brought
face 10 face with responsibility by the action OF Con-
gress the administration forced TO admit that did
not know whether the line was run properly er impror-
erIy, and could not ascertain during the fiscal year
Such was In substance, its confessional confession
which il attempted 10 up and conceal by Intellectual
circumlocuton We doubt whether the history OF any
administration even that OF General Taylor furnish
parallel 10 the ineiceney 10 which MIR, Fllmores sd.
mnistraiion has been forced plead guilty in its virtual
admission that the boundary survey be stopped until
Congress shall take the matter in hand and correct the
errors that have been committed.
California