New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-20

Correspondence Of The Tribune.
WAsHrxGToN Dec & l5,s

WASHINGTON, Dec IS, ls4s
A long, elaborate. and powerful argument was
delivered before the Supreme Court yesterday, By
Benamn II Brewster ESQ. Of Philadelphia, which Ia.
produced great impression in legal circles and
secured for Mr.. Brewster the reputation Of be
ing one Of the sbles, constitutional lawyers in the
country The principle 70 be defined and settled In the
case in which Mr. 3. s engaged is Of the highest i'm
pOrtsuce and the whole country II certainly greatly
indebted the learning and eoqueuce Of that gentle
man Tor the convincing manner In which he pointed
ard defined the rights OF the states and the ability
with which be defended those nghts against federal
eDcroschment
The question 20 Re determined By the Supreme Cort
IT, whether under the construction Of the nited states
es,ste belonging % the Federal Government within
the territory Of Pennsylvania. and not ceded % the
United States or purchased By the consent u the
gslsure Of the State Ia exempted from taxation By
that state because 1t Is used as Mint where money i
coined 20 state the plainly. whether the T. :
Mint In Philadelphia and the lot wherein the bulldogs
are erected are or are not subject 70 be taxed
ding 70 the laws Of Pennsylvania Last winter M
Evans, Of Maine. bad suit In the Supreme Court in
which the question was involved. and which be
argued 81 great length. The Court was divided Ia opn
ion and hence IN order for an argument in the Mint
the points were Involved In the In
which VIZ Evans was engaged
The Constitution provides that Congress shsl eXer-
else excusve legislation 81 places purchased BIZ
the consent II The Legislature Of the State in which
srsenss. dock ards and other needful buildings -
and under this power ia contended that the Mint can
not be taxed by the state Of Pennsylvania Mr BreVs
Ter argued that the power q exclusive cEslsucn =
united with ceson Of territory which Is 20 BE- the free
act q the tates and that when Z proposed 10 the
Convention which formed the Federal Constitution, %
give Congress the power Of exclusive es aton over
forts magazines srsenals. dock yards, Sc situated
within the different States il strenUOusiy opposed
and the reason assigned for the opposton was tha;ne
United staes night DCasess Itself Of the strong no1s ~
f.l- f... 4 q. f-a .N...Hf
ence This reason thought % be just one. AMI
then E, was tnst the clause was amended by Inserting
the words 81 by the consent Of the Legislature OF the
state"
The Federal Government cannot take private prop
erty for public without giving compensation and
yet IL is asserted said Mr. that il can take SOW
ereira power without confederation. and That too,
when the Constitution expressly indicates the very
way In which Il csn Introduce IT, jurisdiction within
the limits of q State
Mr. Brews'er referred 10 the case of he late Bank
of the United states in which the supreme Court DE-
cidei that the real properly 81 the Bank was taxable
n0twithstaud ~ il was the property Of constitutional
instrument Of the Government Of the Tnitsd Slates
IN conformity with ills decision. the Bank Of the Uni
ted states always paid he state and County taxes
the house and 0t occur ed ~ the mother bank in Phil
sdelDlla AZ well az an Of ia real estate in Pennsylvs
mia. II the Mint the business Of coming money
were taxed the State. said Mr. y Won tax that with
which IL has no political connection and over which .
has no power But the case i- different with land The
rni,ed states establish Post Office aud Post Roads
and II has enacted laws O. punish those who Interfere
with the Mail. and yet police flcer las arrested
Nal driver for driving iurDusiy through the crowded
streets o. city and the Circuit Court 81 the aifod
bold that he might arrest and that Il WIS NOT
violation Of The lave ~ the United states ilc-
oal stopping of the Mail In this case. concluded Nr
Brcvster. ir s me constitutional means of Pennsy'va
na that ore sought 20 boz crippod-not The means Of
the Government Of the nted states
cannot in the buef limits Of letter give you oven
an outline OF Nr Brewster mastery argument 10 this
case end ] express but the wish ~ al ohio herd t.
ihet 10 will be given o. the puhh in pamphlet foIm
The tax g. day IT, that Major Cass j. % have the
Cha PEE ip 20 Rome The weather l. deiicOus-wa-n.
con and ba'my as = dav in May. I0sfs, sB.c