Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
"REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC ZEN.
SY BEN: pERLEY pooRE.

GY BEN: PERLEY PooRE.
Stephen A. Douglas once got the
better of John Quincy Adams. It was
in May, 1S4G, when both were mem
bers of the House, and Mr.. Delano
(afterward Secretary of the Interior)
denied that the Rio del Norte was tho
northern boundary of Texas. MIR.
Adams listened approvingly, and when
Mr.. Delano had concluded, Mr.. Doug
las said. very courtesly:
Il perceive that the venerable gen
tleman from Massachusetts mods affirm
atively?"
"Yes, SIR" replied the Old Man
Eloquent, II approve and indorse
every word and syllable of what the
member from Ohio has said"
u am glad to hear it, remarked
Mr.. Douglas, "for have wished to es-
tablish the fact that the Rio del Norte
was the western boundary of the Re-
public of Texas. How far 1 have sue
ceeded in establishing the position I
leave to the House and the country to
determine. If that was the boundary
of the Republic of Texas, it has, Of
course, become the boundary of the
United States by virtue of the act of
annexation and admission into the
Union. I will not say that have de-
monstrated the question as satisfac-
torily as the distinguished gentleman
from Massachusetts did in 1919, but /
will say that I think am safe in adopt
ing the sentiment which he then ex-
pressed, that our title to the Rio del
Norte is as clear as to the Island of
New Orleans"
Mr.. Adams began to see that he had
been entrapped, and the top,of his bald
head became scarlet, as hereplied an
grily: II never said that or title was
good to the Rio del Mort, from its
mouth to its source"
"Ahw exclaimed Mr.. Douglas, ap-
parently rising up six inches or more
as he exultantly went on to remark: II
know nothing of the gentleman's men
tai reservations. If he mans by his
denial to place the whole emphasis on
the qualification that he did not claim
that river as the boundary from its
mouth to its source, shall lot dispute
with him on that point. But if he
wishes to be understood IS denying
that he ever claimed the Rio del Norte
in general terms as our boundary under
the Louisiana treaty, / can furnish him.
an official document, over his own sig
nature, which he will find very embar-
RAISING and exceedingly difficult to ex-
plain. I allude to his famous dispatch
as Secretary of State, in 1919, to Don
Onis, the Spanish Minister. 1 am not
certain that l can prove his handwrit-
ing, for the copy have in ny posses
sion I find printed in the American
State Papers, published by the order
of Congress. In that paper he not
only claimed the Rio del Note as our
boundary, but he demonstrated the
validity of the claim by train of facts
and arguments which rivet conviction
on every impartial mind, and deny
refutation."
The young Vermont carpenter had
evidently gotten the best of the veteran
Massachusetts, diplomat, whose mem
DRY had failed him. "Mr. Chairman, "
said Mr.. Adams, "Iwrote that dispatch
when I was Secretary of State, and
endeavored to make out the best case
could for my country, as it was my
duty. But I utterly deny that claim
ed the Rio del Norte as our boundary,
in its full extent. I only claimed it o
short distance up the river, and then
i. diverged to the northward some dis.
lance from the stream"
"Will the gentleman" asked Mr.
Douglas, in his gentlest tones, SPECIFY
the point at which his line left the
river?"
II never designated the point,
eroWled Mr.. Adams.
"Was it above Matamoras? p asked
Mr.. Douglas.
II never specified any point" said
Mr.. Adams, and sat down. He had
been led into trap by the Little Giant
of the West, and there he had beer
quoted as authority for the act of the
administration. From that day forth
Mr.. Adams never had anything to say
to Mr.. Douglas when he could possibly
avoid it.
Jenny Lind carried the hearts of the
people of Washington and the strang
ers within their gates by storm, and she
had o crowded house at her first con
cert. Her wonderful fexibility Of
voice and perfect exactness of execu
ton captivated and enchanted her list.
eners. In the flute trio from Meyer.
beers Scamp of Silesia," she rivaled
the two flute players, and so flexible
and sweet were the tones of her voice
that it was at times difficult TO distin.
guish between it and the instruments.
Her @brd song" was merry gush Of
melody, and her "Echo Song" elected
wild applause, and when she sang
Sweet Home" the audience was cleo.
trified. The President, Henry Clay,
and Daniel Webster were present, and
the Great Expounder, who had evi-
IDENTIFY been dining out, made himself
conspicuous by his applause. When
Miss Lind sang "Hail Columbia" he
rose and joined in the chorus, to the
great amusement of all present.
Gideon Granger, of Connecticut, who
was Postmaster General without seat
in the Cabinet under Presidents Jeffer-
son and Madison, is reported to have
answered question about the abilities
of his family by saying: II have three
sons, sir! John, my youngest, is gen
tioman. Francio 10 q pol;f;o;o, l,,&