The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-21

others, in the Senate in condemnation Of the Com
missioner's course, have remained unanswered-and
that committee Of the Senate, appointed to inves-
tigate charges of Encouragement and malpractice
against the Commissioner, after continuing during
nearly the whole Of last season., and portion Of the
present extra session. only concluded their labOrs ON
the day before this article appeared in your paper,
and have not yet made report to the Senate Can
any inference be drawn from this that your inform
ant endeavored to give publicity to his statement ia
forestall the public mind; and with what degree
of delicacy the public can Judge.
1t is claimed that Mr.. Bartlett's Office was Of q
diplomatic character as well as scientific The
law Of Congress, making the appointment, no where
bears out such assertion, and the discussions Of
Congress, to which have just alluded expressly de-
MED any diplomatic character to the Commissioner.
Az for the scientific character Of the Office which
Is arrogated, the law is that the commission shall
consist Of commissioner, q surveyor, and ar
astronomer, or head of the scientific corps. Col ].
D. Graham, U. 8. A., well known for his able and
scientific report and labors on the Northeastern
boundary, as well as several other public works, and
whose reputation as man OF science is not of this
country only, but European, was for . considera-
succeeded by Major Emory, also Of the Topographic
cal Engineers To this special officer was the
scientific portion committed, whilst the Commits
sioDer was made the disbursing officer.
The report Of Col. Graham on this Mexican boun.
dairy has been before the country for over six months,
published by the Senate It comprises Hxty-fvc
pages of volume of great interest. To this would
refer those who desire an intimate knowledge Of tho
its labors extended would here only allude to it
in relation to the efficiency of the corps Of surveyors
and engineers selected by Mr.. Bartlett numbering
in all about one hundred persons, and divided into
tifc attainments is curious.
Your informant expatiates upon the right kind
Of men selected for this great enterprise" and al
ludes to the one open fight with the Indians,
nOht WA tnus In fho nod IN ihua hus
the few mules belonging to the commission, not in
harness, were driven behind the wagons, and had
fallen back to the distance of half mile or more,
with only one man guarding them. The Indians
Tor Mexcans), who had, IS usual been watching the
progress OF the train, perceving this made Q rush
at these mules, and drove them OF, or stampeded
them, killing the man in charge, who had fired, and
also killed his man. but there was no other fight, foE
Mr.. Indian is not apt to incur any risks or expose
himself to an "open fight" They fed precipi-
lately, without chance Of doing which they would
not have attacked. All the other depredatons Of
Indians, in which 1t is stated, in praise Of Mr. Bart
lett, that three hundred mules were lost, were
made by stealth, when the mules were badly
guarded.
the commission) persisted by violent means" Lest
this should create wrong impression in the mind
Of grateful public, would state the end Of about
one half Of this number that came to my knowledge.
the other half never heard Of. Five were hung at
Socorro for lawlessnese, under sentence OF Lynch
law, administered by other members Of the COM
mission; one was murdered at San Antonio by fell.
low member; one was shot by another member, be-
tween San Antonio and Ell Paso; one committed
suicide, and two or three murdered in bros at
or near FL Paso.
But will not further follow the perversions Of fact
Of the characters that have been imposed on you.
fixing of the initial point. would not attempt, nor
would your space allow, my going over the whole
argument Of subject like this, which has been so
ably handled, and the point fixed by Mr. Bartlett
md md OH In l~okI~
Houses Of Congress. To the reader of such matter
it would be like
"A twice told tale,
Wearying the dull ear Of drowsy man.
The question now made, is that the map of Distnr.
nell, which is annexedto the treaty of Guadalupe Hi
dalgo, contained two gross erorsone of latitude, the
other Of longtudeand therefore, it is deduced that
Mr. Bartlett has gained for the country 1000 square
miles (Which, If he had gained, would be fraud.
and by no means creditabe in his high positionl
instead Of having lost 5000 square miles, as the Sc
nate were foolish enough to suppose. Now, it so
happens that in the treaty no mention whatever il
made OF latitude or longitude and the authority Of
Colonel r. f. Lee, Chief Engineer during the war.
and at present superintendent at West Point, who
was consulted by Mr.. Trst, in framing the treaty.
bears me out in saying that the omission was nten.
tional. With perfect knowledge Of the incorrect
ness Of all Mexican maps in that respect, the trainers
Of the treaty designated natural Objects such the
town OF FL Paso, and the line forming the southern
boundary Of New Mexico commences Oh Dsturnells
map ut "Salinera,' situated eight miles north of Ei
Paso, and which is easily found. Previous to the
fixing OF this initial point the scientific officer of the
Bartlett 1.-THE lines Of latitude and longitude
not being referred to in the treaty, should not
be followed upon the map, particularly as from the
inaccuracy with which the Rio Grande is laid down
in longitude, the designs OF the trainers Of the treaty
would thereby be frustrated But Ell Paso being 4
point Of reference in the treaty should not be over
looked, and the distance of the line north Of it,
intended to be represented on the map This opin-
Jnn fl ty Gtar mol hxtA
ulary appointed surveyor the part Of the United
States who entered his protest against the line fixed
upon by Mr.. Bartlett, and refused to sign the map;
also by Col Graham, who refused to put his instru
ments on the line and be lieve may say by Major
Emory who succeeded Col. Graham
The point marked On the map "Salinera,' in lati.
tude 81 81 they all contend was the right point but
Mr. Bartlett fixed upon 80 20, because there were
Paso is wrongly placed" so is the Rio Grande
wrongly placed" by about two degrees of longitude.
II these imaginary lines are to be taken, we, unable
to move the Rio Grande, should make our boundary
two degrees east Of it, which would be an absurdity
II is much more simple 10 say that these objects are
rightly placed and that the latitude and longitude
are wrongly placed on the map.
As for the discovery in chihuahua of the map OF
1884, itseems to the question was too plain aone
to need any such elucdatioDs but the decree of the
Mexican Congress- of July 1924 ia quite as good au.
thority, and very conflicting with the newly dscov-
cred map as represented. Neither the one nor the
other alter the terms of the treaty of Guadalupe
Hdalgo.
Whether or not the decision of the Commissioner
shall be final az maintained, is q matter that Con-
gress have yet to decide. Heretofore they have re.
fused to accord him the right to negotiate a line
The work was suspended on account Of restriction
placed by Congress upon the appropriation, that it
should not be expended whilst the line fixed upon
was further north than eight miles from FL Paso, as
contemplated by the treaty. This "hampered restric
ton was taken off at the next session. represen
tations being made that the employees Of the COM
mission, and individuals to whom they were indebt.
ed were the sufferers by this restriction; but in al
lowing the expenditure Congress did not recede
from its disapproval of the line.
In conclusion, we Congratulate the country that
over $400,000 Of the public money have been ex-
pended, and the work probably all to be done over
again, as one of the first acts Of President Pierce
confirmed by the Senate, has been to dismiss Com.
missioner Bartlett and appoint Judge Can 3tell COM
missioner in his stead. tMpzx.