The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1878-02-10
OH 8ullatiuat
THE MEXICAN BoUNDERY,
How FeiihIeAs CoInmissioner
Adopted the ITO Graude Instead OF
the hierras. go

-t+a ." 80 ---~-- ts.# ~ ~ hfhF n
How FsiihIeA, Commissioner
Adopted tho ITO Graude Instead OF
the hierras. go.
tTothe editor 81. Louis Globe Democrat
KIRxwooD, Jan. 20, ls7s.--In the GLOBE
Democrat Of a few days ago, ind the FOL-
lowing: t--s.. els. .-e.'v,s-v~R F.r.
"The New Orleans Piepyus calls the RIO
Grand y narrow, crooked nuisance,
across which man can throw stone,
with possible chance Of hitting patriot
and making q war with Mexico Why,
then, not abolish 1t as frontier liner The
Sierras, not very many miles distant,
would be far better line OF demarkation.
The river itself has, since 1859, and more
particularly since ls72, proved totally mad
aquate 10 the protection OF Texan interest
II would be good Tor humanity.
1t would be an eflclont fact In the settle
ment Of Texas state, be It remembered,
as large as FrancsAsrself--lith the murderers
and robbers who COW congregate upon the
| oluO Va bhV bANAu NpulA Db iSbuONON nSivSo
the hills In their rear, All internati onsl
law, all the pre- ceden.s OF history, wouli
justify us In asserting the right to push
them backward, and, il they refuse TO
leave, 10 wipe them cut OF existence as
neighbo't." .......-
These views were entertained by Presi
dent Polk at the time he directed the trea'
ty with Mexico; but through the iaithless.
CESS OF his commissioner, Mr.. Nicholas P.
rrist, his Instructions we're disregsrded,
and the treaty of 6uadHoupe H!dalgo was
made, establishing the Rio Grand as the
boundary line between the United States
and Mexico. The Sierra noun aims, from
where they are pierced by the Panuco riv-
or, run In nearly straight line northwest,
and form q hulwsrk OF almost solid stone
800 feet high, With the eastern face an al
most perpendicular wall for nearly 900
mile, to Sstillo, from which point they
bear TO the south. In front OF soltillo, Gen.
Taylor fought the battle Of Buena Vista
10 lis rear is Monterey, capital OF the state
OF New Leon. Stardng at Tampico, on the
gull, and at the mouth Of the Panu,o river
aud running up the river sixty miles, we
reach the point where the river passes
through the mountains. The river issbout
400 yards wide, and has water 10 float q
man-oi.wsr. This river, which is the
southern boundary Of the state Of lamau.
lpa., would make q good boundary be-
tween the United States and Mexico, from
i,s mouth where It plerces the sic rss. ct
tue line then extend with the mountains
to saltillo, 10 which point tn rir is no break
except q mule path ut santa Barbara and
one at Victoria. These passes are 300 to
400 feat above the level Of the sea, and are
very narrow and difficult OF access.
II will be remembered that Nicholas p.
Trist was sent by president Polk as 3 com.
missioner with Gen. SCOTS army. MIR
Trist was implicitly instructed by the pres.
ident to agree upon no treaty with Mexico
fixing boundary line without the consent
and approval Of Maj. Gen. Gideon Pillow.
Gen. Pillow had, by personal observation
ami survey, made himself familiar with the
line above described, and held commits
sion from the president, as confidential
commissioner, 10 act with Mr.. Trist, and
instruct him in making u treaty with Mex
leo. 1t was the wish Of the president that
he boundary line from SallilIo should run
nearly north to the Cult OF California, but
be left to the discretion Of the commission.
ers the question OF the direction OF this
line, ard was content that it should pursue
the main mountain chain to point where
its direction would intersect the Gulf of
California and the table lands. Mr.. Trist
wholly dlsregarded the instructions aud
wishes Of the president, and he was recsll-
eI, but disregarding this, he followed the
Mexican authorities into the interior, and
without consultation with Gen. Pillow,
who had been disabled at the storming OF
Chspultepec, he made and signed the treaty
of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, establishing the
Rio Grande As the boundary. 1t is true
that the treaty OF. Guadalupe Hidalgo
was afterwards ratified and approvediby
the senate OF the United States, but 1t was
made sg4inst the wishes and without the
authority OF President Polk.
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