The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-27

HE meXlCAQ 0OunOeIy LOmIQAeotDns
The Nalis..I I"isIhgsnssr Of Friday eonlains com
nanicaion from John Bartlett. esq.. late commissioas
10 run the boundary line between the Upited States an,
Mexico, under the treaty OF peace and limits concludes
ia is4s. That communication is in reply 10 article
which we published the 10th Of this month. writer
for the purpose OF correcting the impression which pre-
vailed in many quarters that the joint commission TO
the boundary trusted with diplomatic powers, ant
was consequently authorized 10 do something thar
perform the task Of marking line already agreed OF
and defined by superior authority. Twas sent to u'
for publication but declined TO cucumber columns
with it, because il admitted the main point OF our ar'
cs and presented views with regard 10 the Others which
have already been stated by u.s. and which have been SO
successfully controverted that they condemned by
Congress and abandoned by the late administration. which
sustainsd them originally
Mr. Bartlett admits that the joint commission was mol
in,rus,ed with diplomatic powers and had authority 10
negotiate q boundary. This is the main point that IN
,erests The public Bu, after making that admission Mr.
Bartlett undertakes to show that the commission was
.n,ho,;zsa n do something more than mark defined
lin. nv The application OF scientific principles with the
Ia 80 astronomical and mathematical Instruments; but
~ d,.1 no, attempt 10 show the and extent OF the
nth AMI
clause Of The treaty which says that the commissioners
.shs keep journals and make out plans OF their opera
tons; and the resul, agreed upon by them shall De
deemed part OF this treaty, and shall have the same
foce % If il were inserted therein" This clause con-
t,iny no extension OF authory only gives sanction to
the measurements and calculations and monuments and
mana 10 be made and constructed under the power to run
and mark by suitable monuments on the surface OF the
earth, the line prescribed by the treaty ltonly endorses
the scientific skill Of the commissions, and gives va
lldity 10 the acts Of the commission within the scope
~ ,h.ir powers as defined in another portion OF the
,,..,v But after the admission that the joint com
m,sion was not vested with the power to negotiate
= boundary, there is no need to argue this point
further. The remaining question OF Importance re-
lates to the actual position of the line from the Rio
Grande TO the head waters OF the ella. We contend
that the treaty defines with certainty that well all
other portions of the boundary and that the joint CON-
mission departed from the treaty and marked it about
thirty miles north OF its right position. This point has
been fully discussed by BY the Senate, and in public
documents and Congress has acted in accordance with
the views we presented. there is necessity of review
ing the discussion especially Mr. Bartlett pre-
s.ns nothing new worthy OF attention. and only repeats
did not act judicousy in appointing him commissioner
under the treaty with Mexico
In our article Of the 10Th we stated that Congress re-.
fused further supplies TO the commission unless the late
President was satisfied that the line had not been
further north than the treaty required Mr. Bartlett says
Of this expression, Such not the words OF the pro-
vso which obliged the President withhold the money
which Congress had appropriated for the boundary
vey" We pretended they were the words OF the
proviso; but they state the intent and purpose oil
the proviso as interpreted by Mr. Mason, OF Virginia,
who framed il. and who informed the Senate when he
presented it that hs object to prevent further ex.
pendture until the line reformed according 10 the
treaty Mr. Bartlett denies that the commission was
recalled by the late administration. This denial is a
mere bubble. unworthy OF grave subject The late
Secretary OF the Interior. in communicating TO MIR.
Bartlett the restriction the use OF the appropriation
for the current fiscal year, told him distinctly that
j, would be improper, in any event. TO continue the
survey between the Rio Grande and the ella. and tells
him that be might proceed with the survey OF the Rio
Grande, about which there dispute il he had the
means TO do 40 from former appropriations; and specially
directed him, in the that such not al
his disposal, or when they should be exhausted, 10
cease operations altogether and 10 he United States
10 obedience to this order The commission has actually
returned Congress did not impeativey require the with
dawal OF the commission but j, intended 10 force il TO
abandon Mr.. Bar,etps line, by Withholding supplies,
which all the legislative branch OF the government
could do. The supplies stopped and the commission
was prohibited from further operations between the Rio
Grande and the ella. Mr. Bar,leus attempt to avoid
the force Of these circumstances By denying that The COM
mission recalled, is areproach TO his intelligence and
speaks badly for his candor.