The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-03-22
By THE MAILS.
AFFAIRS IN WAsHIN0TON.
WASHINGTON, March 20, l847.

WASHINGTON, March 20, l847.
"Hariety is the Spice of Life.
The great celebration in Alexandria to-day, in
honor of the remuneration of the ancient city to
the Old Dominion, was a failure. The soldiers
had gone off to the wars, and the citizens did not
turn out, and the procession was very slim, and,
for political reasons, the dinner was postponed
We are informed that Senior Atocha is in this
city, having, we suppose, like a committee of the
whole House, reported that he had made no pro-
gress in the business assigned to him, and asked
leave tn start out again. We suppose he did the
best he could to persuade Mexico to negotiate
he tried, and if she was inexorable, he could do
no moro than to report that he had failed to do
any thing.
We understand that in June next the President
intends to visit his native State of North Carolina,
and to be present at tho University at the delivery
of the annual address; Mr.. Mason, Secretary Of
the Navy, having been solicited to deliver it.
During the present week a large detachment OF
the Methodist preachers in town, attending. the
church conference, waited upon the President,
and had 81 talk" with the Great Father Of the
red men. 1t was very complimentary on both
sides, the President expressing his qualification,
by a side wipe, that the Methodist ministry did
not stand in the way Of the vigorous prosecution
oil the war against Mexico.
We epjon it upon the President, by the way,
to take this war into his own hands, to 90 down
himself and wind it up and bring back the treaty
and Of an alliance offensive and defensive, in his
pocket, and call up the Senate, have it ratified,
minister confirmed, and sent down to Mexico,
and every thing done up in apple pie order against
the regular meeting OF Congress in December.
We are gratified to learn to-day, that in re-
cent cabinet council the boundary line Of Mr..
Calhoun, from the mouth Of the Rio Grande up
that river in o northwest direction to the SD de-
gree north latitude, thence up that parallel across
to the head of the Gulf of California, thence
down the Gulf, including all of Lower California
Cor the peninsusl if possible, or straight across
from the head Of the Gulf to the Pacific, if the
peninsula cannot be had, was under considera-
ton, and thai, although the President held out
for Lower, as well as Upper California, the ma.
lsrity OF the cabinet expressed themselves satis-
fed with the line across from the head OF the
Gulf as the permanent line, if that, as a perma-
nent boundary and a permanent peace, could be
guaranteed to us in treaty upon reasonable
terms. We will not vouch for the correctness of
this information, but SO various and multfarious
are the propositions relating to peace which have
been suggested in cabinet sessions, that it is not
improbable this may be one among the num-
Der. From the outbreak Of this war, peace
was the great object, and if there has been
any suspension Vt forward movement,
or Of the most active and enterprising hos
tilities, it was with the view OF testing the
olive branch policy; and if the war has been
enemy They might have had peace last August
last June, last January, if they had taken the
offers of this good government in the good faith in
which they were rendered. Yet we can afford to
offer them peace again, after we have beaten
them ogain; and ntbey won't have it, the only al
Tentative is to lay OH the broadsides until they hoist
the white flag, and cry hold, we give up-we
have had enough OF the barbarians OF the North
we admit that resistance is useless, and now, Tor
Gods sake, have mercy upon US.
The trial OF Mr.. H. Fl. Smith, upon the sixteen
remaining indictments found yesterday for FORGE
ries against the United &C. is still progress
ing. Upon the first Indictment last night the jury
were divided. W.
p. S.-Mr. Webster is here, and will not leave,
perhaps, for the South before the end of the
month. Senior Atocha and MIR. Benton went up
to see the President to-day. Straws, gentlemen,
straws Mr.. Benton leaves shortly for a visit to
his estate i'm Kentucky