Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-01-19
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Richmond whis.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 18th. rlSA


To-day has been an interesting day in this CITY,
md in almost every part of the city where matters
Of interest transpire. 1t was somewhat remark !
able day In the Supreme Court of the United |
States. The loom was crowded with ladies' and
gentlemen. HENRY CLAY was there, the obsery
ed Of all Observers,
"Whose eloqucnce, Frightening whatever il tried,
Whether reason or fancy the gay or the grave
was as rapid as deep, and as brilliant tide,
As ever bore freedom aloft ON its wave 20
Daniel Webster was there, with the impress of
genius on his brow and both of these men had
honored some of their friends by moving their ad-
mission TO practice in the Supreme Court There
too, was lady, rather smaller than the average of
her sex, whose bright eye aud laughing features
were half concealed by white veil There was,
too, shade of anxiety resting on her features,
which made her look different from she usually
appears 1t was Mrs. Gen. GAINES, whose history
Is miracle. Her case was to be decided to day
by the Supreme Court; and the anxiety of herself
and friends was great. Upon that decision depend.
ed, not only her pecuniary interests, but, to GER
tain extent, her good name for, in order to keep
her out of her possessions, her legitimacy had been
questioned.
Judge Wayne read the opinion of the Court
II was unanimous in her favor and covered every
point she could desire; completely indicating her
claim to vast amounts of real estate in New Or
leans. 1t is said tina. the decision made to day
gives her t,cclcc millions Of dollars So great was
the excitement, that, soon after the announcement
OF the decision, she tainted in Court, and was car
ried out A few minutes afterwards, however, she
was walking down the Avenue, apparently in ex-
cellent spirits. This decision will make some ex-
ctement in New Orleans
In the House of Representatives there were
matters of greatnterest. The President, as sup
posed he would, sent in message Yesterday but
1t was not opened ill today in which he flatly re-
fuses 70 the Hnucp oh a.,
ask, concerning the return of Santa Anna from his
k-hghtng In Mexico. 10 his more coDuenal
sport of butchering American citizens by the au-
thorlty or pass of the President of the United
States The President puts his refusal upon this
among other grounds: that the information asked
Tor, concerns negotiations not yet completed. Are
we to understand by this, that the President still
means to keep Santa Anna in his employ? had
hoped, that before this, they would have agreed to
break up their intriguing against the lives and
happiness of the people of both countries.
The speeches made upon this subject were quite
exciting. Mr.. &. j. ngersoll defended the Presi-
dent, as did other of his friends. who had evident
iy been drilled by the President to meet the emer
gency, with references to documents, Sc, during
the last evening" and since the Transmission of the
Message. Mr.. L. observed. that all the House
could do, was 10 impeach the President. The En-
ecutive patronage Of the President is now so GREAT
that, as John G. Calhoun said few days AGO, the
superstructure is crushing the foundation and there
fore he can get enough of mere party tools to de-
Tend hlm-no matter what may be his usurpatons
The venerable John Quincy Adams made shor,
speech, IN condemnation of the Presidents con-
tempt of the peoples Representatives. He said
mat II his voice permitted. he would say more
He wanted select committee, to enquire into the
whole matter He said the reference the President
mad made to transaction occurring in Washing
tons time, had no sort of parallel in this case
1t is well known that the whole blood shed since
the sklrmlshes on the Rio Grande on the Sth and
9TH OF May, 1886, is chargeable before God and
man, upon the private agreement entered into be-
tween James X. Polk and Santa Anna but for
which that blood would not have been shed. The
very day that Congress voted ten millions OF mo-
ney and fifty thousand men to relieve Gen. TAYLOR.
ne gave orders for the pass of Santa Anna into
Mexico, who forthwith put himself at the head of
the Mexican Army. BY this Arrangement Mr.
Polk was enabled 10 push Gen Scott and General
Taylor, who had but poor supplies, to Buena Wis
IA, Cerro Cordo &c, Sc, where his confidential
friend, Santa Anna, was enabled to slaughter thou
sands OF our own and Mexican citizens Bnt no,
to follow this farther, think the Presidents friends
might take higher grounds for him than they do
why do they not at once throw themselves upon
this ground where they would be imprernable-
that the letters passing between James X. Polk
and Santa Anna should not be published, because
they are the confidential communications of nitrate
ana intimate friends Throw it upon that ground
and they will puzzle Congress exceedingly. 1t
was unlucky for Benedict Arnold that he was no,
PRESIDENT of the Uniled States, so that he might
have snothered the evidences of his treason. on
the ground that they related to negotiations moi
yet completed! The Executive has risen in pow
er step BY step, till now, it openly insults and
scorns the Legislative branch of the Government.
The case cannot be dropped The struggle is be-
tween the people and emboldened monarch or
despot. Which will yield must the people?-
Ihe whole subject is made the order of the dav
for Tuesday next.
In the Senate. today, we had one Of the best
speeches have yet heard on the war 1t was the
speech OF Mr.. Pearce, of Maryland, in reply 10
his colleague, Mr. Reverdy johnson. AmonT the
strangers present in the lobbies to-day noticed
MIR. Clay, who remained there but few minutes.
Mr.. Pearce commenced his speech by manly
avowal, that he wished to speak upon the subject
as his term was soon to expire, March d. lS49.)
and he wished the Maryland Legislature, now in
session, to know where he stood He was sorry
that ne felt it his duty to declare his utter dissent
from the positions taken by his colleague for the
two days past. Nattel declares that there must be
necessity Tor war, 10 make it unsuitable. We
would not have gone TO war with strong nation
on the preteXlS on which we attacked MeXico-e-
ven the indemnies which Mexico owed us, she
made extraordinary eXertions TO pay even by fore
cu co"'iloutiOHS on Der citlZenS. w suffered the
indemnlties for the French spoations to lie longer
than we did the Mexican indemnities. Yes, longer
than Mexico has been in existence Some of these
Mexican claims are fraudulent There never was
so weak and impotent acause Of war. There could
be no such thing as the relation between cause
and effect connected with it. The cause of the
war was the unauthorized act Of the President, IN
marching our army TO a boundary which was not
made by Congress, but which Congress even had
declared was mol settled. The treaty of Santa An
ma had been referred TO /: and what was il Mere