The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-15


We must not. in this general condemnation in.
clude the gentlemanly caterer, Mr.. Jenkins
The supper was capital, and reflected great
credit on his cuisine AsMoDEUs.
WASHINGTON, ian l3, lS4S.
The War Bill in the Senate-Ihe Santa Anna
Mystery in the House-1he Great Case Of Mrs.
General Gaines in the Supreme Court, and the
Thrilling Finale.
The speech of Mr. Pearce, of Maryland, to-
day, in answer to his colleague, Mr.. Reverdy
Johnson, on the origin and causes Of the war,
enough good speech was expected took the Sc
nate by surprise. Mr.. Pearce, indeed, in this single
effort has proved himself one of the most able de-
baters on the floor, clearly ranking with such
men as Crittenden, Benton, Mangum, Badger,
Cass, and others of that class. The facts and
the testimony adduced by Mr.. Pearce, to-day, to
show that the Rio Grande was not the boundary
of Texas, leave no ground tor Mr.. Johnson to
stand upon except the little fort OF Corpus Christi
But we consider that all chatting of this question
of the boundary is SUPERB 70 gatlon-the simple
fact that il was left in the resolutions of annexa-
ton subject TO negotiation, was quite enough to
constitute the "stupendous deserts between the
Nueces and the Rio Bravo, disputed territory for
the time being. 1t might have been occupied
by both parties by agreement, or the occupation
by either party might be made cause OF war
with the other. Arista proposed such joint oc-
cupation; but the ofer. was not accepted by
General Taylor, and the fact is that both parties
sought to bring about the war, and the result
was inevitable. In fact, the war existed from
the annexation of Texas by John Tyler and
| the failure of securing negotiations was failure
to stop the war, not to prevent It, The war
still existed against Texas on its annexation,
and was annexed with the territory; The
line of the Nueces, therefore. and the cry
can soil, are secondary considerations; and
nothing more. In adopting Texas without ne
gotiations with Mexico, we adopted the war;
and failing to negotiate, the war went on; and
the march to the Rio Grande was the resump
ton of active hostilities, not the beginning OF
the war. But believe that the war might
have ia been stopped either by sending loTce OF
at Corpus Christi In the collection of a tormid-
able force, pending the efforts at negotiation.
All this sort of talk, however, Is not now
the war! We have only to say, fer the present,
that we must end II the present session, or II
will become standing dish for recruiting Off
GERS, loan bills, tax gathers, and presidential
| spectators.
| = In the House, to-day, there was another little
| veto message from the President, declining TO
furnish certain parts of the Sidell, Herrera, and
| Santa Anna correspondence. We should not
| be surprised If Mr. Bolts were next TO move for
special committee of inquiry, with power to
send for persons and papers, in which event, Mr..
! Paine, the great shot-at, with air guns and pis-
tolls would be required to state the contents of
/
| to bear from Santa Anna to certain foreign min
listers here in Washington, but which he says he
delivered over to Mr.. Buchanan, after opening
them and discovering the plot of Franco-Span-
lsh viceroy. But we shall see. There is a
my stery in this business yet to be solved
! This morning, Mrs. Gen. Gaines was escorted
to the Supreme Court by twenty beautiful Ia
| dies. When they were seated, the Court room
presented an interesting convocation. There
! were the noble looking judges in their black
robes; there was Mrs. General Gaines and her
beautiful escort; tnere were General Walter
Jones and Hon. Rcverdy Johnson, her counsel
there were Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, and
! Gen. Quitman and Gen. Shields; there were
members OF both Houses, old and young law
yers, citizens and strangers, present.
Judge Wayne read the opinion of the Court,
showing tn Mrs. Gaines is the legitimate
daughter Qor that was the severe ordeal through
which the little woman has been struggling tor
Daniel CLARK, deceased, at New Orleans; and, as
such, the helress of MS property excepting one
tfth) in New Orleans, ST. Lous, and elsewhere
yarlously estimated at from ten to fifteen mil.
The opinion of the Court embraced history
| of Mrs. Gaines, and an argument establishing its
validity When the result was announced that
she had won the cause, the suspense OF fifteen
years OF protracted litigation gave way to an
outburst OF tears on the part OF the heroic little
woman. The long agony was over, and the
| overpowering victory Was too much TO with
stand She could not he it. She wept like a
woman when she rises from great trial, tri-
umphant and INDICATED before the world. Her
lady attendants gathered around her, and kissed
her In the delight OF their hearts They could
not resist it, and they did not want to sist the
impulse to so natural, womanly, and beautiful an
act OF congratulation. oh, but il was enough
to make an old bachelor scratch his head in
shame that he had no claim to such sympathies
as these. "Allah, bismillah! -" G cd is merci-
ciful!'
The three attorneys of Mrs. Gaines were Gen
Walter Jones, Hon. Reverdy Johnson, and Mr.
5. j. Burr, of Philadelphia. The fee of the two
former, II is said, will be $4,000 each, and of
the latter, probab y not much less for his labors
In gathering up the testimony, were long and
arduous, aud unfirng. The reported fees, how
ever, are all rumor, though we do not doubt they
Will be OF weight corresponding to the right
that has been achieved. Respectfully,
The DocTeR.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IL, ls4s.