Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-17
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
THE MEXICAN BOUNDARY.

which the Editors OF btls paper nave no pefsonai
familiarity, is from a gentleman Of scientific at
tainments, urconnectcd in any manner with the
actual survey Of the Boundary, and whose Judgment
is at least disinterested and impartial one:
Our attention has been lately attracted by de-
bate in Congress upon the boundary line with
Mexico, under the late treaty. There appears to us
to be error somewhere and, with the view Of aiding
others as well as ourselves in getting at the truth,
we indulge in the following remarks
The fifth article Of the treaty, that is, the part Of
it which relates to the boundary of the debate is
worded as follows:
Thence up the middle of that river, (Rio del
"Norte,) following the deepest channel when it has
/" more than one to the point where it strikes the
" southern boundary of New Mexico; thence west
wardly along the whole southern boundary Of
/" New Mexico, (Which runs north Of the town called
q Paso,) to its western termination thence north
ward, along the western line of New Mexico until
it intersects the first branch Of the river Gila
if it should not ntersect any branch Of that river,
" thence to point on said line nearest to said
branch thence down the middle of said branch" !"
&c. &c.
To analyze this description at the expense of some
repetition, it will be as follows:
1st. To pass up the Rio Grande, or Rio del Norte,
until encountering the southern boundary of New
Mexico, which passes north of the town called Paso.
ID. To follow this southern boundary along its
whole extent to Its western termination.
Sd. Thence northwardly, along the western boun-
Diary of New Mexico, until it intersects the first
branch Of the river Gila.
4th Or if it should not intersect any branch of
that river, to point on said line nearest to such
branch, and thence in direct line to the same &C.
We have now before us the distinct facts of this
boundary as expressed in the treaty. The present
question being in reference to the southern bounda-
ry of New Mexico, our remarks will be confined to
that part of the boundary
First then, the line passes up the Rio del Norte
until it encounters the " southern boundary of New
Mexico" and this boundary "passes north of the
town called Paso"
1t becomes essential then, to find out the q south
ern boundary of New Mexico" as this boundary is
the key of the whole boundary in that direction
But all that the treaty says of this boundary, far
as extracts have been made, is, that it runs
passes north of the town called Paso."
We therefore as yet say no more of this
boundary, than that it is boundary " north of the
town called Paso."
But the treaty goes on further to say
/" The southern and western limits of New Mexico
mentioned in this article are those laid down in
the map, entitled map of the United Mexican
g States, as organized and defined by various acts
of the Congress of said Republic, according to the
best authorities Revised edition. Published at
1New York in 1s47, by j. Disturnell, of which
|" map copy is added to this treaty, bearing the
signatures and seals Of the undersigned Pleni-
potentiaries."
We have now, therefore, what may be with pro-
priety considered as an official and authoritative
exhibit of the boundary upon map, adapted to re-
Geve the subject from all serious ambiguity.
The boundary is then the southern boundary of
New Mexico, as delineated upon DisturnelPs map
of 1847, which map is attached to and is made part
of the treaty.
With these facts, so clearly expressed, we do not
see how doubt or difficulty can exist. There may
be difficulties in applying these facts to the earths
surface, but such difficulties are always to be solved
We have not before us the particular map, signed
and affixed to the Treaty, but we have one Of the
same edition, from the same plate, and no doubt
identical in all respects to the treaty map.
y Upon this map there is a dotted line, marking
the southern boundary of New Mexico, also its ex-
tension west and this boundary line passes north of
the town called Paso Also, on the same map there
is dotted line marking the western boundary of
New Mexico extending northward, and originating
at the western termination of the southern boundary
line Of New Mexico. Now, supposing this map to
agree with that of the treaty map, Of which we
have no doubt, it must be our guide and no other
guide can be followed.
Upon this same map is marked the town Paso,
and the southern boundary of New Mexico is marked
as passing north Of that town. 1t seems to us,
therefore, that all the elements to determine the
true treaty boundary are possessed.
Jim the same map, and south of the boundary
as marked, we also find other well-known places
which, If not authoritative Paso, will yet aid
as corroboratve in determining the true position of
the treaty boundary; for instance La Salinora and
the Fort Of Paso del Norte.
The map is on a small scale, Of about seventy
miles to the inch, which makes it difficult 10 mea-
sure small distances upon it with great accuracy
In laying out the boundary the first question to
be determined ssthe distance which. according 70
this map, the southern boundary Of New Mexico
lies "north Of the town called Paso." BY mea-
suring this distance upon the map, and then by law
ing that distance off in the proper direction on the
ground, point in the boundary will be attained
and all difficulties but those Of field labor will be at
an end.
Now, by our map and by our measurements the
southern boundary of New Mexico is
miles north Of the town called Paso.
"a miles north of La Salinora.
143 miles north Of Fort Paso del Norte.
II is not pretended that these distances are exact
to foot; the scale Of the map does not admit Of
such exactness: but we feel assured the distances
will not be found to exceed those stated,