Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11


completed Much progress has also been made in the
survey Of the Rio Grande Whenslast heard from. the
parties under the immediate command Of Major Emory
nad nnsned the work, from the point agreed by the
commissioners as the beginning point the river, TO
Eagle Pass and II is presumed that by this time the sur
yey has been completed at least of the distance
down the course Of the river.
am not aware that any further progress has been
made in the survey of those portions Of the line which lie
between the Rio Grande and the Gla and which consti
tute the southern and boundaries of New Mexico
party had been organized, however for that purpose
and il is possible that it may have been employed in that
service before the Commissioner advised of the action
of Congress the subject at its last session. and ordered
to discontinue his operations
II such should prove be the fact will avail myself
OF the earliest opportunity to communicate to all that
has been DONE to enable you lay it before Congress
Before proceeding to present in detail the views
of the Department in reference the various questions
arising out of the survey of the boundary feel it be
due alike to myself and the public to inaccu
racy which accidentally occurred in my last report in
regard to the latitude Of certain points referred to- which
occasoned by of the clerk who request
ed to fill two blanks in the original draught of the report
But although the error too palpabe to misead any
and susceptible of ready correction by reference to
the map avail myself Of the earliest opportunity put
the matter right upon the record
The mistake occurs in the following paragraph:
Difficulties also existed in regard the point where the
Rio Grande strikes the southern line Of New Mexico By the
appears to be at latitude 80 49, whereas the po
sition is latitude 32o 49,"
Inc actS OF the case follow: The southern
OF New Mexico is laid down the map of Dsturnel,
nearly be ascertained by in latitude
N 820 22 and the town of Ell Paso appears by similar
measurement, to be in latitude n 800 l5Y and longitude
27o 80 west Of Washington This would make the line
according to the map about minutes Tor seven
geographical miles north Of Ell Paso fraction of
minute north Of 32o 22>, agreed by the Commits
sioners.
BY actual observation however il was ascertained that
FL Paso is enormously placed the map both in respect
to latitude and longitude its true position being in la
tude N. 80 45/, fraction than half degree
south of its position marked by Disturnel and in
longitude 300 4O instead Of 27o 85 west Of washington,
two degrees and FIVE minutes Of its position
cording to the map
The law of the last session of Congress- making the APP
preparation for the continuation of the survey is in the
following words:
For running and marking the boundary line between the
United States and Mexico under the treaty of Gaudaurc Hi
dago, hundred and twenty thousand dollars Proeide
That part of this appropriation shall be used expended
until it shall be made satisfactorily appear the President
of the United States that the southern boundary of New Next
co not established by the and of the
United States further north Of the called Paso than the
is laid down in Disurnes map which added the
treaty"
that under the terms of the provso to this appropriation
part of the money appropriated could be used
pended and the 18th day of October, 1852 made
report to you to that effect in which conclusion you
pressed your concurrence by endorsement the
port, dated 18th October, 1852.
copy of that report and endorsement appended
to this communication
On the 18th October I addressed letter to the Com
missioner enclosing copy of the report and of your
dorsement and informed him that it would be
per for him to make any further drafts the Department
rs the available funds had been exhausted But as /
knew that large Of provisions had sent to
Preside del Nore Eagle Pass and Fort Brown opposite
for the of the surveying parties along the
course of the Rio Grande and the Commissioner and
Major Emory were in possession of funds raised upon
drafts previously drawn upon the Department left it to
their discretion whether would he
Commission at once, to continue their operations
the river as long the at their disposal would
enable them to maintain their respective parties in the
field.
On this point it impossible for the Department to
form satisfactory opinion with the limited information
in its possession But there could be controversy
in relation to that part Of the line considered very
desirable not to arrest the survey of it, Peremptoy in
strucons were however given to the Commissioner to
discontinue all further operations the southern and
western lines of New Mexico which constitute the dspu-
ted portion Of the boundary until further action should
be taken by Congress copy Of that letter also
panies this report.
AS there has been some in regard to
the of the Department the subject Of the ini
tial point the Rio Grande, and the line thence
ward which constitutes the southern boundary of New
Mexico, deem it proper to give full history Of all that
has been done by the Department in regard it, and
explanation of the reasons which have controlled its
action The treaty of Guadalupe Hdago provides that
The boundary line between the Republics shall
in the Gulf of Mexico three leagues land oppo
site the mouth of the Rio Grande otherwise called the Rio
Bravo del Nor opposite the mouth Of its deepest branch
If should have than branch emptyng directly into
the from thence up the middle that river following the
deepest channel where IL has than the point
where it strikes the southern boundary Of New Mexco
thence weswardy along the whole southern boundary
Mexico (which north Of the called west
termination thence northward along western line Of
New Mexico until ii ntersec the first branch Of the river
a Tor IL should not nersect branch Of that river
then to the point the said line branch and
thence direct line the y thence the middle Of
The said branch and of the said river until empes into the
Rio Coorado thence the Rio Colorado following
division line between Upper and Lower California the Pa
cifc
The southern and limits Of New Mexico mentioned
in this article those laid down in the map entitled Map
Of the United Mexican States organized and defined by
various Of the Congress Of said Republic and
according to the best authorities revised edition, published
added to this treaty bearing the signatures and seals
penipotenares and in order preclude all
difficulty in tracing upon the ground the limit separating Up
from Lower California ID is agreed that the said limit shall
consist Of straight line drawn from the middle Of the Rio
6a where il unes with the Colorado point the
If the Pacific distant marine league due south
he souhenmost point Of the port Of San Diego according
he plan Of said port made in the year 1884, by Don Juan
Pantcga second sailing master of the Spanish fee pub
ished at Madrid in the 1902 in the Atlas TO the voyage
Il the schooners Sut and Mexcana which plan cspy is
ereunto added signed and sealed by the respective pen
,otentiaries
In order designate the boundary line with due prec
ION upon authoritative maps and TO establish the
dmarks which shall show the limits both republics as
described in the present article the Governments shall
ach appoint Commissioner and Surveyor who before the
EXPIRATION OF one from the date of the exchange af
aons Of this treaty. shall San Diego and
rocecd to and mark the said boundary whole course
the mouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte They shall keep
,unas and make plans Of their operations and the
ut agreed by them shall be deemed part treaty
nd shall have the force IL il Inserted therein
will amic vha