Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-02-15
FROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, February l4.-Attor
new General Stanbery, in the Supreme
| Court to-day, read q letter from the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury addressed TO him,
stating in effect that that department
understood that questions as to the con.
s~titutionality of the legal tender act haC
arisen at this term in several eases be
tween private parties, and that they had
been discussed and we're under advise
ment, aud as the Government had had
no opportunity to present argument IL
support of the law, and owing to the
very deep interest felt in the subject
by the Government and the country
at large, it was hoped that the
Attorney General would obtain argu'
ment in support of the law before the
cases which had been discussed should
be decided by the Court. The Attorney
General said that owing to his multifari-
Gus legal duties he feared he would be
unable TO prepare proper argument dur
ing the present term, and therefore lie
desired that the Court would not deliver
its opinions on these cases, until the nexl
term. The Court took the matter under
advisement.
One Of the cases alluded to involves
purely a question, thatin a~n0rdinary debt,
" AlCNAG Va hOI u ENAAg AN1 AAS AA6aN ~
discharge the obligation in legal tender
notes. Another case, which was argued
by Senators johnson and Williams, pre-
sents a question whether a debtor can
q his taxes in legal tenders in the State
of Oregon, it having declared that all its
taxes should be paid in gold. The third
case, which was argued by Messrs. Car
Isle and Wells, is from California, which
has a statute declaring that all judiciary
taxes shall be paid oDIy in gold.
Gen. LoreCZ0 Thomas this morning re-
suued his duties as Adjutant General, by
request of the President, and communi-
Gated to him through Gen. Grant that
Stanton relieved him in 1868, since
when Gen. Townsend has acted as Adju-
tant General.
The Committee on Ways and Means
has decided that the oil tax shall be eight
dollars per barrel of fOrty-tive gallons,
and that on experts, twenty five cent
stamps are TO be used. The Committee
is engaged in framing q bill regulating
the expectation Ef alcohol, high wines,
etc.
The seven tbirties outstanding and
due on June 18th and July 18th
next, aud which are convertible into five
twenty bonds, amount to over $500. Co.,
200, and will require much time between
this and July 10Th to convert them
promptly, st maturity; and the public
Is notified that unless such notes, which
The Government is now offering to con-
vert, are promptly forwarded TO the De-
aartment for that purpose great delay
ensue in the future delivery of
said bonds.
The director of State taxes has fur
q table showing the revenues de-
by the General Government from
distilled spirits during the fiscal year
June I3, 1868 TO 1867 inclusive, or
for five years were Sl35. 1856. 355 in cur
rency, or n total average OF 81 OIL Ill
currency per snnum.
Horace Maynard, of Tennessee, left
here this evening for New Hampshire,
10 make speeches in behalf Of the Radical
candidate for Governor.
The commission recently appointed to
consider spirit meters, are ia session
iaiiy at the Smithsonian Institution.
The Senate has rejected the nomina-
ion of George s. Stubbletield as United
states Attorney for the Middle District
If Tennessee.
The nomination Of Lieut. Gen. Sher-
nan to be General by brevet, was re-
by the Senate to tbs Committee on
Affairs.
Representative Covode tc-iay pre-
aented q communication to the House,
with affidavits, coDdemning whisky
in New Orleans, showing how the
Government was cheated out of revenues
a hat city. The afidavits say $50 O00
should be returned in a year,
whereas only twenty-three and a half
have been returned in six, and
urther that each distiller has to paw the
Whisky Ring" one thousand dollars
,er month, the revenne officer getting g
art Of it.
The following order has just been pre-
nUlgsted
HEADQUARTERS Army UNITED STATES.
ADJCTAST GENERALS UFFICE,
WAsHISGTON, Il. q, Feb. y, 1853.
ieneral Order, Ne. Io.l
1.-THE following orders are published
)r the information aud guidance OF all
oncerned:
E~XEcCTIvE MANSION.
WAsHISGrOS, u. G., Feb. u, 1858.
General:
d" You will please issue an order ere
ting a military division 70 be called the
Department Of the Lakes, De-
srtment Of the East and Department of
Washington, and 10 be commanded by
lent Gen. Sherman, with headquarters
. Washington. Until further orders
on will assign no officer to the perma-
ent command Of the Military Division
T the Missouri.
Respectfully, yours,
!" lSigned) ANDREW JOHNSON.
Gen. L. 5. Grant, Commanding Armies of
the United States"
The following was issued from the Ad.
tant Generals office:
"Maj-Gen. p. II. Sheridan, senior
hcer in the Military Division of the
%issouri, will temporarily perform the
tiles OF Commander of the Military
Of the Missouri, in addition 10
s duties as Department Commander. {
Y command of Gen. Grant. 1
signed +. D. TOWNSEND.AA Gr