Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-04
The MEXICAN BOUNDARY.


\
| wAsmsoros, Jusx 2, 1868.
40 .1s Editors Of National Latss.Iyeaeer:
eaveto send you for publication an extract from am
0eial letter, written by Major wm H. Emory surveyor
astronomer on the part of the United States to run
a. narh Inc boundary line between our territory and
- sn1 hepuDnc OF Mexico, and sent to the Depart
1 Ae interior am not aware that the opinions
" e omciai acts OF that officer on the subject Of the
INITIAL point as fixed by Commissioner BAarrxry have
before been presented to the public The letter from
winch the extracts taken transmitted 10 the SENATE
mass ol the later correspondence Of the Commits
se0 py inc present Hon Secretary Of the Interior ON
the Zlst OF March umo and ordered to be nrnted
the I'D or the same month. This letter appears In
Senate executive document No g. the special session
which, though printed, is not yet, believe, published
The Importance Of this paper will readily appear to the
reader 1t seems to remedy the only defect claimed to be
found in the proceedings Of the late Commissioner in es
tablshng the initial point of boundary upon the Rio
Grande at 320 22 north latitude to wit the absence of
the signature Of The surveyor.
therefore commend it to the attentive consideration
of such Of your readers desire to correctly and
thoroughly informed the subject of new Mexican
Boundary. JB
EXTRACT FROM MAJOR EMoRY's LETTER.
CAMP NEAR FoRT DUscAs
J" OcroBER /, 1852
!. On my reaching the ground to
take charge of the survey November found that
Mr. Bartlett and the assistant surveyor had agreed upon
the initial point, 320 22/ and that great stone
men had been erected marking the point and having the
usual inscriptions, and the of the American and
Mexican astronomers and surveyors and
as Mr.. Saezar informed me, this had been hastened
the urgent request Of the American astronomer and
surveyor
found that articles Of agreemsut upon the
letter OF instructions from the commissioner to COL Gra
ham, successor and predecessor chief astronomer
had been entered into with Mr. Saezar the survey Of
the boundary and the survey had been commenced the
initial point, 800 22/, by COL Graham.
Son the Both of January, 1852 while my route west
of Ell Paso, in pursuit of the commissioner received
expectedly and certainly unsolicited the letter Of ar
pointment of United States surveyor and your let
ters of Instructions one to myself and copy Of the let
ter of instructions Mr. Bartlett dated November
1857 in which it directed that should the surveyor at
any time differ with you the commissioner any ques
ton connected with the survey, he 1.-THE surveyor will de-
fer your 1.-THE commissoner) opinion until the is
submitted and decided by the Department.
The surveyor Mr. Cray out long after the in
ha point agreed upon and the erected and
the line begun relieved the acting surveyor Lieutenant
Whppe and protested against the point With the pro-
test and the views of the commission before him. both
Sides 1t is presumed fairly stated the Hon. Secretary
instructed the surveyor sign the maps but before the
instructions reached him he relieved and was APP
pointed in his place, with the same Instructions
" therefore considered the matter settled and the
action of the Government ms final. The official docu-
ments which have been prepared the
my leuer appointment lnStructlOnS, never
having been presented action has been taken in the
matter definitely and finally to settle this important
point quote from my instructions, for, shall pre-
seny show has, by the views taken of the subject by
both Sides ceased to be an important point
"But have done this in compliance with the letter
and spirit of my instructions Mr. Salezar the Mexican
commissioner and surveyor met at the Preside del
Norte August 1st to sign the maps of the Rio Grande
forming the boundary Neither party had the maps pro-
perly prepared, Mr. Salezar at all prepared in
money or means to go with the work at the rate
had ptl with m
astronomer and surveyor the only maps fit for sigma
ture but he remained pressing to sign other maps
which involve incidentally the initial point agreed upon
by Mr.. Bartlett Mr.. Conde Mr. Saezar, and MIR Whip
ple from which COL Graham had started his survey Of
the river Therefore on the 28M Of august, signed The
maps according Instructions with the reservation con-
tanned in the paper copy of which is herewith sent
marked A. signed conformity by Mr. Salezar and myself
and the statement therein referred to- setting forth on the
face Of the maps that it was the boundary lane agreed
on By The tco Commissioners, Apra 20, 1851
81 presume it never intended should give my
certificate astronomer and surveyor the correct
of the determination Of point which had been de-
termined by the observation Of Others and without
sultaton advice Of mine On the other hand do not
for moment doubt the power Of the Government to in
struct the subject, hesitate to my duty to
obey its mandates which understand requiring me
only authenticate the initial point agreed upon by the
commissioners of the two Governments
e. s n e ne q a the o1 ank
missioner April 1851 is about thirty three minutes north
of the line contended for that laid down Dsturnes
map but reached about sixteen minutes of arc further
west and both lines three degrees of longitude
west the difference of territory is three degrees of long-
tude multiplied by thrtythree minutes Of latitude mi
sixteen minutes of longitude, multiplied by about
forty minutes of latitude, each having middle latitude
that for the purpose Of computation be assumed at
thirtytwo degrees Neither line gives the road to
California and the country embraced in the of diff
ference with the exception ola strip along the Rio rande
about nine miles long and from to two wide is bar
rem, and will not produce wheat corn grapes trees
any thing useful as food for or for clothing
Neither line will give channel Of communication for
posts along the frontier without which it is mpractca
BILE to comply with the eleventh article of the treaty,
which engages the United States to keep the Indians out
of Mexico"