Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-12
Of 197, - for the Democratic candidate ct the
last Congressional election.

last Congressional election
Invalidity Of Filhbustsring Contracts -
Ksnnstt ct a., W. Chsmber.-Supreme Court,
December torn, 1s52-Ssory ]. The follow.
Ing Is an extract from tho opinion Of Judge
Story In the case mentioned above:
"The Intercourse Of this country with foreign
nations, and its policy in regard to them, are
placed by the Constitution Of tho United States
In the hands Of tho Government and its de
cisions upon these subjects arc obligatory upon
every citisen Of the Union. He Is bound to
bo at war with the nation against which he
war.making power has declared war, aud
equally bound to commit no act Of hostility
against nation with which the Government
Is Ia amity and friendship. This principle is
universally acknowledged by the laws Of ma.
Tons 1t lies at the foundation Of all govern
ment, as there could be no social order or
peaceful relations between the citizens of diff.
ferent countries without 1t. It Is, however,
moro emphatically true In relation to tho citi.
cons OF tho United States. For, as the sovs-
feignty resides in the people, every citizen is
q portion of 1t, and Is himself personally
bound by the laws which the representatives
OF the sovereignty may pass. or the treaties into
which they may enter, within the scope of
heir delegated authority. And whom that an.
thority has plighted its faith to another nation
that there she'll be- peace and friendship be.
tween the citizens Of the two countries, every
citisen of the United States Is equally and
personal pledged The compact Is made by
the department. Of the Government, upon
which he himself has agreed to confer the
power 1t Is his own personal contract as a
portion Of the sovereignty In whose behalf it
is made. And he can do no act, nor enter int
any agreement to promote or encourage revolt
or hostilities against the territories Of q coun.
try with which our Government is pledged by
treaty TO be at peace without breach Of his
duty as citizen, and the breach of the faith
pledged to the foreign nation. And if he does
80, he cannot claim the aid of q court of jus.
tics to enforce it. The appellants say, in their
contract, that they were induced to advance
the money by the desire to promote the cause
1T freedom. But our own freedom cannot be
preserved without obedience to our own laws,
nor social order preserved, If the judicial
branch Of the Government countenancsd and
sustained contracts, made in violation of the
duties which the Law imposes, or in contra.
vention Of the known and established policy o.
the political department, acting within the
limits fits constitutional power"
This extract is pregnant with meaning
Chambers was Texas General and agent,
who made contracts for the supply Of various
stores, arms, 60, sent from the United States
in aid of the Texas revolution. However
much our people justly sympathi1ed in the
cause of Texas, there was nothing legal in his
(Chambsrs) contracts. This was the decision
Of the Supreme Court of the United States
years after the achievement of Texan indie.
pendence and the subsequent annexation of
Texas to the United States. Now the applica.
lion Of this fixed fact of law, Ia that any man
10 New York or elsewhere who parts With his
money OF property to be used for fllibustering
purposes, on tao written promise Of any body
to repay, literally throws it away. Hc has no
claim in law; and q Plea that fillibusterine
was in any way connected with the contract
Immediately or remotely, will be as valid
against the claim az plea and proof of usury
Folks with money to fool away will take due
notice
Detached.-The following tficsrs, who re-.
'rcnsd to the United States few days since
in The st. Louis, arriving at Philadelphia,
have been detached from that ship, and have
three months leave Of absence
Conmander-D. N. Ingraham. Lieuts.-
Alexander Gibson, G. Barrott, James II.
Strong, John s. Taylor, William Austin. Sur.
gecn-J. D. Miller. Assistant Surpeon-N.
+. Darlington. purser-B r. Gallagher
Acting Master-Ralph Chandler Passed Mid.
shipmen-Charles B. Smith, Bancroft Che
rardi, D. L Braine. Captains Clerk. I.
Stockstt Boatswain-Alfred Hingerty. Gun.
ner-Moses A. Lane. Carpenter-Asa Poin.
sett. Second Lieut.. of Marines-Israel Green.
We publish this list, inaomueh as the list
appearing in another Washington jaurnal a
day or two ago was incorrect, having been
taken evidently from the Naval Register,
which presents the list of the St. Louis's of.
fcerS as they were at tho date of that work:
not as they were on her recent arrival at
Philadelphia.
Meteorological Record.-The following is q
copy of the record kept at tho Smithsonian
observatory: