The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 27, July 1923 - April, 1924 Page: 4

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Southwestern Historical Quarterly

sary to its validity. In case it had been erroneously surveyed,
no amount of approval could serve to correct the error. Gadsden
was therefore to take the stand that the southern boundary of
New Mexico had not been established in accordance with the
treaty, and to inform Mexico that the United States expected
each party to "abstain from taking possession of the district in
question or doing any act which indicates [would indicate] an
exclusive appropriation thereof to itself." Although the late gov-
ernor of New Mexico had apparently contemplated the occupation
of the region and announced his purpose in a proclamation, he
had acted without authority from the federal government. "His
intention was never executed, his purpose was disapproved," and
Mexico had already been notified that the United States would
not attempt to take possession of the disputed area. The latter
government expected, therefore, that Mexico would "take the same
course," and it was Gadsden's duty to urge upon Mexico the
"propriety and reasonableness" of the proposal.
Marcy declared that the Government of the United States was
more interested in acquiring a new boundary embracing territory
adapted to the construction of a railroad than in establishing its
claim to the territory in dispute. He hoped and expected that the
most expedient mode of settling the question would be found to be
the merging of the boundary issue in the "negotiation for the alter-
ation of the boundary," with the view of acquiring the contem-
plated route. In consideration of the many advantages which Mex-
ico would secure from the construction of a railway along the
international frontier Marcy presumed that "she would readily
accept of a proposition to alter the boundary along that part of the
line," ceding to the United States the strip of territory necessary
for the proposed improvement.
While admitting that it would be difficult to ascertain without
actual survey "the extent of alteration required for such a pur-
pose," Marcy ventured two suggestions:
It would be important particularly to the interests of Mexico
that such a railroad should connect with the navigable waters of
the Gulf of California. For this purpose it is desirable that the
true line-as we contend-the line commencing along the Rio
Grande a few miles north of El Paso-should be continued for a
considerable distance west beyond the treaty line, then run south

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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 27, July 1923 - April, 1924, periodical, 1924; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101086/m1/10/ocr/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.

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