The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-30
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Desn decided adversely by Judge
Thomas, OF the Circuit Court of Viz
ginia,: sitting in Alexandria. In q
civil action between white men, one
OF the parties offered to produce me-
gro evidence. The JUDGE decided
that, inasmuch as the State laws of
Virginia forbade the introduction Of
negro testimony in civil suits to which
white men alone were parties, the
evidence of the negro was inadmissi-
bic, and that no Congressional legis-
iatlon could impair her right to de-
eide what persons, Or classes of per-
sons, were competent to testify in her
courts This decision will, no doubt,
lead to much discussion, and create
no little excitement before its final
settlement by superior authority.
In the. House. on Thursday, the
stamp tax on photographs, daguer-
reotypes, amhrotypes, or other sun
pictures, was stricken out, and tax
OF i've per cent. dd calo7ena was sub,
stituted in its place
The stamp tax on packages of
ground coffee, pepper, cloves, ginger.
spice. mustard prepared for sale, etc,
was stricken out. s~s
: The free List was so amended as to
restore to taxation lamps and Lam
terms, the glass and metals of which
have paid the tax assessed thereon.
The following articles were added to
the free list and declared free from
taxation: Mineral Goals and pete
umbrellas and parasols, and the,
frames for the same; bags made of
paper; cordage and rigging; rock,
ground and calcined gypsum; window
glass OF all kinds; cement pipes and
tiles; machinery used in the manu-
facture of syrup and sorghum; grain
cradles: hand rakes and cotton gins,
The State Department has received
some late and very important news
from Mexico-the latest dates from
the Mexican capital being the 18th
instant. Everything indicated the
stability and permanence Of the pre-
sent Government of Mexico. All the
Government works were being prose-
cuted with vigor. Mule trains laden
with specie now travel on all the
roads with safety. The gold and sill
ver coinage of the Mexican mint for
the month of April was nearly $780,
600. The gradual departure of the
French troops will cause no change
III the condition OF affairs. The Jua-
rlsts have recently suffered several
severe defeats. Instead of going to
chihuahua, as Senor Romero an
no,lnced a month or two ago, Juarez
has remained at FL Paso. chihuahua
IS occupied by strong force of
French troops. The statements that
appear in some Of the papers that
Maximilian is preparing to leave
Mexico are utterly without founda-
ton. 1t is the opinion of those per-
sons here who are best Informed on
the subject, that even n general Eu-
ropean war would not affect the sta
bility of the Mexican Empire, and
European war is regarded as by no
means certain.
The arrival of Mrs Jefferson Davis
this morning has set the busy tongues
Of the rumor brood to work. The
lady has taken rooms at the Ebbitt
House, and is promised M interview
with the President tomorrow. It is
reported that the President was much
surprised at the statement made by
Mr.. McCulloch concerning NIr.
Davis health, he having believed, in
common with the general public, that
Mr. Davis was in average good health.
The official statement of DIR. Cooper
has prod ID IN impression here that
cannot fail to favorably affect the case.
The universal sentiment is ''try him
or let him GO
The PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLIES. A
despatch from st. Louis dated the
23d inst, SAYS:
Apart from two or three cases, in
GLIDING the complaint against the
Louisville Presbytery, being put upon
the docket for trial, the selection of
Cincinnati as the next place of meet
ing of the Assembly and speech
from the Hon. Mr.. Jones, of Balti-
more, i'll reply to the Hon. Samuel
Galloway, of Ohio, yesterday, nothing
of special importance transpired in
the Old School Assembly. The trial
of the Louisville Presbytery case will
probably commence tomorrow.
In the New School Assembly the
time was mainly occupied in the pre-
scntation Of reports from various
committees and routine business.
The two assemblies met i'm com
munion tonight for the first time in
thirty years. Addresses were made by
several nrOm paDt c1arOypon fr,,,,