Des Arc citizen., 1867-01-19
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[ WASHINGTON, January 14.-Associ- ate Justice Field to-day delivered the opinion of the United States Supreme \ Court in the Missouri Test Oath case. John A Cummins, n Roman Catholic priest, who was Indicted for preaching and teaching without taking the oath lprescribed blythe Constitution of that State, being the plaintiff in error. The 1 Court decides the test oath unconstitu- tional in this case, being in the nature jof punishment without trial, and it's Echaiacter ex post ,facto, and as bill of attainder. The Judgment of the Court below is reversed, with directions that the plaintiff shall depart without delay.
 Associate Justice Field has also de- liyered an opinion of the Court ill the cases, Garland and Marr, who, having taken a part in the rebellion, ask'to be readmitted to practice. The Court held, that as the statute imposes a punish ment, which may not be punishable at the time the offence was committed, it is, in its nature ex post facto law, and that attorneys are not officers of the United States, though they are officers of the Court, and hold their offices dur ing good behavior, and that the Court is not the register of the edicts of any other power. The applicants obtained 1 q pardon from the President, which re- l lieyes them from the consequences of the offence, and makes them citizens in | the, view of. the law, what they were l before the offense was committed. for l Congress cannot limit the prerogative l of mercy, neither can it be fettered by | legislative restriction. Therefore it l followed that the prayers of the peti- tioners must be granted. The rule which requires attorneys to take the test oath must be rescinded, and the ! orderris made accordingly. Associate Justice Miller, for himself, Chief Jus tice Chase, and Associates Wayne and Davis read dissenting opinion.
 5 The Committee on Territories have instructed MT. Ashley to report his amendment to the bill to ''re-establish a Civil Government in North Carolina" :" as a substitute forSteyens', now before 1 the House. a..
 The President has nominated Senator | Cowan, of Pennsylvania, as Minister to Austria. His term in the Senate ex- pires on the 4th of March next.
 Advices received here from Europe states that large quantities of Govern ment securities will be returned to this country by the next steamer, the busi- ness community there having become weary of such investments since the | threatened Impeachment question takes tangible shape. e-sr s,..y, ..,f-. Stanton, it is said, has been subpmned before the House Judiciary Committee in the matter of the Impeachment. ii.' FoREIGN--PARIs, January 14.-There is a vague rumor afioat that desper- ate plot to assassinate the Emperor has been discovered and frustrated by the officials. The rumor is not confirmed 1 ST. PETERSBURG, January l4.-The Government of Russia has ordered a general amnesty for all offences com mitted by the newspaper press of the empire. Fis "9
 LIVERPOOL, January Ii. - Cotton opened quiet and steady. Sales esti- mated at 1000.
 The London Times says the year 1867 brings peace as New Years gift to Europe, and, financially, never did 8 year open with better promises.
 The Emperor Napoleon, in his ad- dress to the diplomatic body, on the 1>t, said: ..The opening of the new year furnishes me with an opportunity of expressing my wishes for the sta bility of the thrones and the prosperity of the nations. l hope that we are en- tering upon a new era of peace and conciliation, and the exposition will operate toward calming the passions and drawing closer the general inter- csts.
 The Thomas Humphrey, which clear ed from this port for New York, was lost at sea near Holy Head, Wales, a few days since. All on board except the captain and one man were lost.
 MADRID, January 14.-A revolution 'ary junto having it's headquarters here, has just issued strong and stirring ad- dress to the people. tft 1 FLORENCE, January 14.-The diff culty between Italy and Turkey rela- i tive to the Italian steamer which was fired upon by the forces of the Porte, has been amicably settled. e3 | LIVERPOOL, January l4, P. M.--The cotton market closed very dull, and the l days sales did not even reach the noon estimate. The total sales reached about 6000 and notwithstanding the dullness of the market, prices remain firm. Middling uplands, l4Ad.. LONDON, January II, P. M.-Five- twenties, 72%. Dispatches from Paris and Frankfort Maine, give the closing quotations for the United States bonds this evening at those cities at ! 721S @761s, respectively. Consols for money closed at 90.
 NEW ORLEANS, January 14.-General Mower, Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau here, gives notice to persons making applications to him properly, being planters or others employing freedmen, that they can obtain trans portation for them from other States. No person or persons have an appoint ment from him, securing to themselves this business.
 The Commercial newspaper, which, on the lst assumed the defense of the political course of Gov. Wells, has sus- pended.
 The New Orleans Tribune, which is edited by negroes, opposes the plan of l freedmen making contracts with the planters, or working on the shares. Ii advises them to work by the week only.
 COLUMBIA, s. C., January 14.-The freedmen are leaving this country in such numbers as to excite alarm for the future cultivation of the lands They are chiefly bound for Florida