The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-02

FLoTp's sACcEPrAScEs-Thefr Legdiity.--Mr.
Gilmore attorney for Pierce & Bacon, bank.
ers who are innocent holders of Russell, Ma
iors Il W addell's drafts, accepted by ex-Sec-
retary Floyd, has obtained from Caleb Cush-
ing, late Attorney General, an opinion on the
ques tion of the legality of said aeceptances.- -
Mr.. Gushing holds, on a full discussion of the
subject, that the liability of the United States
for these acceptances is fixed by authoritative
decisions of the Supreme Court in previous
cases of the same nature, confirmed by acts Of
Congress
After explaining the legitimate manner in
which Messrs. Pierce 4 Bacon became pos
sessed Of the acceptances, Mr.. Gushing asks
as to the question of possible fraud on the
part OF the ex-Secretary, "How could Messrs.
Pierce Bacon conceive or entertain such
cause of inquiry How could they anticipate
such an extraordinary incident the abstrac-
ton of the trust bonds in the Interior Depart
ment? 1t would be scandalous, immoral,
oppressive, intolerable, to assume that every
private citizen of the United States who has
to deal dentally with any department of
the Government shall be held to suffer the
consequences of some unknown and unima-
glnable malfeasance in Office on the part OF its
head. For all the relations of such a matter,
every citizen has right to presume the sole
responsibility of his Governments; and the
Government would but render itself infamous
in pretending that the consequences of its own
want of honesty should be borne by innocent
private persons. Rather than set up such a
monstrous administrative hypothesis of self
qualification and self-condemnation this,
| it would be well for the Government to stop;
| to go into liq uidation; to disappear from the
| stage, and leave room in the world for the in
| PRODUCTION of some new political organism
| better adapted to promote the welfare of the
| people of the United States.''
| THE VoTES IN THE PEAcE CoNFEREScE.-Asa a
| matter of interest we give the vote by Sta tes
on the propositions adopted by the Peace Con-
gress
LIST proposition
Yeas-Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky. Mary land,
New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
Nays-Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts.
North Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont and
Diviled-New Yerk and Kansas.
| Not Eoting-Indiana.
land; Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Peansylvania,
Rhode Rhode Island, TennesSee s9s , and virgiuia.1.
sachusetts, North Carolina, New Hamphre and
Divided--New York and Kansas.
| 5d.-Y eas-Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Mary
| land, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio
| Pennsvi rania, Rhode Island Tennessee and Nir-
Nays-Connecticut, Indiana. Iowa. Maine. Mas.
saehusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont-7.
| Divided-New York and kansas-2.
4th.-Y Yeas-Connecticut Delaware, Illinois, In
diana, Kentucky. Mary land, Missouri, New Jsr-
| Sey, Nortn carolina ONO. Penusylvanla, Rhode
| island Tennessee, Vermont and tirginla-l5.
Nays-lowa, Maine, Massachusetts and New
| IIampshire-i.
Divided-New York and Kansas.
5th.-Yeas Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois
| Indiana, Kentucky, Mary yland, Missouri, New
| Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio Penn
| syluania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and
| kansas--l6
Nays-lowa, Maine Massachusetts, North Caro-.
| lima and Virginia-5.
sth.--Yeas-- Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Mary
| land, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, PENNSYLVANIA
| Rhode Island and Tennessee-l.
NaysmCon neStieGt, lndians loMa Maine, Mas
mont and Firgina--9.
| Divided--New York.
nh.-Yeas--Delaware, Illinois, Indiana Ken
lucky. Mary land, New Jersey, New Hampshire
| Ohio, Pennsylvania Rhode Island, Tennes see an
| Virgi inia-l2.
Nays-Connecticut, Iowa. Maine, North Caro-
| lina Missouri and Vermont.
| Divided-New York.
Not voting-Massa sachusetts.