Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-23
MRS. GAINES.
Her Repy 70 the New Orleans Tines aHd
PicayuHe a Scrap Of History.

IT will, doubtless, surprise many OF
nav friends here ana elsewhere, who
have known me Tor years, to Eead the
articles recently published in the
Times and i'icaytl5f, Of this city, de-
rogatory 20 my character as q benevO-
lent aud Christian lady; but they.
must remember that these assaults
are only the dying struggles OF a van
qGisheI fa5.
For more than ihirty-ive years, un-
der unparalleled persecution, l have
groped through light and shade for
the discovery and recovery of my hid
den Inheritance small portion Of
which has been awarded me by the
courts OF my country, against the
combined influence Of untold wealth,
aud the most searching legal strategy.
from Inc commencement of my
struggle. I have repeatedly offered to
compf0Iuise upon the most liberal
terms. but so Iar, nave realized but
barely enough to sustain myself and
family.
On my arrival here in 1892, stand
inc on Canal street, | was told by an
old and prominent citizen, and an intl-
mate friend Of my father, pointing
uU the river, "Iour father owned
lands in that direction IS far as the eye
can see.o Not until about two years
ago did get a clue to that title. The
title. based upon a Spanish grant of
1871, | found was confirmed to my
father in 1912 by the Board Of United
States Land Commissioners for 1870
''toiscs" square, bounded on the up
per side by vacant lands, and on the
lower side by the city Of New Orleans.
In 1913 my father died without hav-
inc the title perfected. In 1916, three
years after his death, Congress ratified
his confirmation, and thus the matter
rested, unknown to me, except the
vague inkling derived from the casual
remark of the Old citizen referred to,
as well as few others, until about
TWO wears since, as above stated, when
| adopted measures for a survey.
In this ] have been successful under
the kalc in such cases DrOCided, subject,
as all surveys are, to prior legal titles (;
and have proposed compromises at
len cents on the dollar OF assessed
value (Which, l ann told, is something
ike sixty cents on the real value, }
and when assured that claimant Is
poor, or is an INDECENT widow, / have
requested that his or her title be qui-
eted without cost.
I feel that, under the circumstances,
| ought not to be censured for accept
ing, in compromise, from those who
are able to pay it, one-tenth, or less
than my legal rights. That parties
wrongfully took possession, and
! leased OF sold my property, IS no fault
of mine-nOr am ! al fault for parties
accepting titles to property which had
| been refused to other parties by the
| Government of the United States. 1t
/ is simply their misfortune, a misior-
| tune from which | propose to release
/ them for q mere tritie.
I I'm order still further To embarFaSs
me, one writer presumes to encourage
! the idea that the suit in the Second
( District Court viii result in the annul-
ment of my fathers Will, which was
admitted to probate fourteen years
ago. The fact, however, he admits,
/ that " in probate matters II must tol-
/ low State laws" bat omlts to state an
other fact, that the suit IS barred, or
prescribed, By the i0lCs Of Louisiana.
1 submit now to the good and virtu-
! Gus Of this community whether this is
/ intended to prejudice me IN a pending
suit; whether / am unkind to the
poor, where my sympathies have ever
/ been; whether / exact more than my
rights, or claim what does not belong
| to me; and last, but not least, whether
1 these unkind and unjust illusions il
the papers named, against an t1lpT0
| tected lcOD1u37, are becoming the as
sumed high character OF the New Or
leans press? -
New Orleans, January II, 1870.