The New York herald., 1865-11-17
NEWS FROM RICHMOND.
Our Richmond Correspondence.

OuT hIchmOmd correspondence
RICHMOND, Va, Nov 15 1885,
THE ARGUMENT on THE coSsTIruTIoSALTY THE TrsT
To-day was set down by Judge Underwood to hear
the argument Of learned counsel before the United
States District in this city the consttutonalisy
Of the famous test oath, which is now SO unrelenng
a stumbling block in the reconstruction pathway of
harddyng rebels On the entrance OF the presiding
Judge fair but not an overcrowded audience
had found its way to the Court room, chiefly
composed of those whose sympathes always have been
and always will be with the affirmative proposition in
the great but now, to really living men, dead issue Of
secession. There was but one argument made, that Of
Hon John H. Gmer State Senator elect from this city
The Hon L. II. Chandler, United States District Attor-
ney would have replied had the state Of his health per
mitted. 1t would not be true to say that Mr. Cners
effort was in respect able or worthy Of his really great
powers As lawyer and orator. in both Of which elements
of Virginia character he is acknowledged TO be foremost
Mr. Gmer held that the test oath OF the penalties
Of treason and that the Presidents pardon which re-
mitted all such penalties gave him imcr) the right to
become practitioner of the court In spite of the law
Congress could not make a law which would exclude
lawyer from the bar OF United States court except as
penalty for offence As to the second proposition
Of this PREMISE he affirmed that Of Congress could
impair the power Of the President TO grant u pardon
which should involve full remission OF all penalties.
The learned gentleman produced nnumerabe authorities
to support the several propositions Of his argument
Notwithstanding all this the entire ami complete consti
tuonaty Of the Objectionable oath viii be maintained
"
LIEUTENANT THOMAS KEEFE tux PounrH MAssAcBr
Sits CAVALRY, SENTENCED TO Twr YEAss mpDsoS-
MESr STl.
Fss Lieutenant Thomas Kcefe, OF gfe Fourth Msssa-
chusets cavalry who, it@wi be remembered murdered
DIR. George Martin, in Nelson comfy this State,
weeks since, while in pursuit Of alleged horse thief
q brother.in-aw OF Martin has been tried BY court
martial and adjudged guilty. 1t is understood that
Major General Terry has approved the sentence Of
the court which is that Lieutenant Keefe be
imprisoned for period OF twenty years in a
prison be selected by the Secretary Of War The pa
pers before Secretary Stanton in accordance
with the of the sentence. This most unfor-
tunate and though the court could render any
other verdict than that OF guilty, IL IL certainly
wherein Executive interference could most properly bc
exerted. Lieutenant Keefe a brave and dashing
officer popular everywhere, and his sad position clcits
th sympathy OF all.
IMPORTANT OFFICIAL TRANSACTIONS OF col. W. !. JAMES
The amount OF money received by Colonel William l..
James Chief Quarermaser OF this Department for sales
OF means OF transportation from July Ia November III,
1868 is six hundred and fifteen thousand three hundred
and thiry-sx dollars and ninctythrco cents. The fol-
lowing statement will to show the deductions made
in the means OF transportation in this department from
Ju ia Noye