The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-15
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

| ALLEGED PLAN OF PRESIDENT GRANT 10 PRE-
cIPITArE WAR WITH MExICo-A DIsCov-
| cry IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
The subcommittee OF the House Military Affairs
Committee continued their researches among the
chives of the State Department to-day discovered
among other things, that 1878 the United States
had very narrow escape IRON with Mexico. The
committee believe the evidence TO show that was the
deliberate purpose of tho administration President
Grant, at least OF the President himself to
prec'pitate trouble upon the border. The gunboat
Rio Bravo, the troops under Colonel Potter and the
volunteer forces under Texan commanders were to
begin the work. The latter force was to cross tho
Rio Grande and burn certain property that was be-
ieved to be headquarters for Cortinas forces The
gunboat ana United States Infantry Ia protect
the To kan invaders. The Consul at Matamoros was
duly informed OF tho plan. and as Secretary Fish was
party to this plan he at once interposed his
Offices and the commander Of the Rio Bravo was in.
structed not to carry out the details OF the plan
THE INVESTIGATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DE-
PARTMENTs-MR. aLovRR's RESOLUTION DE-
FEATED BY PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS.
The House adjourned this evening, about eight
O'Clock, in exceedingly bad humor. resolution
offered by Mr. Glover, OF Missouri several weeks ago.
empowering the principal ommttees OF the House TO
st during the and have authority to send for
persons and papers, and investigate the expenditures
OF the government generally, had been referred to
the Ways and Means Committee. Alter debating
the subject ut several meetings tho chairman was
to-day instructed to report it avorably und SO after
the House had finished the consideration OF private
bills, Mr Wood moved that tho House proceed to the
consideration Of bills the Speakers table, In the
Of this proceeding the amended bill providing
Tor the Paris Exposition was reached and passed.
Several other bills were disposed Of but 1t not
generally noticed that the republican mombcrs were
remaining in their seats, while, on the
democratic side the members were grad ualiy falling
Off as the hours OF the session increased. Finally.
when Mr.. Wood succeeded in Offering his report the
Speakers table being cleared, Mcssrs. Conger Hale
and Butler, me republican side, interposed all
or points Of order and objections which kept tho
Speaker busy In ruling and examining the digest II
after O'Clock before the strategy OF rcpub
lcan side fully developed Its leaders had gained
time, and, knowing that large number OF members
were going away on the O'Clock train, dilatory
motions we're no longer necessary AT best the
democrats have only six members in OF quo
rum and at six O'Clock there barely one hundred
democratic members the floor. That was all the
republicans had do to show Mr. Wood he might
hold the floor long he pleased he could pass
the resolution. As often test vote was had the
republicans declined to vote, leaving the House with
desired the republicans would as to make the
call un necessary In this way hours we're passed.
and At last Mr.. Wood gave 1t up and made TO
adjourn, which carried without further delay.
The drag net scope OF tho resolution is therefore
feated and the purpose delayed until alter tho
IN ExEcuTIvE sEssIoN-rHE SECRETARY OF
THE FLORIDA REruRHINo BOARD NOT RE-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ACTED UPON
In executive session to-day the nomination Of
Samuel b. McLinu, OF Tallahassee, Fla, to be Asso-
ciate Justice OF the Supreme Court for the Territory
of New Mexico, rejected. Mr.. McLinn will be
remembered as the secretary Of tho Returning Board
OF the State of Florida. and 1t was through
the influence OF members OF the Republican
National Committee that his appointment for
this ofico had been secured. IL had been
before the Senate Judiciary Committee for some
time, and the members of that committee at one
time thought that Mr. McLinn was
proper to be Associate Justice,
and the paper was indarsed favorabIy. Between tho
last meeting OF the Judiciary Committee and their
return to-day the favorable report erased and
adversely" written In bold and apparently angry
hand the word "Favorably." A. hrst some OF
the Senators inclined believe that MI McLinn
was friend OF Senator Conover and that the rejec-
tion OF the appointment would be a rebuke to the
Florida Senator for his temerity In voting he had
pleased Doth Tor General Buffers admission TO
the Senate and against the rejection Of Mr..
Roosevelt. But II appeared In the debate that
Senator Conover was not only not rcbuked, but that
he was opposed 10 the confirms tion Of Mr. McLnn,
and that the Senate could not do better thing than
to reject him. Accordingly the adverse report pre-
vailed and the Secretary OF the Florida Returning
Board is shorn OF his last hope Of reward
The Senate confirmed q number Of important NOM
~
Collector Of the Port OF Charleston which was under
Senator Patterson's direction. Senator Spencer
cuded not to risk his uniavorablc report the
inaton OF Mr. X. T. Smith Collector OF the Port Of
Mobile, and that, with a number Of consular and
customs appointments, will lie over
the The recess Is stated, Is not long enough
to allow the President TO suspend anybody from ONCE.
the friends Of those holding Office are not con.
ccrned about being moested
THE CHINESE QUESTION BEFORE THE CABINET.
The Cabinet to-day discussed the Chinese question,
the Attorney General instructed TO look into
the extent Of treaty obligations, and TO report
whether IL Is necessary to ask Congress for lcgIsa-
ton enable the government TO give that protection
to the Chinese which lie guaranteed by our treaties
and which exact for own people In China Il
is question whether, under the treaty tho Chinese
government has not the right claim damages from
ours for injuries done 70 Chinese territory.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION BILL.
The Paris Exhibition bill passed the House to-day
aud viii therefore become law In spite OF the Efforts
OF Mr. Cox. General Hawley and MI Mccormack have
been offered the place OF commissioner but both have
declined Mr.. Geshorn IL now spoken Of
THE PEACE OF THE TEXAN DoRDRR-rEsT1-
MoNY TO BE TAKEN DURINo THE REcEss.
During the recess q subcommittee Of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, consisting OF Nessrs
schietcher, Fornoy and Williams OF Wisconsin, has
been authorized 10 take testimony relative TO tho
peace Of the Texan border, and have authority TO
send for persons and papers General Steele, Adju-
General OF the State Of Texas. who reputed TO
DO of the best Informed mon on the border difi-
cultiss has tesgraphsd that he will DO here