Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-07

map
ID Has "a determination of this boundary been made
in conformity with these requirements
The official report Of the late Commissioner on the part
Of the United States to the Department Of the Interior
shows that point has been established the Rio Grande
at 3a 2< north latitude and recent report Of the officer
charged with that duty further shows that the line has
been run westwardy along the whole southern boun-
dairy Of New Mexico to wit three degrees Of longitude
or about IT'S miles and thence norhwardy until
il nterseets the ella river Monuments have been erect
ed suitable distances along this entire line from the
Rio Grande to the Rio Gila yerifcation Of the
rectness of the observations by which the initial point
was determined and of the demarcaion of the line thence
westwardy and nortfwardly the ella, is had in the
entire agreement OF the results obtained by the astrono
and surveyors Of the two commissions lremains,
them show that the line, agreed upon run, and
Marked is in strict conformity with the treaty That
instrument states that line runs north of the town called
Paso" The starting point of the line IS at 32 22 Of
north latitude and runs thence westwardly III Paso is
situated in 3l 45 north latitude about 81 due south
Of the line The of the treaty are thus strictly
complied WITH as the line is about AZ miles north Of the
called Paso The treaty further requires that the
line shall extend sweswardly along the whole southern
boundary of New Mexico" and that the southern and
western limits those laid down upon map
Of the United Mexican States, madeby j. Dsturnel" &C.
Has the line which has been agreed upon rum and mark
ed been made in conformity with these requirements of the
treaty? An accurate of the distance be-
the 32o parallel of north latitude and the southern
boundary Of New Mexico, as the same are tdd dorm on
DistefS map shoes 22f Of arc and the length of the
whole southern boundary of New Mexico as also laid
down on said map, is go or about l15 statute miles.
The determination of the initial point then, at 2 of
north of the SD parallel, in 32o 22 north latitude,
and the of the southern line of New Mexico 80
northwardly from the Rio Grande strictly and
literally in conformity with the requirements Of the treaty
and the execution Of the work upon the ground accords
with entire precision with the position and distances
"lad down on" Disturnells map.
But it is said that the distance Of the southern boun
dairy Of New Mexico should have been measured from FL
Paso they are respectively laid down ON Dsturnels
map and that the line should have been established
the ground precisely this distance north of the town.
This is obviously error for the simple and conclusive
that El Pasoi incorrectly laid down upon The map
It's position as there represented does agree with its
known position upon the ground tits mmateria whether
this fact not known to the commissioners who
formed the treaty But the Commissioners of the two
Governments, appointed to and mark the Boundary
line must follow strictly the expressed terms of the
treaty. and the Governments themselves must abide by
those terms Surprising that Mr. Trst the American Com
missioner had obtained the assent Of the Mexican Govern
ment the submitted by him. under the direction Of
Mr. Buchanan of the sd parallel the boundary all par
ties being then of the opinion that the boundary would
place the town of Ell Paso within the limits of the United
the astronomers should have ascertaned
the position Of sd parallel upon the ground and that Ell
Paso lay south Of instead Of NORTH could the United
States make anyust claim Of the town? Manifesty
They deceived by in the map but having
adopted it, must abide the consequences Of that
SO also with those who have been led suppose that
FL Paso is within eight miles Of the southern boundary Of
New Mexico. They have been deceived by an error in
Disurnels map If the map referred in the treaty
furnished ether of establishing the southern
boundary line Of New Mexico than by reference to the
enormously located town of Ell Paso then undoubtedly
would have been proper that the start
ing point But 50 long the map does enable de-
termine the boundary, nth almost entire accuracy (which
could be done by measuring from FL Paso then COM
mon sense common honesty, and simple justice dictate
that we should expressly seek the upon
in order 10 be bensited by them
Inasmuch il has been shown that the establishment
Of the initial point the Rio Grande 32o 22 north
latitude and the western extension Of the line from that
point in precise conformity with Dsturnes map,
and the southern line of New Mexcoas agreed upon
rum and markeddoes north Of the town called Paso
~ the treaty requires, II remains only 10 snow that the
action of the Commissioners and Surveyor has not
been invadated by any nformality repudiated" by
the Government alleged in Governor Lanes proclama
ton The causen the treaty which refers to this SUBJ
ject is as follows, viz:
In order to designate the boundary line with due pre-
cison upon authoritative maps and to establish upon the
ground landmarks which shall show the limits of both re-
public described in the present article the Gov
ernments shall each appoint a commissioner and
veyor who, before the expiration Of year from the
date Of exchange Of Publications of this treaty. shall
meet at the port Of San Diego and proceed and
mark the said boundary its whole course TO the mouth
Of the Rio Bravo del Norte They shall keep journals
and make out plans Of their operations and the result
agreed upon BY them shall be deemed part Of this trea
~, and shall have the force if it were inserted
therein"
The boundary line established By this article shall be
regousy respected by each Of the two Republics and
change shall be made therein except by the ex
press and free of both nations lawfully given by
the General Government Of each in conformity with its
own Constitution"
1t not necessary to give the details Of the organza
ton and operations Of the respective Commissions as the
only argument put forward upon which the determination
Of the initial point is claimed be invalid is that the re-
cord signed approved BY Mr. GRAY, the Sur.
veyor
The Joint Commission, having completed their labors
upon the Pacific coast adjourned to meet again at Ell
Paso on the first day Of November 1850 AT the appoint
ed time the American and Mexican Commissioners and
the Mexican Surveyor convened and entered upon the
consideration Of the southern boundary Of New Mexico
After very full investigation Of all the points in the
case and heightened discussions Of their merits the two
Commissioners agreed upon 800 22 Of north latitude
the point where the Rio Grande strikes the southern boun
Diary Of New Mexico according Disturnes map They