The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-11
The Mexican Boundary Cenanissson.
10 THE EDIT0R o. TEE NEW Yoxx HnALp.


WASHINGTON, April 4. 1853
Ny attention has been called to an article ON the
Boundary Commission published in your papsr of the
3lst u by Mr. John Bartlett, in answer to one signed
"vindsx, which appeared in your paper Of the 2lst
ultimo.
Mr. John r. Bartlett has chosen to 60 out of his way
to his ire upon in hopes doubt Of diverting
public attention from his present peculiar position by
drawing into newspaper controversy with him upon
subjects connected with the Boundary Commissioned
relation which he either stands arragned for high mis-
demeanor before special committee of the Senate and
is awaiting its judgment or (Which have already
disposed Of under all the Official responsibilities resting
upon officer Of the army) by a refuta.ion Of
statements, (which Mr Bartlett now endeavors echo
when they originally made by Mr.. Alexander II.
Stuart while Secretary of the Interior under the late
administration My defence against the accusations OF
last see Senate Documents No III thirty second Con
gress, first session. which has been in print for
more than six months. 1t became my duty to review in
that report the transactions that commission which,
under my instructions, required to reform-em.
bracing the Reorganization and enangements which
its operations before relieved IT, also the
effort that was made to surrender to Mexico a large
portion Of territory rghtfuy belonging to the United
States under the treaty of Guadalupe Adago This effort
checked by suspendng as was my duty the survey of
the false line that being traced when arrived at FL
Paso. After my suspension of this false line was pro-
tested as such by Mr. Gray the surveyor the part of
the United States under the treaty who refused to give
bis assent to it-a condition it's validity
ing the Information IN the Immediate Of
Ell Paso essential to the correct understanding the
true position Of this iIe it also the future and
rghfu progress OF the work Of marking the boundary
which to divide newly acquired territory from
the Mexican State Of Chihuahua
General Condo, the Mexican Commissioner, took UNI.
bragg at my ordering Lieutenant Whppe from the line
which bad been agreed to by the General and Mr. Bartlett
in violation Of the plain terms Of the treaty The Gene
raj had counted on large gain Of territory for Mexico by
this negotiated line and he accordingly had complaint
made against me to my own government under the plea
that had stopped the work the boundary ne taking
to suppress the fact that had done because It
being traced nearly forty miles too far to the north
enough 10 enquire into the real merits of the m was
urgently recommended BY Colonel Albert see No 1s2 of
the APPENDIX to my repora course that would have
Conde-at once ordered my recall from the commission
and afterwards used all his Efforts and all the authority
fed This would have distracted from the rghtfu Dos
sessions Of the United States under the treaty of Guad
upe Hidalgo, nearly six thousand square miles of terri
promptly adopted in stopping this false line, the true
cause Of my recall, although masked under the
ea When h ras Mr.
Appspsaas to my report e No. 49, Informing him
that had gone to that place since | was detailed
for duty the Boundary Commission and that it was in
period by which the Instruments which had to be pro-
cured could have been transported there in safety The
charge OF delay was refuted BY me in my official report
above alluded to- The justice of position exposed
in that report received at least the acquescence
the late administration which, doubt discovered that
il had acted too hastily and with too little attention
after Of grave public Importance in aiming Gen.
Condo and Mr. Bartlett and in having inflicted upon
reeuke for what was but just and faithful performance
my duty, under the very responsibilities which their
own well digested instructions imposed upon me.
Having thus disposed Of this matter, under all the
be expected that will 60 the same ground
in newspaper discussion with Mr. John r. Bartlett
regret that his ociousness and his indulgence in
marks that border personality in regard to myself
compel me to remind him that until he shall clear him
self from the grave accusations under which he now
rests and are awaiting the judgment of high tribunal
he has claim the personal attention of any gentle
Whenever he shall clear himself from these mo
will cheerfully than my self accord to him what
ever attention he may desire that may be due from
gentleman to another.
As there to be insinuation that am the
author Of Vndex, take occasion here to state that
not and that knew nothing OF the article, of any
intention tie part of anybody to write such article
Written on tbs subject for auy
whatever All that have written has been addressed to
the proper departments OF the government and under my
official responsibilities
Before closing this paper will it be trespassing too
much on your columns, Mr. Editor if ! offer you few
remarks upon the true position of the line which forms
the southern boundary of Ne " Mexico2
So much labored sophsty has been expended by some
writers this subject that they have really confused
their minds to such degree upon it, that the more
read their arguments the less understand their
reasoning. The fifth article of the treaty says The
the article. those laid down the map entitled.
Map of the United Mexican States, organized and de-
fined by various acts OF the Congress Of the said republic
and constructed according TO the best authorities Re-
yised edition published at New York. in l847 by j. Dis
turnell, Of which map copy is added to this treaty.
bearing the signatures and seals Of the undersigned pen
potentiaries"
According the treaty, then to understand the
limits Of these States as organized and defined by the
various acts Of the Congress of the said republic, in
nection with their appearance on the said map.
On looking at this map, we find dotted line running
from to west which ties New Mexico from Chi
huahua This line is the southern limit of New Mexico,
mentioned in this article of the treaty and it is also the
northern OF Chihuahua because they are con
be found in any of these various acts Of the Con-
gress of the said republic alluded to in this article for
any such act, if applicable, must settle the matter
We find that by the act OF the said republic, Of July
eth 1924 the territory Of Chihuahua formed into
State Of the Confederacy and that the territory Of New
Mexico still remained territory.
The act is as follows, viz
DEcnEE-Translation)
Mexican states has held Il well to dec
Article The territory Of chihuahua shall be State Of
Articles and relate to tie organization Of the legislative
Ariisle4 The territory Of New Mexico remains terri
Mexico, July 6, 1884,
On the 9th of the same month the boundaries Of this
made State, upon the north and the south de-
Ered act of the Congress Of the said republic to be
as follows viz
r-Extract-TransIation)
BOUNDARY OF THE TERRITORY THE PROVINCE OF
The sovereign general Congress Of the United
has held well TO decree The territory of
he province of chihuahua shall include all that is eompre
hended between right lines drawn from to west from
the point called Paso del Norte the side,
with jurisdiction has always possessed and the ha
Of the Rio Flordo the eide Of Durango with it's
respective apPurtenances.
1t shall he so.
Mexico, July q, 1894
This northern boundary Of Chihuahua then became the
southern boundary Of New Mexico, and no authority but
an act of the Congress Of the said republic made by and
with the consent Of the sovereign State Of chihuahua,
could change it,
The southern limit Of New Mexico, mentioned in this
1.-THE 5th article extends down far south to touch
the corporate limit the north Of the town called
Paso del Norte. No arguments about latitude and
Tor not alluded to at all in the treaty
can any way alter disturb this fixed principle All
that is necessary then for finding the Initial point (as it
has been caled the Rio Grande to ascertain how
far the corporate limit of the town Of Paso extends
north Of the Plaza to of this distance and mark
It's termination point the line forming the south
ern boundary Of New Mexico Then run 9 line from
thence east west the may be- to the Rio Grands
en6 NJ the initial DOinto