Page:Memoir of a tour to northern Mexico.djvu/21

Rh the Nueces river in the southwest, the Red river on the north, the Sabine on the east, and the gulf of Mexico on the southeast. Under the Spanish government, Texas, with Coahuila, New Santander, and New Leon, belonged to the general commandancia of the provincial internas orientales. This division was made in 1807. In 1824, when 19 independent States and some territories formed themselves into the present republic of Mexico, New Leon and New Santander became two of those States, the latter having changed its name into Tamaulipas, and Coahuila and Texas united formed a third State. The boundaries of Those States continued to be the same as unclear the Spanish government. All the authorities which I had an opportunity to compare, in regard to the then southern boundary of Texas, seem to agree in a line along the Nueces; but the respective boundary between Coahuila and Texas appears to have been somewhat indefinite from the earliest settlements. Humboldt, in his Essay Politique sur le royaume de la Nouvelle Espagne, v. i, p. 282, says: "J'ai tracé les limites de Coahuila et Texas près de l'embouchure du Rio Puerco et vers les sources du Rio de San Saba, telles que je les ai trouvées indiquées dans les cartes spéciales conservées dans les archives de la viceroyauté, et dressées par des ingénieurs au service du roi d'Espagne. Mais comment déterminer des limites territoriales dans des savannes immenses où les métairies sont eloignéeséloignées [sic] les unes des autres de 15 à 20 lieues, et où l'on ne trouve presque aucune trace de défrichement ou de culture."

A late German work on Mexico by Muehlenpfordt, published in 1844, contains the following comment upon the same object: "The boundaries of the present State of Coahuila towards Texas in the north and northeast are rather indefinite, but we presume that towards the north the boundary of the State of Coahuila extends from the mouth of the Rio Puerco to the small lake of San Saba, near the 32° north latitude." And in another place the same author says of the State of Tamaulipas: "This State, formerly called the colony of New Santander, and belonging to the intendance of San Luis Potosi, but since the revolution of Mexico an independent State, is bound on the north by the State of Coahuila and the present republic of Texas, and on the east by the gulf of Mexico, from the Laguna de Tampico to the Nueces river, or from the 22° to the 28° north latitude!" The State of Texas, after its declaration of independence from Mexico in 1836, resolved, as a matter of expediency, to extend the southwestern boundary of Texas from the mouth of the Rio Grande along the river to its source, and up to the 42° north latitude. The settlement of this question would therefore change the boundary of New Mexico towards the north, east, and southeast, at the same time. Towards the south, the State of Chihuahua forms the principal boundary of New Mexico. This State claims as its northern boundary towards New Mexico 32° 30′ latitude north; this line to be protracted towards the east to the Rio Pecos or Puerco, and towards the west to the headwaters of the Gila, and descending this river to its junction with the San Francisco. This northwestern angle of the State of Chihuahua is by Mexicans supposed to be in 32° 57′ 43″ north latitude. The northern boundary of the State of Sonora that comes from hence in contact with New Mexico has never been exactly defined, but