Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-15
u. 3. Supreme COUrf-LetIer from Sec
rotary McCuIIOch. etc, etc.

rotary McCUIIOch, etc, etc.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l4.-Attorney Gen
eral Stanberry in the Supreme Court of the
United States, to-day read letter from the
Secretary of the Treasury, addressed to
him stating in effect that the department
had understood the question of constitu-
tionality as 4 legal tender act which had
arisen al the term, in several cases between
private parties, and they had been dis
cussed and were under advisement. As the
government had no opportunity at present
to hear the argument in support of the law,
and very deep interest is felt on the sub
iect by the government and country at
large, it was hoped thai the Attorney
General would obtain an argument in sup
port of the law before the cases which bad
been discussed should be decided BY the
court. The Attorey Geneaal said, owing
to his multifarious legal dnties, he feared
he would be unable to prepare a proper
argument during the present term, and
therefore, desired the court would not de-
liver its opinions on these cases until the
next term of the court took the matter
under advisement One case alluded to
involves purely the question of ordering
the debt, whether the party has right to
discharge the obligation in the legal
tender Another case, which was argued
by Senators johnson and Williams, pre-
SCENTS the question whether the debtor can
pay his taxes in legal tenders, the State OF
Oregon having declared that all Of its
taxes should be paid in gold, and the third
csse, argued by Messrs. Carlyle and Wills,
was from California, which State has a
statute declaring that all Judiciary taxes
shall be paid only in gold.
Gen. Lorenzo Thomas resumed duties
this morning as Adjutant General by re-
quest of the President, and communicated
through Gen. Grant. Mr.. Stanton relieved
him in 1868, since when Gen. Thomas has
acted az Adiutant General.
The Committee on Ways and Means
has decided that the oil tax shall be 50
per barrel of forty five gallons, and on ex-
ports twenty-five per cent, stamps to be
used. The committee is engaged in franz
ing bill regulating the expectation Of
alcohol, high wines, etc.
The seven-thirties outstanding and fail
ing due on the 18th of June and July next
which are convertible into 500 bonds
amount to over two hundred thousand
million dollars, and will require much
time between this and july IS, to enable
the department to convert them promptly
at maturity. The public is notified that
unless such notes, which the government
is now offering 20 convert, be promptly
forwarded 10 the department for that pur-
pose great delsy must ensue in future de-
livery of bonds.
The Director of State taxes has fur
nished table showing the revenue derived
By the general government by distilled
spirits in the United States daring the
fiscal year ending June 18th, 1863, to 1897
inclusive, or for FIVE years, were one hun
dred and thirty-h7e million three hundred
and ffty-six thousand three hundred and
ffty-f7e dollars, currency or total average
of twenty million seventy-One thou
sand ten hundred and seventy-one dollars
currency per annum.
Representative Maynard, Of Tennessee,
left Washington this evening for New
Hampshire, 10 make speeches in behalf Of
the Republican candidate for Governor.
The commission recently appointed to
consider spirit meters are in session daily
at the Smithsonian Institute.
The Senate rejected the nomination Of
Geo1ge ]. Stubblefeld a. United staies
Attorney for the Middle District Of Ten
nessee.
The nomination Of Lieut. Gen Sherman
to be General Of the army BY brsTst vas
referred 10 the Committee on Military At
airs.
Representative Co7ode to-day presented
a communication 70 the House, with 81
fdavits, concerning the whisky frauds in
New Orleans, showing how the government
was cheated out Of its revenue in that city.
The affdaYits say that 10000 gallons