The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-28
New Mexican boundary Troubles.


New Mexican Boundary Troubles.
We have heretofore published Geographic infor-
nation from New Orleans that Governor Lane had
Issued proclamation laying claim to the Mecilla
valley, as part of the Territory of New Mexico.
correspondent of the Picayune has furnished that
journal with the following copy of the proclamation
in question:
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, portion of territory the west side
OF the Rio Grande gel Norte, thirty four miles wide
by one hundred and seventy-eight miles long. be
the same more or less, Is now claimed by the Uni
ted States OF America and by the Mexican repub-
lie, respectively, under the provisions of the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
2 From the year 1924, and anterior thereto, until
the year 1901, this portion OF territory was
knowledged to be within the limits of New Mexico;
but in the year 1851 the State of Chihuahua as
stunned jurisdiction over the same, without produc-
ing any authority for this act from the republic of
Mexico, and without having obtained the consent
OF the United States the Territory of New Mexico;
and In defiance of the remonstrances of large
portion Of the Inhabitants of the disputed territory
who then numbered two thousand souls
During the discussion of the boundary ques-
ton, under the treaty Of peace, the Commissioner
of Mexico proposed to abandon part of this dis
puted territory, by dividing ii between the two
Republics And during the year 1852 the United
states virtually asserted right of sovereignty
over all the territory In dispute.
4. The claim of chihuahua to this disputed ter.
ritory Is believed to be, based upon the unwar-
rantable assumption that the Board of Commits.
soners had agreed upon boundary line between
Chihuahua and New Mexico and that their agree
ment IN the premises was binding both upon the
United States and the Mexican republic and
therefore final; whereas valid agreement had
not been made and has not yet been made by said
board: and, moreover, the action of the board has
been virtually repudiated and nu6ed by the
United States
5 Each of the high contracting parties to the
treaty OF Guadalupe, er pecessf0te, facility re-
served the right to accept reject the decisions of
the Board of Boundary Commissioners; and if the
board had assigned the city of chihuahua and the
country north Off to the United States the city
OF Santa Fe and the country south of it to the Mex
lean republic, the actiop of the board would GER
tainly not have been regarded as final
D. Ever since the territory in question was thus
iorclbly and illegally annexed TO the State of Chi
nuahua, that State has sgnaily failed to protect
the Inhabitants of the territory in their rights of
person, OF property, and of conscience, and more
over has not made reasonable defence against
border Indian depredauons and thereby pre-
vented reclamations against the United States for
the property taken by the Indians.
I. The present revolutionary condition of the
Mexican republic precludes the hope of adequate
protection being afforded by that republic to the
Inhabitants IN this disputed territory for the time
being; and large portion of the inhabitants now
claim the protection of the United States, and
solicit the remuneration of their territory to New
Mexico, from which il was illegally wrested by the
State of Chihuahua
Now, therefore. as the United States have been
wrongfully deprived of the portion of territory in
question even should the Mexican republic have
rlghtful claim to 1t, which is denied; and so by
the law OF nations the United States ia Justly en-
titled to exercise jurisdiction over the same, and
protect the inhabitants thereof in all their rights
until the claim of the Mexican republic shall be
formally recognised by the United States; and
the probable time of the settlement of the boundary
question is indefinitely poe poned, and the in
teress of the United States, and the rights of the
nhabitants of the territory are inadeouatey pro
tected, l, William Carr Lane, Governor of the
Territory Of New Mexico, upon my own official
responsibility, and without orders from the Cabinet
at Washington do hereby, in behalf of the Uni
ted States, rstake possession Of the disputed terri
tory, to be held Professionally by the United States,
until the question of boundary shall be determined
between the United States and the Mexican re-
public. And do hereby require all civil and
military officers of the United States and of the
Territory of New Mexico whom it may concern
to execute the laws of the United States, and of
the Territory OF New Mexico, in and over the Ter
ritory aforesaid, which ia Professionally attached to-
and made a part of the county Of Dona Anna in
the Territory of New Mexico.
And to the end that there may be no misuuder.
| standing on the part of the citizens of New Mexi
co az to the boundary line between the Territory
OF New Mexico and the State of Chihuahua the
true and well known boundary between this
State and Territory, as established by decree of
the Mexican Congress- OF July 81, 1924, and de-
hneated upon DistnrnelPs treaty map, is hereby
Professionally established; which boundary line
has Its initial point in the main channel of the Rio
Grande, above the dam Of the Aceauia Madre,
| (across the Rio Grande) and below Frontera.
! eight miles, more or less, north of the town FL
Paso. The said line to from the Rio Grapde
westwardly, and then nortbwardly until it reach
es the Rio ella, according to the provisions of the
treaty aforesaid.
In testimony whereof hereto subscribe nv
name, and cause the executive seal of the Terrific
ry of New Mexico TO be liked at the town of
Dona Anna, the 18th day of March, A. D. 1883
and in the seventy seventh year of the indcpen-
dence OF the United States.
VIM. CARR LANE.
BY the Governor:
JOHN GEIsER, Secretary,
By MIGUEL A. OrERs, Private Secretary.
The Pieayuns of the following day (ths 2lst)
says:
stWe have received direct from Paso del Nore
letter from a responsible and welTinformed quar-
ter which confirms the main features OF the i'm
| portant news we published In our last evenings
edition concerning the proclamation OF Cow
Lane, of New Mex leo, relative
! United States TO fh-
/ near ~ -.s,no,
,..e town 81 ~ Town and valley Of NJ 81 the
states Il Paso, Of bis call on The E
I thai osrsns oncer to support his nv q
mined s'i refusal to do 20, the Mexica NJ,
| for war to the claim, and prem. r.,;.I-
aGovsro ne knife tbs intense excitemen,
any positon - "ne !" not the man to back ont ~
too bs ue takes; bot whether he hs. ros ~ VI
1oo nasty In taking bis nr..sn. ~. NC "ss not been
pos, H - ne hiulsef savs. swi,hon; pons'oie
mind 49, ~ ashington, 10 a oueston 70
C. ~ ~ easy OF solution II cer,o;nt oi
''hor OF q Territory of the rr,;.s