Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-01-20
THINGS AT THE cAPrTAL-THE
"RE-HEARING."

'NSAAh va blV
part Of the majority Of the Cour. was con.
cerned. MIR. Seely, who opened on be-
half Of the friends of the Specific Contract
Act, was interrupted repeatedly by the
Court, when ~endeavoring to simply lay
the foundation for one train Of reasoning,
with pesulant declarations that they-the
majority Of the Court-were aware Of this
or that PREDATORY proposition. The chop
Interruptions Of the Judges who decided
for exclusive greenback currency seemed
to greatly embarrass Mr.. Seely and, in
fact, to impair and greatly abreviate his
argument upon the point he proposed to
consider. a like attempt to snap out of
his line Of argument, did not prevail
against Mr.. Hillyer, who swept over the
pitiful in~terjaculatory remarks Of the ruling
Court with a quickness and keenness Of
retort that soon placed the judicial audi
ence on their good behavior. Hilyer's
remarks, his logic, on the doctrine Of
waiver, his appeals on the ground Of stare
deei,i,, were mastery and completely I'M
answerable. That sense of conrietion that
comes home to the breast of every honest
man who hears a plain statement ard an
irrefragable process Of reasoning thereon,
was evidently experienced by almost
every one in the courtroom; and we are
informed that at Hillyer's conclusion many
persons whispered to each other: ais it
possible that the Court can hold out
agains, that arguments" Mr.. Clark, Of
Ormsby, made a very neatly worded
speech !; full Of smooth sentences which
enclosed the sof,est Of sophistry.
Attorney General Nourse opened the
second days proceedings with an argu-
ment that much resembled Mr.. Hillyer's
in compactness and conclusiveness OF
logical statement and deduction I; though
entirely original, distinct in its basis and
su~perstructure of thought from what had
| already been said !; and enlivened with the
usual exhibition Of an uneasy and tanta-
lied Bench, which relieved its vexation in
explanatory inquiries that brought forth
pungent retorts from the speaker. Gen.
| Williams made a calm, comprehensive ar
gument on the retrospective features Of
the Specific Contract Act, and the legal,
constitutional propriesy and right Of the
same. But the excellent arguments for
the law, already presented. were all to be
eclipsed by the broad. the exhaustive
speech of Mr.. C~rittenden. We have long
regarded this gentleman as at the head Of
our Storey county bar; but on this occa-
sion he surpassed not only his eloquent
and able associates. but transcribed all
former efforts made by him since COM
mencing practice in this State. (Bus Of
what avail was all this array Of argu-
men,:) Hal Clayton, who has always been
a consistent advocate of an exclusive
greenback currency. then followed with
the only speech in behalf Of the Courts
decision that deserved the name Of reason
ing. It was ingenious, plausible, and was
delivered with much Of positive ~eloquence
of style and manner. Charley belong
followed in Il rousiny stump speech; in
which he belabored the bankers and CAPT.
talists generally in q fashion calculated 10
please the crowd, and, perhaps, the ma
iority Of the Court. We believe that
Charley will confess judgment on this
criticism; for when he has a fair chance
in a meritorious case, he can aquit himself
in a way that illustrates the fact thai only
Mr.. Crittenden is his superior, as an
attorney. in this State. Charley's sallies
against the money sharks" was very
relishy; and might tell immensely if deliv-
cred from a street platform. Judge Wells
then submitted u written argument, Of
great force, but-like all remarks on his
side-of no practical effect on the minds
of the majority Of the Court. We under
stand that Governor Johnson closed the
argument /; speaking against the financial
policy and system of this State and Cali
fornia.
The great matter for wonder in the
premises is, that the Court ever granted a
re-hearing at all. Judge Brosnan, for a
week before the final argument, was in
the habi, of taking every one Of his ac-
quaintances to one side, and informing
them that heaven and earth could not
aba,e one jos or title Of the original de-
cision. Judge Beatty has for a week past
been engaged in writing a series Of green
back currency articles for the Appeal,
which illustrated his unalterable deter
mination to ~re-announce, officially, the
opinion formerly given, and supported in
his mind by what persons generally would
deem the most insufficient Of reasons.
On Thursday afternoon, at 4 o'clock,
the Judges came into Court room, and
announced their opinions from the Bench.
Their opinions are hereafter to be written
differing on paper. we presume. some
what from their oral statements. There
was nothing new and notable in their
declarations if we except the ''lecture" Of
Judge Brosnan-ss he himself termed it
in which he took occasion to inform the
Legislature how they could still carry on
the State government on a coin basis,
land continue to pay his salary in gold.)
He said that corrupt influences had been
brought to bear upon him-such was his
distinct intimation ; and he promised that
when he wrote out his opinion he would
reveal some matters that would "startle
the people Of this State" To this promise
we hold his Honor. If he has been
offered bride or threatened in any man
ner, we desire to know it; and we will
ensag in circulating and bringing to
emphatic notice. any statements Judge
Brosnan may have to make to such effect
in his forthcoming opinion. Meanwhile,