The daily union., 1852-12-09
The Presidents Message.-The Boundary Com
uIssian

Such document as that which the Executive trans
ms annually the houses of Congress necessarily
embraces many separate and distinct subjects In COM
menng on such papers, the best and faes method is
give general summary of their contents, and then TO
follow up that summary with comments The different
and distinct subjects which such papers embrace
We have already presented in the form OF summary
brief outline ol Mr. Filmore's annual message We
have also spoken particularly OF the commercial recon-
mendaiions which II contains. In continuation Of the
task which devolves upon u.s. proceed consider
another OF the particular to which the Presidents
message alludes.
The particular matter 10 which refer is the arrest OF
the boundary commission in its task OF marking the
boundary line between the United Stales and the republic
OF Mexico under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
We take up this feature of the Presidents message
OF its regular order, because OF promise made our
readers during the ecur to the subject when
the excitement incident to presidential contest had sub
sided, that question OF this nature could be duly
considered
When that item OF The last appropriation bill which
made the appropriation for continuing the operations OF
the boundary commission pending before the Senate
provso attached which required that the moneys
voted should be expended unless the President be salts
not run further north than the treaty requires These
are the words Of the proviso alluded 10
"Propidfd That part Of this appropriation shall be
used expended until it shall be made satisfactorily ap-
boundary New Mexico is not established by the com
missioner and surveyor of the United States further north
Disturnels map, which is added to the treaty"
The treaty with Mexico prescribes the boundary line
between the two republics in these words:
"The boundary line between the two republics shal
in the Gulf Of Mexico leagues from land
opposite the mouth OF the Rio Grande otherwise called the
Rio del Norte opposite the mouth Of its deepest branch
il should have than branch emptyinr directly into
the sea; from thence mp the middle of that river following
the deepest channel, where has than one TO the
point where il strikes the southern boundary of New Mex
thence weswardly along the whole souhe m bounda
ny of New Mexico, (Which north of the town called
Paso to its western termination thence norhward along
the line OF New Mexico until il ntersects the frs
branch of the river Gla if should Interec any
branch of that river then the point sad line
to said branch and thence in direct line The same
thence down The middle of the said branch and OF said
river until emptes into the Rio Coloado thence across
the Rio Colorado following the division line between Up
per and Lower California, to the Pacific ocean,
Ii will be at that the only question which
the pon, a, which the southern boundary Of New Mex
steal object and point in the southern boundary of New
the town called FL Paso. The join, commission was not
appointed agree line II was expressly appoint.
ed 10 by suitable line already defined
and agreed on How was that 10 be done Plainly
thus: ascertain the position of FL Paso; then refer 10
Dsiunel,s map and, under lis guidance, mark on the
suace of the earth line having the relation to the
uue position Of FL Paso the map line bore 10 The
map position Of that place Such was clearly the rigb,
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under the treaty, unless be granted that The Joint com.
mission had the right TO line. was not re-
arclsd 10 the mere scientific task of marking the
face of the earth line defined and ordained by the terms
Of the treaty. ys Ibts 81 Hhe joint commission, We an
swer in these the words OF the treaty:
" In order designate the boundary line with due pre-
cision upon authoritative MAPS and establish upon the
ground landmarks which shall show the limit. Of both re
pubcs, described in the present article the two oy
ernments shall each spppint commissioner and a sur
veyo who, before the expiration OF year the date
the exchange Of raoaons Of this treaty. shall meet
the po of San Diego, and proceed and marx the
said boundary its whole the mouth Of the Rio
Bravo del Norie."
Here we have, by the treaty itself, specific definition
Of the duties OF the joint commission and the purpose Of
it's appointment by the two governments. These duties
are
First To run and mark the boundary line in order
Secondly To designate that line with due precision on
maps, and TO establish the ground landmarks which
shall show to the eye the line agreed on by the treaty
These duties purely mechsnicsl-duiies which re-
qure for their performance nothing than proper
application OF mathematical principles. There was no
room for error. The task which was required OF the
joint commission did not differ in principle from that
which salesman performs by applying his yardsiick to
measure the goods that have been sold.
The fact that the government has made this great mis-.
take will make il necessary for speak OF this sub
ect particularly hereafter but in the time we
content ourselves with saying that the commission ap
pointed to the line claimed for itself the right not only
10 mark lne-a mere physical task-but the righ, to
define nea high prerogsiive OF the treaty y-making
power Of the two governments, which had already been
fully and finally exercised in the treaty concluded between
them
Judge Evans has been elected United STATES tenator
The choice has given universal satisfaction. Judge
Evans during the late contest, though opposed the
separate secession OF the STATE moderate his creed
and temperate in his course. lie /, true Sste-rshts
man. and will faithfully reflect the old spirit which 4,
enshrned In hem. In laying aside the emlne and assu
ing higher post he bears with him the ushestatng conf
dence Of the whole State Ia bis abilities and patriotism
fCharicstor Mercury.
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