The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-16
The Mexican Boundary Commission.

Several OF exchanges have contained articles re-
Gently relative TO the proceedings of the joint commission
appointed by the United States and Mexico TO mark the
boundary line between the Two republics defined by the
treaty OF peace and limits Some of those articles state
that the commission isrusted with diplomatic pow
ers, and consequently authorized to do something
more than perform tie task of marking line already
agreed and defined by different and superior author
ity. This is important mistake. The joint commits
sion not inrusted by the contracting parties with
functions which empowered ii 10 negotiate boundary
That task had been fully performed by the treaty Of
peace and limits which defined with certainty the line
which should separate the two republics; and the joint
commission raised for other purpose but to per-
form the scientific task OF marking that line on the sur
face of the earth by erecting suitable monuments along
il. Diplomacy was not contemplated, for diplomacy had
performed its part in negotiating the treaty The practical
application of scientific principles by the use Of astro
nomical and mathematical instruments, and the protection
subsistence and comfort OF The persons employed on the
work. constituted the whole duty of the commission and
limited the authority conhded TO it.
This matter is of importance; for Mr.. Bartlett, the
American commissioner agreed with General Conde the
head Of the Mexican commission, 10 line westward
from the Rio Grande which differed most materially from
that prescribed by the treaty and If the claim 10 dpo-
matte powers, which has been up by the commission
should be acknowledged, district of county about the
size OF the Stale Of Massachusetts, has been lost TO the
United States. The treaty requires that the boundary
shall three degrees due west from the point on the
Rio Grande at which that river is interseced by the
southern boundary OF New Mexico, which runs north Of
the town Of III Paso. II was the duty Of the commits
sion TO have gone to Ell Paso, and then mark the line as
far north of that town the scale OF the treaty map rep.
resented II TO be. The treaty made reference what
ever TO latitude and longitude-an omission which was
OF itself implied declaration that the trainers of the
treaty did not rely the accuracy OF the treaty map in
that respect The significance Of the omission OF any
reference to latitude longitude in defining the line
made certain by the reesnoe TO III Paso, physical
object whose situation the surface of the earth could
be ascertained. But the commission, after finding that
III Paso was rightly placed the treaty map-a fac,
which was perfectly immaerisl-underook 10 exercise
diplomatic functions, and in the exercise of those func-
TONS agreed to fix the southern boundary line of New
Mexico, not where actually was situated with refer
TO III Paso according TO the treaty map but where
il marked with reference TO latitude thereby relying
the accuracy Of the map particular in which the
treaty did not recognise its accuracy The treaty said.
in effect that Dsturnels map placed the southern bound
AIRY Of New Mexico correctly with reference n III Paso