The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-17

THE SUPREME COURT TEST OATH.


Mr.. Mari, himself one of the petitioners, n
LAWYER from Louisiana, made a most able and
conclusive argument, which seemed TO have
great weight with the Court. He contended
that Congress had no power TO prescribe the
oath. They had the right to prescribe nm oath
of Office but under the Constitution, Ii must
be an oath to discharge the duties faithfully.
The Constitution Of the United States pre-
scribes that no man shall be deprived OF LIE,
liberty, or property, without trial by jury and
due process of law. The legislative power OF
the Government was vested in Congress, the
executive in the President, and the Judiciary
power was vested in the Judicial Department
of the Government Congress had no power
to sit In Judgment on bis actions. That power
belonged TO this Court: The action of the legis-
latiye power of the Government must be for
the future, and not for the past. Congress had
no right to pass an e post fdcto law. They had
power to prescribe that If a person should
hereafter do so and so, such person should be
deprived of life liberty, or property. If Con-
gress may thus virtually forbid the exercise OF
one vocation, ii may as justly Interfere with
all.
MEETING OF REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS-
NEW PARTY.
A meeting was held at the Metropolitan
Hotel To. night, composed of Il number OF
leading Republicans from both Houses OF
Congress who endorse the Presidents veto
message and favor isreconstrnctlon pollcy, NJ
which il was decided to organize in support OF
their views and prepare for approaching poll
teal campaigns. The question OF Cabinet
reconstruction was discussed freely, and the
opinion was unanimously expressed that
Secretaries Stanton and Harlan ought TO be
displaced, and possibly Attorney General
Speed. committee was appointed TO wait
upon the President in relation TO the matter
and report to some subsequent meeting oil the
caucus AS an earnest OF business intentions,
rooms have already been engaged for the sea-
son for headquarter purposes, and the esta-
blishment of newspaper organ Is being serl-
ously considered A public meeting VIII be
called soon to give expression to the sentl-
ments entertained by those engaged in the
movement Governor Morton, of Indiana,
will probably be urged for Stanton's place as
Secretary of War. Unqualified dissatistac-
ton at Mr. Harlan's procedure was expressed
bv all present Another meeting will be held
this week, and more definite plan of action
agreed upon.
WHAT IT COSTS TO HOLD OPINIONS.
A clerk in the Internal Revenue Bureau was
called before Secretary McCulloch for dispar-
aging remarks concerning the PRESIDENT ga
of February speech. The clerk admitted his
views to be still unchanged rs TO the merits OF
that performance. The Secretary was dis
posed TO indulge in difference of opinion upon
that subject, but said any clerk would be dis
missed who accused the President OF dlsloy-
atty.
THAD. STEVENS sSUBBED.
In the House, to-day, Mr.. Johnson, of Ar
kansas, snubbed Thad. Stevens, saying that
he had n regard for the House but none for Mr..
Stevens Thad. Indignantly replied that rs
no gentleman would utter, so none could an
swer such remarks.
THE INsUBORDINATE SUBORDINATE.
It is understood that Comptroller Clarke
will be asked to resign tomorrow by the Pre-
sdent. Secretary McCulloch treats Clarke
demonstration with contempt. II is admit
ted among Republicans that Mr.. Hooper
smashed him up badly in the House IN re-
gard to the statements made in his letter CEN
Surfing Mr.. McCuloch The latter is strong
friend of the Presidents policy. Clarke is
Radical. / learn that Mr.. Guthrie, an eX.
Secretary of the Treasury, and several other
loyal authorities hold the contrary opinion,
and declare that the President has just rs
much power over this office and officer as any
other.
| believe, however, that the Republican
majority of the Senate court an opportunity
to try the question. If Mr.. Clarke be removed,
he will be held up 10 the country as polltl-
cal martyr, and the very first under the
Johnson rule .-CDrreSpOnteHce SIN.
PERSONAL.
Assistant Treasurer Fox, of the navy, Will
leave the department for duty i'll n new po-
sition on the last of this month.
General Schwpf comes back to the Patent
Office.
Mr.. English, the Democratic candidate for
Governor in Connecticut, is i'll the city.