The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28
The mexican Boundary Commission.


We invite careful perusa Of the able report, in another
column, OF Mr. Mason of Virginia, chairman OF The Sen
aes Committee on Foreign Relations on the message of
the President transmitting letter from the Secretary OF
the Interior in relation the boundary with Mexico.
We have known for some time thaithe boundary CON-
mission was vastly expensive. and that it had consumed
great deal OF time in making but little progress. We
had also been told that the initial point OF the survey had
been wrongly placed. and that the error would. If not
corrected occasion the loss Of large territory and
Of the most important passes toward the Pacific But we
had no idea tina, the error which had been committed
50 plain and papabIe Mr. Masons report proves it TO
be- or that the commissioner had totally misunderstood
tie nature OF his duties and plainly ranscended his
authority as be has done by assuming diplomatic func
TONS by claiming the right to act independent Of and
against the protest of the surveyor; and by departing
from the requirements Of the treaty. which defines the
boundary line.
What astonshes US most OF all in this business is
the conduct OF the administration here, and the unsub
santis character OF the Arguments which Mr.. Stuart
urges 10 his justification. MIR. Mason's report DEM
onstraies that Commissioner Bartlett, by agreement
with the Mexican commission, has fixed the initial point
thirty miles loo far NORTH thus giving up Mexico
FIVE thousand four hundred and eight square miles OF
rory and the possession OF the passes in that direction
to the Pacific coast Mr.. Gray. the surveyor not
present when this done; and when it was made
known 10 him. he refused sign the agree
meat improperly entered into by Mr. Bartlett during his
absence When this fact was communicated TO Mr..
Stuart be instructed Mr.. Gray peremporly 10 sign the
agreement, and then removed him and appointed his
successor with the instructions Sign the agree
ment, by which commission assumed diplomatic pow
ers, and agreed to mark line fessf from tia, de-
seriJsd ~ the treaty, although its whole duty 10
establish landmarks showing the line described by
the treaty, and TO designate that line authoritative
maps.
Mr. Stuart sustans the commissioner in this unwsrrsnt-
able proceeding by the most extraordinary argument
have ever known TO be presented by cabinet officer He
assumes that MIR Bartlett, bad political and diplomatic
powers and that the Of Mr. Gray the surveyor
was not necessary give validity 10 his Neither Mr.
Bartlett nor the entire commission had any political
or diplomatic power. The commission was charged
with the duty OF marking line described by the
treaty-tbat was all, II Mr. Bartlett had political and
diplomatic powers, and could act alone, then why was
Mr.. GAYS signature aeedeJi And why were order.
sent from Washington commanding hn 10 aix bis sig
nature to the Illegal agreement, with the Mexican com.
missons Mr. S,uan attempts to avoid the crushing
force Of these questions by saying that the signature
wanted to sttes, the genuncness Of the Documents
most lame and impoent conclusion, when il u remen
bered that there were Of attached TO the
mission whose signatures would have erred that pur
pose; and tba, the line marked by monuments on the
surface Of the earth. W the commission ITSELF superseded
me necessity Of any such authorization.
The Secretary Of the Interior and the administration
have their power TO ratfy the surrender
Of portion Of our country Mexico. The report shows
that me treaty likes the boundary ia the mmed.
ale ne'shbohood Of Fl Paso bu, 10 place Of taking the
boundary mus established the commissioner went ,hir
'four miles north Of The point hred BY the treaty. and
made an agreed boundary Colonel Graham. the 10.
biographical engineer Of the commission, agreed with
Mr. Gray. The treaty mentions the town Of FL Paso
and the Rio Grande as natural objects; but the com
missioner dsreEsrdsd the natural Objects and re-ored
to latitude and longitude, rcho az. not mentioned Ia
nc treaty. because i was known that the places on the