Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-04

correctness and Of the fairness of the claims which they
viii induce you to set up the part Of the Uated States
to advocate their adoption by every proper argument
drawn from the letter and spirit Of the provisions Of the
treaties As would not be consistent with the estab
shed principles Of the Government to advance any pre-
tensions the part of the United States founded in
strict fairness and justice it viii be equally essential
to admit on the part Of Texas claim not founded in the
same principle" IA
Again: 'The President confidently relies upon your
prudence and judgment upon the hearty cooperation
Of the United States surveyor whom, in turn you are
expected personally to attend direct and assist in the
performance Of his duties for proper advocacy of the
rights and interests of your country secured by the
treaties He is obliged the more to conde in your dis
creton scrutiny and patriotic zeal from the impossbiity
of foreseeng whether any and if any, what questions
may arise and from the consequent necessity Of leaving
you in great degree TO exercise your judgment in the
discussion and solution Of them" et
From these extracts it will be apparent that the
treaty Of 1888 was construed precisely Its coun-
terpart, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo has been
construed by Mr. BUCHANAN and his sucoeesezasa
There is another fact which tends to show ccn-
clusively that similar understanding of the treaty
prevails with the Government of Mexico. 1t is
that at this moment, and for many months past the
Mexican Government has devolyed the duties both
of Commissioner and Surveyor upon Mr.. SALAzAR.
If that Government had regarded the Surveyor as an
associate Commissioner it is hardly to be presumed
that it would have consented to dispense with his
services, and to leave its interests in the hands of
single Commissioner, whilst the United States had
two on the ground
1t seems, therefore, very clear that the Secretary
of the Interior is fully sustained by the precedents
in the construction which he has given to the
treaty with Mexico, and if he has erred, his error
consists not in a departure from the usages of the
Government but in his refusal to repudiate the
ton of his predecessors for the last ten years. and
strike out new line Of conduct for himself
There are other charges in the article of the
Union, which we deem it unnecessary to answer in
detail, as they are the mere efusions of partisan
spirit. But we think it proper to say that we have
learned from good authority that the removal of
Mr.. GRAY from the Office of Surveyor was in no
wise occasioned by his dissent from the action of
the Commissioner in regard to the initial point on
the Rio Grande, but was render(l necessary by the
failure of Congress to make the&ppropriations ask
ed for by the Department to carry on the work.
The estimate of the Department was $50, 900, and
Congress appropriated but 100000. This devolv-
ed on the Secretary the duty Of reducing the ex-
penses of the Commission by every means in his
power, and one of these was to consolidate the Of
fees of Surveyor and Astronomer. This was ac-
cordingly done by devolving the duties Of both on
Major Emory, who is now discharging them.
The rcoall q Col GRAHAM was also from causes
entirely unconpected with the question Of the ini
tial point. That officer was appointed about the
18th October, 1850, and on the Odd of that month
he was instructed to proceed with all practicable
dispatch to the scene of his operations. He did
not, however, arrive at Ell Paso until the oath of
June following. On the Sd of August, 1851, near
nine months after his appointment, he reported him
self to the Commissioner, and very shortly after
wards difficulty occurred between him and the
Commissioner in regard to his rank and right to
command the Surveyor when in the field, and other
matters of military etiquette. This controversy as
sumed such character as greatly to embarrass the
operations of the Commission, and each party
thought it necessary to send special messenger to
the seat of Government with dispatches, setting
forth their respective pretensions. Upon an exami-
nation of these dispatches, and in view of what
were deemed the unwarrantable delays of Col GRA-
HAM in repairing to his post, the Secretary of the
Interior, after consultation with the President, di-
rected his recall
All these facts will be seen BY a reference to the
official records.
paada will RON nher