American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-01-19
BY TELEGRAPH.

|
The Cotton market opened firmly
this morning at yesterdays prices,
and continued so throughout the day
without much variation, stlffenlng up
little towards evening Sales were
not quite so large us Yesterdays,
about $500 bales reported. We give
quotations as before: Ordinary ESQ
59c. a fb; good ordinary, 3O@3Otc;;
low middling, 31@313c., and mid
ding, 32@33c. % 1b.
VIZ :uINGToN, jar. 14.-Associate
Justice Fed, today, del4v red the
opinion ofthe United States supreme
Court in the Missouri test oath cases.
John A. Cummins, a Roman Cath
Ole priest who was indicted for
preoahing and teaching without tax
ING the cath prescribed by the Con
stitution of that State, being plaintiff
in error, the Court decided that the
test oath in this case is unconstitu-
tional. being in the nature of punish
ment without trial, and is in its char
acter er post facto and as a bill of
attainder. The judgment of the
Court is reversed, with directions
that the plaintiff shall depart with
out delay.
Associate Justice Field also deliv-
cred an opinion of the Court in the
cx parte cases of Garland and Mari,
who, having taken part in the rebel
lion, ask to be readmitted to practice.
I he Court holds that, as a statute
imposes a punishment which may
not he punishable at the time the Of
Tense was committed, it is in its ma
turc an er post .facto law. Attorneys
are not officers of the United States;
they are officer, of the court, and
hold their Office duri lg their good
behavior. The Court is not the reg
lister of the edicts fany other power.
The applicants obtained pardon from
the President, which relieves them
from the consequences of offence, and
makes the citizen in the eye of the
law what he was before it was com
mittcd. Congress cannot'limit. The
prplogative OF mercy cannot be fetter-
ed by the legislative restriction. 1t
followed that the prayer of the pc
titioner must be granted, and also
the prayer Of Mr.. Mari. The rule
which requires attorneys to take the
test oath, must be rescinded, and the
order is made accordingly, Asso-
ciate Justice Miller for himself; Chicf'
Justice Chase and Associates Swayne
and Davis read a dissenting opinion.
The Committee on Territories have
instructed Ashley to report his
to the bill to establish a
civil government in North Carolina,
as a substitute for Stevens's now be-
fore the House.
The President has nominated Sen
ator Cowar, IF Pennsylvania, as Min
lister to Austria. His term in the
Senate expires on the 4th of March
next
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16. The Presi-
dents first diplomatic dinner yester-
day was a brilliant affair.
Messrs. Oaks, Ames and John B.
Alley, Representatives from Massa-
chusetts, have left on Il visit to New
Orleans.
Revenue receipts to-day were $780,
000.
Horace Greedy is here lectnring.
Observation-Disclosures petitions for the
increase of pay was presented.
Mr.. Sumner presented a petition
E, I, Il want of fhn ('nnSfltu-
ton, prohibiting distinction on ac-
count of color, which was referred to
the reconstruction committee. Also
eleven petitions from North Carolina
negroes, favoring Stephens bill.
The bills for the admission of Ne
braska and Colorado, with House
amendments. was passed by vote Of
2S to IA, and now goes to the Presl-
dent.
HoUsE.-The judiciary committee
was instructed to report in writing
what legislation was necessary to en-
able three fourths of the States rep
resented to ratify constitutional
amendments.
A number of District of Columbia
bills were passed, when Mr.. Stevens
enabling bill was discussed. Mr..
PAYNE offered a section to Stevens
bill which recognized the present
state of the government, which de-
nounces as practical. Mr.. Bingham
made speech, occupying an hour
and quarter. He said the bill, in
stead of one ofreconstruction,was one
of destruction instead ofrestoration
it was for disunion and perpetual
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. He showed the alb
surdity of denying rebel States being
States by proving that Congress, the
Courts and Executive had all recog-
nized them. He knew that those
rebels had ridged the land with
graves and knew that 400, 900 citizens
had fallen for the country and the
Constitution. 1t was in view of this
their great transgression, that he
proposed universal forgiveness. He
challenged its paralleled in history,
and protested against the bill as for
eign to the spirit and purpose OF the
constitutional amendment. He closed
by moving to refer the bill to the
committee on reconstruction.
Dawson spoke in opposition to the
bill, when the speakers hammer fell,
announcing the close of his hour.
Spaulding moved his extention,
but Stevens objected, and on Stevens