Daily national Republican., 1863-03-23

( Aiiwmbo fsqa'Esd . Tan. the Oash.
PoPularlty Of ths 5udEss wi,h ths Bar.
The new Supreme Court of the District Of
Columbia, assembled this morning a few min
ntos TO IL m. Chief Justice Cartier, and Justl-
cos OlIn and wylie were present, but Justice
Fisher was absent on a brief visit TO his home
In Delaware. .t.N ..t i
Thecourt room was crowded at quite an early
hour. Tho Bar was fully represented.
OPENING REMARKS or CHrEF JUSTICE cARTTBR.
Chief Justice Cartier on opening tho court,
saidi .....
GetltlemeR Of he Barr
We, the judges Of the Supreme Court, have
assembled here for tho purpose Of organiza-
tlon, that the business Of the District, so
far as II depends upon the selection Of Clerk,
may be prosecuted, until the regular term Of
the court. Dir. bteigS, therefore, whom we have
chosen as clerk, will now step forward and take
tho oath. a.a...U.. H.-I.
OATH ADMINISTERED TO MR.. MBIGs.
Return ]. Meigs then came forward and took
the following oath, repeating each sentence af-
tor Chief Justice Cartier, who administered IL;
do sslemnly swear that have never volunta-
rily borne arIa against the United States since
have been a citizen thereof that have volunta-
rily given no aid, eountenanee, counsel or eneour-
agement 70 persons engsged In armed hostility
theretoi that have neither sought nor accepted
nce whatever under any authority or pretended
authority in hostility to the United States; that
tsns.d h0s Ssvre%en S9tSor poTer oS
tion, within the United states, hostile inimioa
thereto, And do further swear Tor afirml that
support and defend the Constltution Of the United
STATES against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that NIL bear true iaish and silesisnce e the
any mental reservation or purpose OF evasionj and
that will well and faithfully discharge the duties
OF the ofiee on which am about to enter; So help
me God.
cHrET JUSTICE CARTIER ADDRESSES THE BAR.
y Chief Justice Cartier then addressed the
members OF the bar as follows:
Gentlemen of the bar; We, the justices of the
supreme court, in chamber, have resolved upon
rule fer the admission Of the members Of the
old bar into the new court Of the District. We
have regarded It as necessary, from tho fact
that the court Is a new one, and for no other
reason. / am opposed to talking much, but
you will excuse me for one or two observations.
We regard the oath which we have taken, to
support the Constitution and TO do allegiance
to this Government, as not incompatible with
the sensbllities Of any gentleman [sensationl,
and We have made II a prerequislto Of any gen
tleman who shall practice in this court that he
shall take and subscribe TO that oath.
This is not done through any caprice, nor iS
Il done in the absence OF a high consideration
| for tho proverbial honor of the Bar, and barris-
ters. II Is not done either, because we have
any doubt regarding tho fidelity and loyalty Of
any gentleman who will consent TO practice
/ N nf GnVaFnmnnl and
to aid in the administration Of Its laws. 1t Is
the oath which Senators take; 1t Is the oath
which Judges take; II Is the oath which has
been ordained by the National Legislature for
all officers 10 take, and no man with an appre-
ciative sense Of his obligation 10 the Govern
ment can regard himself as degraded in taking
| II In the Judgment Of the Justices OF this court
tSensation.1 have no doubt, gentlemen, that
It will be your pleasure as well as your honor
To bear this open testimony before the world Of
your love and devotion 10 this country, for am
suIe there cannot be found among tho body OF
honorable men who distinguish the profession
of tho law, man who will consent 10 receive
rewards of an honorable and an official profes-
sion, while he is traltorous TO the Government
that protects him. indications Of approval on
the part Of nearly all, and interchange In a low
tone Of such expressions as "good, ;" "that's
we'll said, )" 81 like tina" &c. .......
But / did not intend 10 DO betrayed Into these
| remarks, and hope you will pardon me for
having uttered them. We want not only to be
right, but to be known TO be right by our
brethren of the bar. (Whisperings of "good, %
"good,"l And have II understood, that this
test is not made in a spirit Of caprice, or with
a view Of offending the honor Of any gentle
man, or woundinR his slightest senslbilltles.
This rule has been drawn mp with view Of ex-
pediting tho business of this Bar.
During the vacation, that is necessarily upon
| "a rfla ranuTfno oath tn ha faL .yiII
not be regarded Except with thsse who prefer
to take ~ as peromptoTy. They can take II,
and form thelr connection with the Bar at their
leisure up to the succeeding term, so that II
there is any gentleman who hesitates about
btaking the oath between this and the tenth, he
can accommodate his scruples on the subject.
These are suggestions which I make without
any consultation at all with my brethren.
! Justice olln then remarked that they were
scarcely convened as court on this occasion
and, therefore, could not adopt rules in that
sense, bnt II any gentleman desired to take tn,
oath then before the Clerk, he supposed ht
could have the privilege Of doing So.
JusriGKs CARTIER AND wT1m. Certainly
JusTIoE oLIN. When the general term ar
rives we shall mako such arrangements and
adopt such rules As we feel will best condhce te
the proper government of the court. r r
The order Of the court was read, citing Mr.
Melgs to appear, take the oath, give bonds in
the sum of q, 900 and take charge of all the
records papers, and files, aPpeTtsIning to the
late circuit and criminal courts Of the United
States for the District of Columbia. Mr.. Meigs'i
bondsmon were Messrs. Hugh Mccormick and
R. @. Weightman. NvNg,
SPECIAL TERM OF THE CRIMINAL COURT.
The order also directs special term Of th,
criminal court of the District of Columbia, tc
be held by Mr.. Justice Fisher, to commence
the first Monday in April next, OF which thu
said justice shall give notice as prescribed By
law. ,..
APPOINTMENT OF PRIZE COMMISSIONERS.
District Attorney Darlington thon addressed
tho Court in regard to the selection Of the priE'
commissioners authorized by the act Of Con,
gress of March 8, 1858.
He said that the law provided that two prize
commissioners should be appointed by the dis,
trict couft-one Of them TO bs appointed e1clu,
slvely by the district court, and tho other 10 be
a retired naval officer, appointed by the court
with the advice and consent of the Secretary OF
the Navy. These commissioners were to be
appointed for the purpose Of taking testimony
in tho prize cases, OF which there were great