Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-28
oITY ITEMS.

CorsxsrRArE STATES CoUET In this Court the Agu-
mepts we're closed on Monday between the District A.
torney, p. II. Aylet ESQ, and John Il. GiiDer, ESQ.
We learn that VARIOUS and highly interesting questions
we're presented and Discussed by Mr. elmer, arng on
his petition against the action OF the Confederate States,
in the suit vs. the MsssIs PGrce 10 stqueftrate 3d.
600 due By them Ashmad and othefs Of the city and
county of Philadelphia.
The law points as presented by Mr.. Gmer arising on
the peadiDgs OF general and public Interest, and
ware nearly - follows:
The Messrs. Purcell purchased Of the Ashmesds aud
Li.es, some time since ses Row" in this city, aud
executed Eve bones payable 2, 3, and years az
ter date gyicg deed OF trust the property TO &C.
cure the pa5mept, Mr. Gincr being the legal adviser
of the veadors. On the 2?ih Of last April the obgses
regularly assigned all these bonds 10 Mr. Gme execut
ing perfect legal transfer Of the bonds TO Mr. Gumer,
in bis own individual right Immediately after the pass-
of tie Sequestraton Act mer addressed letter
20 the Secretary OF State Hon X NJ l. Hunter, stating
the facts ard furnishing copy OF the assignment and
requesting the opinion Of the Attorney General s TO the
leg "A, status Of the case Ia this communication, Mr. Gil
mer expressed the opinion that the bonds, on their
face were his propsy and assigned for consider
a,oa on the 2gti day OF April before Virginia seeded
thA. ne entitled under the qusstraiion
Aci dispose Of them for the benefit OF the LsHgroTs
aso stating that II the Secretary Of sac aud Attorney
General differed from him. he should take the proper
seps to litigats the matter.
The Attorney General turned the letter OF Mr.. 0mer
over TO the District Attorney without returning any an
swer to Mr. Gilmer Mr.. Glmer imme diate'y informed
the Recover o. the fact aud claimed lis right 70 csin
or yss.rre the bonds and that he had assigned them
10 gentlemen who had had large amount OF stocks In
Philadelphia and New York sequesrsted by the Lincoln
government and that this signmen vas made for the
benefit Of the Asbmeads &n., under the q1esiVAiion
Act aud that he should tgate the matter n that FORM
Subsequently this assignment failed, by the failure Of
Mr. Gmera assignee perfect the arrangement. Then
tho n ObIQeea commenced
this litigation.
o. theae facts, the following questions Of law
presented: The assignment was on the 2s.h day oil
April The Sequsstra'ion Act in is retroactive egs!a-
ton, only dated back to the 2lst Nay.
The ordinance Of Secession was passed by me Wiz.
gnil Convention, on the "a April. The Provisional
Constitution was adopted on the 25h April, aud the
conn act between the Commissioners Of Virginia aud
Mr. Stephens was ratified the 25'h April. And this
com at sanctioned aud adopted By the Provisional
Congress on the 9Th Nay.
The Act of Secession Of virginia was not kooSn un
some time in May-lang after the assignment OF Che
2sth April On these facts NJ. Gilmer co blended that
the assignm mt vested in him such interest in each
and all OF the bonds assignee, that there was no
power to take them from him. he conceded the Oh
lgaoD, on his part TO pay over 10 the Receiver the
smouot collected on each bond afer dsdsctag his fees
and commissiOnS. Bat until the money pad TO hin,
for and on account Of the dssigHors, the rgat OF the
Confederate Safe Government was contingent and con-
ditional a1d.cou1 be enforced. And should p(ace
be made or the Sequeststion Act dbrogdsd his night
70 the bonds not penal complete and could not be
Invested. Should only of these bonds be collected
before the existing difficulties we're asly ssttlsd, his
right to hold or ooec. the other three bonds for the
bel eft of the ass'gdors Was clear. II, hsd collected
of the bonds early In May, with ACCRUED interest,
and RENTED the proceeds TO the assgnees before the
Act Of Secession was perfsnted, which Mr. eimer con-
tended perfected until the Gath day Of Nay, by
the &C. Of the people at the polls.
Such, we undsrssrd were the facts and points re.
viewed and discussed in this case They are Of general
interest and We give them TO the public The learned
Judge will decide the case in short time when will
advise the pubc Of the decision.