Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-22
NO. XXxiI,
The nIcsilia:

So much has been said Of late about thi:
disputed territory, that the folio "ing state
ment of the late boundary COMMISSIONS
will be read with Interest:
Mesilla is the diminatiye Of the Spanish
wosd mesa, table; !. e. tatle land OF pla'
tead and is applied TO lesser plateau IN
the valley Of the Rio Grande, beneath that
of the great mesa, plateau, or table land
which extends for several hundred miles in
all directions from, the Rio 0rahde. II
means, therefore, little plateau, or little tai
BILE land.
II is situated on the western side of the
Rio Grande, about fifty miles above Ell Paso.
in latitude about 80 deg. 18 North, and un-
til the year 1850, it was without an ihhab'
liant.
Immediateiy y preceding and after the war
with Mexico, the Mexican population oc.
cupying the eastern bank of the Rio Grandc
| in Texas and New Mexico, were greatly
annoyed by the encroachments of the A.
| mericans and by theft determined efforts
to despoil them of their landed property
This was done by the latter, either settling
among them, or, in some instances, forciblyy
occupying their dwellings and cultivated
spots. In most cases, howeves, it was done
,by putting "Texas head rights" on their
property. These head rights were grants
issued by the State Of Texas, generally for
$40 acres, or a mile square, though they
sometimes covered very large tracts.
Dona Ana, modern town on the east
bank of the Rio Grande, So miles above FL
Paso, and near the "inltial points," being
well located and desirable place, and more'
over, selected by the United States for one
of its military posts, became an attractive
point among speculators, and was, in con-
sequence, pounced upon by them and GOV.
cred by the "Texan head rights" or land
variants.
The Mexican occupants OF the town and
Hands adjacent became alarmed. Some ap-
piled to the authorities of New Mexico,
Texas or the United States for prote ction.
Failing to obtain it several hundred abah,
doned their property and homes, and deter
mined to seek an asylum within the TERRI
tory of Mexico:
With this resolution, spot was selected
on the opposite OF western side ofthe river,
eight or ten miles below Dona Ana, which,
| it was believed, would be within the limits
Of Mexico. Inthe month of May, lS50,
this prosecuted people established thefns
selves there; and named the place "La Me.
silla.' i. e. the little table. To increase the
colony, the Government of Mexico offered
To siye lands to other actualsettlefs, which
offer induced large numbers of dissatisfied
Mexicans living in New Mexico and in the
small settlements along the Rio Grande, in
Texas, to remove there. More than hall
the population Of Dona Ana removed to
Mesila within year.
When the boundary line was agreed upon
in December, 1850, and it became certain
that La Mesilla was South of it, according
to the treaty map, day was set apart tor
public rejoicing for the astronomers had
been observing near them, and led them TO
doubt oh which side of the line their valley
would fall. The day came, AND the even,
was celebrated by firing off a,cannon and
a grand ball, which many from El Paso at.
tended. After this, the population increas.
ed much on account of the inducements Of
fered, and IN October, 1852, the Prefect Of
El Paso stated that the population numbers
ed 1900 souls. Very few Americans ever
settled there, in fact none but traders, and
it is probable that there never were twenty
altogether.
Last summer some Mexican spectators
attempted to practice the same imposition:
upon them as were practiced when they
were citizens of New Mexico, by claiming
their lands. This created great dissatlsfac'
tion, and they then threatened to abandon
their land and again become citizens OF tht
United States. AT this time some mis-
chievous persons put an idea into their head
to deny the jurisdiction Of Mexico, and thu
save their property and this is doubtless
the foundation of Gov. Lanes assertion
r that they desire to be re-ahnexed to Ne"
Mexico.