The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-11
WASHIN GTON.



The Mesiiaa vailey-The Right Of Way by
tAe ella River 70 tho Pacific.
Nothing would be, in our opinion, more un-
wise than the formation of party divisions
upon this entangling question. The union of
our citizens, so far as it can be properly eff
fected; the harmony of our press, whose voice
is now almost potent in Mexico as here.
will do much to prevent consequences which
the idea of party or sectional divisions might
encourage Mexico to encouater. We, there
fore, express coincidence of opinion with
those from whom we differ politically with the
purpose OF discouraging at the same time for.
eign aud domestic difficulty. It does no. follow
that, IN expressing deliberate opinion that
the American title to the Mesilla valley was
valid under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
we should thereby become responsible for any
unwiSe action on the part of our population or
Government.
The object of the Governments of the United
States and Mexico, in regard to the boundaries
which were to define the limits of the terri
tory conveyed by the treaty of Guadalupe
HIdalgO, was set forth in the following article:
"AsrioLE v. The boundary line between the two
Republics shall commence in the Gulf of Mexico,
three leagues from land, opposite the mouth of the
Rio Grande, otherwise called Rio Bravo del Noste.
opposite the mouth of its deepest branch, if IL
should have more than one branch ernfv;rg
directly into the sea; thence up the middle Of that
river, following the deepest channel where II has
more than one, TO the point where il strisss the
southern boundary of New sdexicos thence. west
wardly, along the whole southern bonndarv of
New Mexico (wnicd rues north of the town called
Saso) To It's western termination; thence, NORTH
ward, along the western line of New Mexico until
1t intersects the fret branch of the River eila Tor
If should not intersect any branch Of that river
then to the point on the seid fine nearest to such
branch, and thence in direct line to the same:)
thence down che middle of the said branch and of
the said river, until it emptes into the Rio Colo.
radoS thence across the Rio Colorado, following
the division line between Upper and Lower Cab
fornla, to the Pacific ocean.
The southern and western limits of New Mex.
lco, mentioned in this article are those laid down
IN the map entitled Map of the United States "a
organized and defined by various acts of the Con.
gress OF said republic, and constructed according
to the best authorities. Revised edition. Pub.
hshed at New York in ls47, by j. Distsrnell.
Oh which map copy is added to this treaty, bear
ing the signatures and seais of the undersigned
plenipotentiaries. And, in order to preclude all
difficulty in tracing upon the ground the limit
separating Upper from Lower Californ MIA il is
agreed that the said limit shall consist straight
line drawn from the middle Of the Rio ella, where
II unlse' with the Colorado, 10 point on the coast
OF the Pacific ocean distant one marine league due
81 he
Diego, according to the plan of said port made in
the year 1882, by Don Juan Pantoia, second
sailing master of the Spanish fleet, and published
at Madrid in the year 1904, in the Atlas to the
voyage of the schooners Sutil and Mexicana, of
which plan copy is hereunto added, igned and
sealed by the respective plenipotentiaries
Gin order to designate the boundary line with
due precision, upon authoritative maps, and to
establish upon the ground landmarks which shall
show the limits of both Republics, as described in
the present article, the two Governments shall
each appoint a commissioner and a surveyor
who, before the expiration of one year from the
date Of the exchange of ratihcatons of this treaty
snail meet at the port of San Diego, and proceed
to run and mark the said boundary in its whole
course to the mouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte
Iney shall Keep journals and mark out plans of
their operations; and the result agreed upon by
them shall be deemed part Of this treaty, and
snail have the same force if it were inserted
therein. The two Governments will amicabIy
agree regarding what may be necessary to these
persons, and also as to their respective escorts,
should such be necessary.
'Ihe boundary line established by this article
shall be rehgiously respected by each of the two
Republics, and change shall ever be made
therein, except by the express and free consent
of both nations, lawfully given by the General
Government Of each, in conformity with its own
constitution
The portion Of the boundary commencing at
the initial point upon the Pacific, and extend
ing to the junction of the Colorado and ella,
was agreed on in accordance with the terms OF
the treaty. The commission then adjourned
Subsequently, the Mexican commissioner, Gen
eral CoNDE, with Mr.. SALEzAR, the surveyor,
met Mr.. BARTLETT, the American commits
sioner, for the purpose of finding the initial
point of the southern boundary of New Mexico,
and Of marking it upon the ground
The American surveyor, A B. GRAY, esq.,,
not having arrived, Mr.. BARTLETT appointed
Mr.. WHIPPLE surveyor; and the joint commits
sion, thus constituted, determined upon and
reported boundary line between New Mexico
and Chihuahua. This boundary was, however,
repudiated by Mr.. GRAY, who still held COM
mission from the Government He upon his
arrival refused his signature to the commits
sion report. He was subsequently removed,
and Mr.. EMORY having been appointed his
successor, signed qualified certificate of "'the
boundary line agreed on by the commission
ers." The Senate of the United States disa.
vowed any southern line of New Mexico
" further north of the town called Paso than
the same is laid down in DIsTURNELL's map,
which is added to the treaty." The present
Administration is understood to occupy the
same ground.
We will now explain the specific difficulty
which occasioned the Senate's resolution.
The map Of DIsTURNELL presents with
sufficient accuracy the relative geographical
position of the r 10 Grande and FL Paso, as also
a correct location of the principal points within
the republic of Mexico. The southern boundary