The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-01-16
Latest by Telegraph.
Washington News,

W.AsnNKroN, Jan. lI.-Associatc
justice Field to-day, delivered his opin-
ion of the United States Supreme Court
III the Missouri test oath case. John
Cummins,a Roman Catholic priest,
who was indicted for preaching and
teaching without taking the oath pre-
scribcd by the Constitution of the
State, being plaintiff in error of the
court decides the test oath in this case
Unconstitutional, it being in nature of
punishment without trial and in it's
character OK post facto. The iudg-
mcnt OF the court below is reversed
with directions that the plaintiff shall
depart without delay. Associate J US
ticc l'icld also delivered an opinion Of
the court in tho cxpartc eases of Gar
land and Mmr who having t%kcn a
part in tho rcbnllion, ask to be read
mittcd to practice. Tho court hold
that as the statute imposes a punish
mcmt @hic! may not have been pun
ishablc at the tino tho oiloncc was
committed; it is in its nature an cx
post facto law. The attorneys are not
oilicors Of the United States. They
arc officers Of tho court, and hold their
Offices during good Lchavior, and the
court IS not the register Of the cdicts
OF any other power. The applicants
obtained pardon from the President
which relieves them from the consc-
qucnccS OF offence, ,nnd makes tho citi-
zen in the eye of the law what he was
before it was committed. (Hngrcss
cannot be fettcrcd by legislative re-
Striction. 1t followed that the pray
or OF the petitioner must be granted
and also the prayer of Mr.. Marr.
The rule which requires attorneys to
take the test oath must be rescindcd,
and the order is made accordingly.
Associate Justice Miller, for him
self, Chief Justice Chase and Asso-
ciatcs Swaync and Davis read dis
sclting opinion.
The Committee on Territories have
instructed Ashley to report lis amend
mcnt to the bill 10 ro-cstablish civil
government in North Carolina as u
substitute for Stevens, now before the
House
IlousE.--A bill was introduced and
referred to tho Committee of Ways
and Means, to repeal so much of the
Internal Revenue act, rs imposes tax
on manufactured cotton. Loan, of
Nllssouri, delivered Il speech OH Mr..
hclsoc's resolutions to impcach the
President, in which JIG made the usual
charge OF usurpation, etc. indulgcd in
by Radical orators.
Mr.. Cooke, of Illinois, reported
from the Committee on the Judiciary
bill amending that portion of the
law approved February 2l, 1861,
which authorized the Secretary of
War to appoint commissioners in each
of the loyal States, and to award com
pcnsation to tho owners of colorcd
volunteers, 80 as to suspend tho pow
crs and conn cnsation of said Commis-
sloncrs. The bill was passed, and !,
resolution was adopted declaring it to
be the duty of the Government in
giving effect to the manifest wish o.
the nation by declaring against f,lrth-
or importation of coolies in this lIcm-
isphere, o. in tho adjacent Islands.
WAsnINGToN, Jan. l4.-Thc prcsi-
dent has nominated Senator Cowan, of
Pennsylvania, as minister to Austria
his term in the Senate expires in
March
WAsnNGroN, Jan. l4.-SENArE.-
Mr.. Ramsey presented petition ask 'ng
an appropriation for the improvement
of the Mississippi river, which was r.
fcrrcd to the Commitc, Of commerce.
Mr.. Howe presented the petition for
reconstruction OH the basis of equal
rights, which was referred. Several
petitions were presented urging the
passage of the Tariff Bill,
llousE.-Among the bills and Joint
resolutions, the following bills were
presented a bill declaring forfeit
uro of certain privileges of citizenship
for acts ofrcbcl!ion against the Uni
ted States, and providing for the res
toration of those privileges in certain
eases. Referred to the Judiciary
Committee. Also bill to establish
civil Governments in tho States lately
in rebellion. Referred to the Com
mittee on Reconstruction.
Washington advices received here
from Europe, state thata large guam
tity ofGovcrnmcnt securities arc to
be returned to this country by the
next steamers. The business commu-
ty thero are becoming weary of such
investments since the threatened i'm
pcachment question takes a tangible
shape. Secretary Stanton is said to
have been subp@nncd as witness be-
faYstho House Judiciary Committee
in the matter of the impeachment of
President.