The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-07

- a
long PERIOD desire to uaite with you Ia an entreaY
that the blessing OF Heaven may upon the delibea
ions OF be general assembly and that He who stretched
out the Heavens like curtain will watch over protect.
and bless our State and country TO the latest generation
The Dimculty in New Mexico.
From the New York Daily Times copy the fol-
lowing communication, which presents sucency. intel
ligby, and accurately the points in issue in respect TO
the southern boundary of New Mexico. The writer
gives fair statement OF the principal Arguments OF each
party, without pretending 10 pronounce judgment in the
matter:
The MEXICAN poUHpARY.--A very few words will
give the substance of the dispute between this country
and Mexico in regard 10 The boundary and this purpose
doing before it becomes involved by discussion beyond
popular comprehension
The boundary is fixed by the of the late treaty OF
peace. called the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo. subsian
tally follows Beginning at the mouth of the Rio
Grande thence following the channel Of that river TO
The point whsre strikes the solc,a boun dairy Of NsW Me1
leo thence westwardy along the whole southern bound
airy of New Mexico, (Which north of the town
called Paso) TO lis western termination thence" &c. &C.
"Tbe boundary of New Mexico mentioned above 10
that laid down map by Dislurnell,' &c.
The trouble lies in the words have italicsed, The
point ,chsre strikes the southern boundary Of o -Msrieo,
and the reference to Ds,urnelPs map. The southern
boundary of New Mexico is line running due west from
a certain point the Rio Grande. The true position OF
that starting point is the thing disputed, and will try 10
give the grounds OF the two opinions on which the two
countries al issue.
By inspecting Disturnell's map, the town OF FL
Paso the bank OF the Rio Grande and just eight miles
by measurement north thereof dotted tine, which is
the southern boundary OF New Mexico in question The
language OF the treaty precise to show that this very
dotted line the map " hich north OF the town
called Pasc" the line for the boundary and hence
. ~ hx, Groy Jaioo ,;s
successor, Capt Graham, that the way TO find on The
ground The line shown by the map, would be 20 to
the OF Paso and by measurement find pon, the
river eight miles norihery theeirom and from this point
TO start due wts line for the boundary line OF the map
This is now the American view OF the question
But BY referring to the margin Of this map of
Dsunel. where the ati,rdes of places are commonly
marked, and obtaining ihererom the latitude which
seems TO belong to Paso and afterwards finding, by aso.
nomca observation, the true latitude OF Paso, is
that the latitude indicated the margin OF the map
is about half degree, thirty miles. north Of the true
latitude and accordingly it is claimed By those opposing
the American view. given above, that the true way 10
establish the boundary line OF the map is TO establish
the place of Paso where il would be if il in the
same latitude shown ia the margin of the map. Tin
stead of il IA, in the body OF the map, from which,
By going eight miles further north, the starting point OF
the boundary may be found This is the Mexican view
of The question: and this Mr.. Bartlett, commissioner
adopts.
The trouble comes OF course from the imperfect char
ac,er OF the map, and as il well known TO the di.
pomatis,s who negoa led the treaty OF peace that any
map OF these little known regions must of necessity, be
imperfect they endeavored by precision OF language TO
remedy the imperieccn, and by defining the southern
boundary of New Mexico that line switch Gas
on the map runs north of the town called Paso." it
clearly meant, notwithstanding that other lines may be
claimed this boundary, and that the way to FIX that
iine yyas by ia relation n the position OF PasO.
The question. then, is, shall we commence
ment from the centre Of the REAL town OF Paso, ii
stands substantially the bank OF the Rio Grande
the IMAGINARY Paso. which is at point on the river
bank, having the latitude enormously attached TO
Paso the margin OF the map which imaginary Paso is
some thirty miles north OF the real town "a it stands
The effect OF the difference is this By commencing
the measurement from the real town OF Paso according
10 The American claim, boundary is brought about
thirty miles further south than by the Mexican line, and
takes in the Meslla valley, snip OF thirty miles in
width by about hundred and seventy in length, or
between Ave and six thousand square miles Of terri
tory worth about fosr millions of dollars at the gov
eminent price OF dollar and quarter acfe-a very
high price, indeed for land in that REGION and of the
quality OF potion Of IT. |, is probable tina, half mil
lion would be ITS ample value, even 10 our people, and
tina, eve a tenth OF tue would lis worth
people little apt 10 turn II 10 useful purpcs, the
Mexicans Bot, though iis value TO Mexico may be fairly
ettimaieu by the acre, ana mus De merely NOMINAL
not 50 ia regard 10 lis Importance 10 We require
route for communication overland with California
and without the Meslla valley we are driven into i'm
practicable mountains, excepting by going many hun
dreds of miles TO the north We in fact deprived Of
one route. If not, is claimed By iudicous men,
Of the best. the only for projected over
land railroad aud this is an object OF too much import
be lightly relinqnished It's matter for re1fe that
Mexico cherishes 50 unfriendy spirit towards IL
shown in this and other matters, wherein she brings 10
herself good, and finds her s1le qualification in doing
harm us 1t would seem ss il she saw cause for t
umph in diminishing the value 10 Of that which we
by the ishmus oil Tehuanepec, and by The Mesia val
ley TO prevent, far in her power lies the close
nsxon between Pacific and Atlantic States by which
we hope for their permanent union.
II remains 10 be considered bow far the action OF Mr.
Commissioner Bartlett adopting the Mexican side Of
the controversy, binds the United States.
The treaty provides that the boundary shall
consist OF commissioner and surveyor on each side
No distinction is made the power and authority OF
The commissioner and surveyor but they have powers
perfectly coordinate and concurrent, and I" the result
agreed upon BY them shall be deemed part OF this trea
ty," &c.
SO that the action either side, OF the surveyor alone
or Of the commissioner alone. sufcent the deeis
ion OF The commission, and does not bind the
under which be acts and Mr. Commissioner Bartlett,
might have signed away up TO the very Oregon boundary
line and bis act would not have been the act Of the
commission without the added signature OF Mr. Surveyor
Gray, or have been binding upon The United States If