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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
L.
peculiar views in detail, in relation thereto-I must say that I most fully concur in your views of our best policy. Time is on the wing. A few years more, and Mr. Rey- nolds and I border on 'the sere and yellow leaf.' Of immense value, the property admits of a very long division. A protracted litigation, in quest of the lion's share, divests us virtually of all, and secures some- thing only to our legal representatives. Dum vivimus, vivam,us. So•say I. Of our party, Mr. Reynolds holds the major interest; perhaps nearly all. Compared to his, my right is small. Thus, I feel some delicacy in obtruding any conclusion of mine against any deliber- ate judgment of his. I have the utmost confidence in his judgment and discretion. I am also sure that all that can be compassed by energy and perseverance, he (Reyonlds) will accom- plish. And yet, he may be impelled by the rivalry to evade an obsolete title on the one hand and a fraudu- lent one on the other, backed, as it is, by the perjured tyrants of a petty and venal Legislature.. Hence, you will oblige me by assuring our old friend Reynolds that while, under the peculiar circumstances, I venture my mite of advice in confirmation of yours, with due defer- ence to him, I yet offer it most urgently. Please, there- fore, show him this letter. As he is of course familiar with all the positions stated in your letter, they need not be detailed in this paper. My health, though far better than when I saw you here, under so many months of the care of Dr. Francis, of New York, is still by no means reliable. If this thing can be made available during the short life I have yet probably before me, I am very anxious to see that result. I find much of your matter of reliance in the big suit, in Bibb's Reports. This casually_led me, the other day, to bring the case to the notice of ---------· He seems perfectly familiar with every precedent and doctrine applicable to this case, and its whole class, and he says it is quite impossible for the Supreme Court, on delib- erate review and consideration, to abandon right, rea- son, and customary law, on account of one casual act of stultification at the last term. I shall not omit the part of st1·iker with certain members of the court, which I told you I would see to. I am already here for the purpose. I will persuade Catron, of Tennessee, to take the case under his special charge. . . . Joseph L. Williams." It has been shown, incontestably, that Judge Watrous was a member of the conspiracy, in the furtherance of whose designs Williams was acting. The part assumed by this man
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