Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-18
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE MEXICAN BOUNDARY.

- N-A~
Mexican Boundary Commission as the ground of a
renewed attempt to make the Secretary responsible
for what it alleges to have been an error of the
Commission in fixing the Initial Point Of the boun-
dairy an the bank of the Rio del Norte. The fol
lowing is the material portion Of the Unions article:
FROM THE UNION.
At this point of the we do not feel at liberty to
pass without mentioning fact having reference to the
manner in which the Administration has dealt with the
public in reference to this important subject
when Mr. Commissioner Bartlett agreed TO place the
southern boundary of New Mexico north of its true posi-
ton according the treaty, the surveyor, Mr. Gray was
absent as We have already stated. Lieut. A. ". Whip
pie was acting in his place. Now, Mr.. Stuart the Sc
cretary of the INTERIOR his report the President
with regard the proviso in the last appropriation BILL
which forbade the of the money voted to the boun-
ary survey unless the President should be satisfied that
tile line was not further north of Ell Paso than the same
is laid down on Dsturnells map, speaks in a manner
which is calculated if not intended TO convey the i'm
preston that Lieut. Whippe, acting as surveyor IN the
place Of Mr. Gray, had confirmed the initial point as
agreed on by the United States and Mexican Commission
ers This is an extract from Mr.. stuarss report;
THE result of the discussions relative to the initial
point was agreement between the Commissioners on
the part OF the two Governments that tho ho ereude
strikes the southern boundary OF New Mexico Mt o. deg
min north latitude, and from this point the same
southern boundary of New Mexico extends three degrees
vest: and written agreement to that effect signed
and publicly proclaimed the 24th day OF April 1851
by the Commissioners, and by the surveyor, on the
part OF Mexico and Lieut. A. W. Whippe, acting sur
yeyor the part Of the United States, who acted by
consent of both Commissioners in the absence of Mr. A.
B. Gray the regularly commissioned surveyor, who had
not been able reach the theatre of operations in con-
sequence Of i'll health When Mr. Gray did arrive, how
ever, he objected the line agreed on by the Com
mssioners the ground that il established too far
north AMI declined giving it his sanction by signing the
convention which had previously been executed by the
Mexican Commissioner and surveyor on the part OF their
Government and the American Commissioner and Lieut.
Whpple, acting surveyor on the part OF the United
States"
This statement conveyed TO our mind the belief that
Lieut. Whippe had sanctioned the line liked by the two
Commissioners as the and proper line. We were
therefore, much surprised finding, in Col. Graham's
report letter addressed to Mr.. Bartlett dated at Ell
Paso December r. 1885, directly and positively reuting
the idea on which the two Commissioners acted and
tanning the position that the southern line of New Next
co should be marked the distance north of the
position of FL Paso the map line marked north Of
the map position Of that place This is the language of
Lieut.. Whipple:
sThe lines of latitude and longitude, not being refer
red to in the treaty should be followed upon the
map particularly as from the inaccuraey with which
the Rio Grande is laid down in longitude the designs of
q But Paso being point Of reference in the treaty.
should not be overlooked and the distance Of the line
north of it intended to be represented upon hemap
From this starting point the Rio Grande TO mark
line due west three degrees Of longitude thence due
north the point where the line ntersects the Flo Gla
appears strict construction Of the treaty as It
is practicable to mark upon the ground
When this language is contrasted with that Of the Sc
cretary the Interior il excite the suspicion that
undue effort made to bolster up and sustain Mr.
Bartlett in untenable position.
We have Mr.. Gray, Col Graham, and Lieut.. Whippe
all regulating the position taken by the Commissioner;
and yet the Secretary Of the Interior sustained him in
course Of procedure whose effect if consummaed would
deprive the United States Of an immense domain.
The purpose Of the " Union" in the article from
which the above extracts are taken, obviously
to create the impression that the Secretary of the
Interior had exhibited want of candor and fair
ness in his report. We know nothing Of the
writer of the article and do not inquire into the
motives which may have prompted his attack.
What we have to deal with is facts, and we are
satisfied that careful examination Of these will
leave but little doubt in the public mind to where
the imputation of unfairness properly belongs
The Secretary states that "the result of the dis
cussion was an agreement between the Commits
sioners on the part of the two Governments that
the Rio Grande strikes the southern boundary of
I New Mexico at go 30 north latitude, and from
this point the same southern boundary of New
Mexico extends three degrees west, and written
agreement to that effect was signed and publicly
proclaimed on the oath Of April, 1851, by the
two Commissioners, and by the Surveyor on the
part of Mexico, and Lieut.. A. w. Whipple, act
ing Surveyor on the part of the United States"
Now, did not the writer of the Unions article
know at the time he was writing it, that every word
Of the above statement was not only substantially,
but literally true !? He cannot pretend to deny it.
And yet by insnuation he would seek to create the
impression that there was some Misrepresentation Of
the facts.
The Union proceeds: " This statement conveyed
to our mind the belief that Lieut. Whipple had
sanctioned the line fixed by the two Commission
crs as the true and proper line" and then afrms
that Mr. Whipple agreed with Mr. Gray and Col
Graham in "repudiating the position taken by the
Commissioner"
We presume the Secretary of the Interior can
hardly be held responsible for the belief" or the
differences of the Union. All he can undertake is
to state facts as they exist and let others deducc
their own conclusions from them.
We do not know what precise idea the Union in
tends to convey by the term " sanctioned" in thu
above extract. If il means that the mind Of Lieut.