Date Created:
Place Created: Mexico City, Mexico
Year Created: 1828
Historical Theme:
Description: The 1828 Treaty of Limits was a significant agreement between the United States and Mexico that established their shared border. It reaffirmed the boundary set by the 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty. While intended to prevent future disputes, Mexico viewed the U.S. recognition of Texas's independence in 1836 and its subsequent annexation in 1845 as a violation of this treaty, which became a contributing factor to the Mexican-American War. The treaty was eventually superseded by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.
Categories of Documents:
TREATY OF LIMITS,
Between the United States of America and the United Mexican States.
The limits of the United States of America with the bordering Territories of Mexico having been fixed and designated by a solemn treaty, concluded and signed at Washington, on the twenty-second day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, between the respective Plenipotentiaries of the Government of the United States of America, on the one part, and of that of Spain on the other: And whereas, the said treaty having been sanctioned at a period when Mexico constituted a part of the Spanish Monarchy, it is deemed necessary now to confirm the validity of the aforesaid treaty of limits, regarding it as still in force and binding between the United States of America and the United Mexican States:
With this intention, the President of the United States of America has appointed Joel Roberts Poinsett their Plenipotentiary; and the President of the United Mexican States their Excellencies Sebastian Camacho and José Ygnacio Esteva:
And the said Plenipotentiaries having exchanged their full powers, have agreed upon and concluded, the following articles:
ARTICLE FIRST.
The dividing limits of the respective bordering territories of the United States of America and of the United Mexican States, being the same as were agreed and fixed upon by the abovementioned treaty of Washington, concluded and signed on the twenty-second day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, the two high contracting parties will proceed forthwith to carry into full effect the third and fourth articles of said treaty, which are herein recited, as follows:
ARTICLE SECOND.
The boundary line between the two countries, west of the Mississippi, shall begin on the gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the river Sabine, in the sea, continuing north along the western bank of that river, to the 32d degree of latitude; thence, by a line due north, to the degree of latitude where it strikes the Rio Roxo of Natchitoches, or Red river; then, following the course of the Rio Roxo westward, to the degree of longitude 100 west from London, and 23 from Washington; then, crossing the said Red river, and running thence by a line due north, to the river Arkansas; thence, following the course of the southern bank of the Arkansas, to its source, in latitude 42 north; and thence, by that parallel of latitude, to the South sea: the whole being as laid down in Melish's map of the United States, published at Philadelphia, improved to the first of January, 1818. But, if the source of the Arkansas river shall be found to fall north or south of latitude 42, then the line shall run from the said source due south or north, as the case may be, till it meets the said parallel of latitude 42; and thence, along the said parallel, to the South sea. All the islands in the Sabine, and the said Red and Arkansas rivers, throughout the course thus described, to belong to the United States; but the use of the waters, and the navigation of the Sabine to the sea, and of the said rivers Roxo and Arkansas, throughout the extent of the said boundary on their respective banks, shall be common to the respective inhabitants of both nations.
The two high contracting parties agree to cede and renounce all their rights, claims, and pretensions to the territories described by the said line; that is to say: the United States hereby cede to his Catholic Majesty, and renounce forever, all their rights, claims, and pretensions to the territories lying west and south of the above described line; and, in like manner, his Catholic Majesty cedes to the said United States all his rights, claims, and pretensions to any territories east and north of the said line; and for himself, his heirs, and successors, renounces all claim to the said territories forever.
ARTICLE THIRD.
To fix this line with more precision, and to place the landmarks which shall designate exactly the limits of both nations, each of the contracting parties shall appoint a commissioner and a surveyor, who shall meet before the termination of one year from the date of the ratification of this treaty, at Natchitoches, on the Red river, and proceed to run and mark the said line, from the mouth of the Sabine to the Red river, and from the Red river to the river Arkansas, and to ascertain the latitude of the source of the said river Arkansas, in conformity to what is agreed upon and stipulated, and the line of latitude 42, to the South sea. They shall make out plans, and keep journals of their proceedings; and the result agreed upon by them shall be considered as part of this treaty, and shall have the same force as if it were inserted therein, The two Governments will amicably agree respecting the necessary articles to be furnished to those persons, and also as to their respective escorts, should such be deemed necessary.
Ratifications, when to be exchanged.
ARTICLE FOURTH.
The present treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington, within the term of four months, or sooner if possible. In witness whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed the same, and have hereunto affixed our respective seals.
Done at Mexico, this twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, in the fifty-second year of the Independence of the United States of America, and in the eighth of that of the United Mexican States.
J. R. POINSETT, (L. S.) S. CAMACHO, (L. S.) J. Y. ESTEVAN, (L. S.)
Treaty of Jan. 12, 1828, revived.
Ratifications, when to be exchanged.
ADDITIONAL ARTICLE
To the Treaty of Limits concluded between the United States of America and the United Mexican States, on the 12th day of January, 1828.
The time having elapsed which was stipulated for the exchange of ratifications of the Treaty of Limits between the United Mexican States and the United States of America, signed in Mexico on the 12th of January, 1828; and both Republics being desirous that it should be carried into full and complete effect, with all due solemnity, the President of the United States of America has fully empowered, on his part, Anthony Butler, a citizen thereof, and Chargé d'Affaires of the said States in Mexico; And the Vice-President of the United Mexican States, acting as President thereof, has, in like manner, fully empowered on his part their Excellencies Lucas Alaman, Secretary of State and Foreign Relations, and Rafael Mangino, Secretary of the Treasury, who after having exchanged their mutual powers, found to be ample and in form, have agreed, and do hereby agree, on the following article:
The ratifications of the Treaty of Limits, concluded on the 12th January, 1828, shall be exchanged at the City of Washington, within the term of one year, counting from the date of this agreement, and sooner should it be possible.
The present Additional Article shall have the same force and effect as if it had been inserted word for word in the aforesaid treaty of the 12th of January, of 1828, and shall be approved and ratified in the manner prescribed by the Constitutions of the respective States.
In faith of which, the said Plenipotentiaries have hereunto set their hands and affixed their respective seals.
Done in Mexico, the fifth of April, of the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, the fifty-fifth of the Independence of the United States of America, and the eleventh of that of the United Mexican States.
A. BUTLER, (L. S.) LUCAS ALAMAN, (L. 8.) RAFAEL MANGINO, (L. S.)
Mexico City, Mexico