The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-13

mas been asserted that Lieutenant Whlpple acted as
surveyor pro emp0re until the arrival of Mr. Gray; but
there evidence that he assumed act in capa
city, or raiy the line with his signature On The contra
ry, Mr. Bartlett states, his commu nication of the 25th
OF December, $780, that Whpple acted as the chief as
fronomer al interim. Mr., Bartlett had no authority To
appoint surveyor. as that function eonfdsd by law
10 Toe President and Senate, and the Office filed by the
appointment of Mr Gray. There could not al the same
time be two surveyors under the treaty.
a. ms stage o. the proceeding becomes necessary
lore Colonel Graham, who detailed as chief asrono
mer. left Washington i was known that Commissioner
Bartlett had established this line, far as he had the
power TO do II understood to be in opposition to
the views OF the Department OF the Interior. Ii was
known TO De repugnsntt 70 the opinions of every officer
OF the engineer corps who had paid any attention II the
subject, and especially to those Of Col. Graham and
Major Emory--so much SO, that ON informed by the
highest authority that COL Graham declared to Secretary
Stuart that he would not put his Instruments up
letrs line. Now what the plain duty Of the Secre
tary OF the Interior under these circumstances Clearly
TO instruct the commissioner 10 adhere the treaty bound
ary, and that he could not agree upon and mark line
on the ground without the Of The surveyor
That would have brought the line hack to the treaty
point IN the vicinity OF I'll PasO and secured the rights OF
his government.
When Colonel Graham arrived at FL Paso--fnding
too far norhhe ordered in his subordinate officer Lieu
tenant Whipp!e, for consultation, and with view to
correct the error Subsequently after good deal Of
Iespondence, Colonel Graham Mr.. Bartlett, and the
Mexican commissioner came to agreement, by which
the work progressed those sections not 10 dispute
But as soon as Lieutenant Whippe ordered on 10
Ell Paso, Commissioner Bartlett without waiting to con-
Ter with Colonel Graham, joined the Mexican commits
sionef in representation that Colonel Graham had
stopped the work the line thus progressing from the
wrong point, which resulted in the recall Of Colonel
Graham. In the mean time, Mr. Gray, who accompanied
Colonel Graham TO Fl Paso. protested the line. and
fused to sign the proceedings establishing the initial
point, as contrary to the treaty On being advised OF
this proceeding the Secretary Of the Interior rs issued
lett and before action could be had dismissed him from
office. doubt under the impression that he would not
consent TO be the instrument Of such unjust and un
rdo
motive which led TO the dismissal Of Colonel Graham
was his refusal to in this line, and the only true
reason of the dismissal of Mr. Gray was his protest.
Not only does the Secretary pursue this course bu ia
his annual report he enters into AN argument 10 sustain
what had been done by Commissioner Bartlett in which
he adopts the views OF Bartlett and the Mexican com
missioner Their only for what has been done is
that the map of Dsturne is inaccurate latitude and
longude that the initial point is not correctly laid down
the earths surface Sir, Mr. Trt, well as the other
authors OF the treaty, were quite aware Of that fact
numosa, q nj pJea oq1 many Years ssS with reference
latitude and Longitude but takes natural objects for the
initial points OF The boundary On the Rio Grande that
object is the town OF Paso, and the other places that
vicinity appearing on The map, especially La Sainea.
which the immediate point where the map repre-
sen,s The southern hne OF New Mexico TO strike the Rio
Grande The object OF the negotiaors OF the treaty
to avoid all difficulty about latitude and longitude by
calling for natural objects represented on the and
found the ground Their object has been defeated by
the illegal conduct Of Commissioner Bartlett and Secretary
in the treaty Without the slightest justice,
they have allowed the Mexican commissioner to inveRle
them into giving up thirty four miles OF latitude without
gaining inch in longitude, because the latter Is three
degrees by Dsurne's map either line, and that s
what they have adopted.
In his annual report, Mr.. Stuart says
aDiifcues also existed In regard the latitude of the
point the Rio Grande strikes The southern lire Of
New Mexico BY the map appears to be at latitude 81
sss d sma ~ gin whereas the '' position 'H'a' .
Sir, this is gross and extraordinary msstaement OF
the whole subject The point agreed on by Bartlett and
the Mexican 80 deg. ~ mln.; but the
latitude Of the true point established by the treaty
deg SO min, where the southern boundary OF New Mex
strikes the Rio Grande, ascertaned by our ofcers
the ground and appears by the protest OF Mr. Gray,
on file in the office OF the Department OF the Interior.
The church OF FL Paso is 81 deg 40 min as ascertaned
by observation
boundary OF the treaty. and surrender portion OF
territory is difficult 10 understand and impossible TO de-
fend
Mr Bartlett, in his correspondence with the depart
ment, gives his impression tha, tbe Line which he has
agreed 10 will strike the San Pedro There much
probability OF reaching by adhsrng TO the true
treaty lne-as will be seen by the map that il ap-
proaches the Rio Grande thai lnethan on the
established by the commission lie also says thai
in be does not strike branch oil the ella on the
northern boundary OF New Mexico, the line will run d.
recty to the Gila. Such is not the boundary conem-
plated BY the treaty The nth article declares that after
Mexico IL shall thence norlhward along the west
en line OF New Mexico until nersects the rs branch
Of the river Gla; If should not inersec any branch
OF that rver then TO the point the said line nearest
TO such branch and thence in direct line TO the same
thence down the middle Of said branch and oil the said
river until IL empues into the Colorado"
Ii will thus be that the treaty assumes what The
fact is that there is branch or the north line
which emplies into the ella, and that when at the
est point to the branch the boundary line is TO run di
ectly 10 IT, The treaty calls cannot, therefore, be an
swered by running due north line TO the Gia. II Is
supposed by some that the Mmbres branch oi the
lGa II is well known that the San Pedro Is branch
of that river Thus should Mr.. Bartlett run due north
from the western termination OF the line, as he nlImales
he WILL II be does not strike branch OF the Ga, be
cared that in case branch OF that river is not encoan-
tered in running norihwsrdy, then, when at point
nearest 10 such branch the line is 10 be directly TO IL.
and thence down the 10 the Ga. II Mr.. Bartlett
persists in this construction OF the treaty and thereby
misses the San Pedro, will probably be the result,
then he viii both lines surrender 10 Mexico $3.50
square miles.
4 II was extraordinary tbal0fr Cray and Colonel Ora.
ham should have been reea under these circumstances
Both were able officers Colonel Graham bad rendered
distinguished the northeastern boundary, and
was selected for his pecplar fitness for the position 1t
true he has been succeeded by very able and accom-
pished ofcer-Colonel Emory But i is obvious that
the motive OF the recall oil Colonel Graham and Mr..
Gray enable Commissioner Bartlett TO carry out
this unfortunate and illegal agreement for the surrender
TO Mexico of large and valuable territory belonging TO
the United States.
II cannot admit OF doubt that, assuming 10 direct
Mr. Gray TO sign the agreement OF Bartlett and the Mex
can commissioner fixing the initial point, the Secretary
of the Interior arrogaied TO himself power which, under
the treaty, conhded TO the United States surveyor
and which the Secretary had right TO control II he
had he right such mower. n ia IN he