Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-25
THE PRESIDENTS vnws ON rHB MIssIs-

TIE PRHIpENr's VIKws ON The MIesIs.
sIrPI RRcoNsrRucrIos BILL. Yesterday
afternoon delegation of Mississippians had an
interview with President Grant. The mem
h.rs az the delegation present were Colonel L.
W. Pierce Hon. A Mygstt. G-narai 3: B.
Egg lee ton, Hon. VIM. n. Gibbs, Major r. J.
Castello, Hon. A. Anderson. Dr. q A Foster,
Major j. q. Jewell. Rev. DR. T. w. Stiuv-r
lnel y. p. f. johnson, Colonel ]. X w..b-
ser, Hon. A J mson, and General II W.
rry. Colonel Pierc, aud res sed the President
or ehy, saying they had called upon him 10 con-
r 'tuiate HIM upon his election aud TO ask his
Assistance In passing the Mississippi bill now
fore Congress. The President remarked th a.
be had seen the bill reported, but he dad
NOT know ia what shape 1t would pass
Congress. He had conversed with at least
thre Of the Reconstruction COMMITTEES
upon the subject and be did not think
IT likely that the bill would BE- passed
IN form TO bring peace to Mississippi
To him the most feasible, the least expensive
aud he quickest way 20 restore the STATE
seemed 10 be TO give The Governor Of the State
" ho is also the military commander. time 70
APP int all the officers under the recent law of
Congress. then resi- bmit the constitution 10 th.
vote of the people, aIio wing all 10 vote who
are qualified unoer the Reconstruction acts and
no other, Congress selecting such articles as
they deem necessary to pe voted on separately,
without allowing them TO affect the constitu-
ton as 8 whole. There were. he said portions
OF the constitution thai might he rejected, aud
perhaps ought to be. Col Pierce suggested that
the president Of the con vsntion, who is author
lzed by the bill under consideration TO app Dint
the State officers being b+tter acq quaiuted with
able to make judicious appointments than tn.
military governor. The President without
making any definite reply. arose. and the dele
CATION retired.
THH UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT yes
terday took up the case Of Francis r Blair
Jr., plaintiff in error. against John S. Thomp
son, ct al, and Warren Woodson. plaintt Ia
error. against the State o: Missouri, ,z rel
non. montgomery Biair made tue opening ar
gument. Senator Drake replied He said the
Piaintilf shows that he was In every particular
hut ole qualified voter, and that exception
was ne failed TO Qualify himself TO vote under
the Constitution of Missouri The Coustitu
tlon req uiI ed as prelnin sry 10 voting TO axe
the oath OF loyalty, aud also declared that any
person aecnning or refusing 10 take the oath
shall not vote, but the plaintiff dem ands a rig ht
to vote on the ground that he had taken a dit
ferent oath which he had chosen to con struct
for himself, and now sues the Judges for refu-
sing to receive his vote. The question is
whether the plalnun was legally entitled to
vote when, by his own showing, be refused TO
take the oath required of every voter as a CON-
Mi sour had the right to declare in their Com
stitution who are and who are not entitled 10
vote. The counsel of the plaintiff pro.eeiad
on tne assum ption that the judiciary held in its
nanos me Liberties OF the people, q proposition
wnich De (Mr. Drake) repudIsted. 1t is in no
sense trne. Anywhere In this Union the people
alone ARE tne custodians and preseryers of their
liberties. Mr.. Drake then maintained the n ,si
tons: LIST. That the people of Missouri are the
State; I'd That they berame a State by mutu,I
agreement: Sd. They are body polite; 4th. As
State they are free and Independent; and jth
They govern themselves they ordain and
establish their Constitution. Mr. Drake .a
sumed his argument to-day.
FRAUDS on TaH u. S PENSION OFF1CR-.Jno
{. Friend, Of Etns, Maine, ACC a sed OF r.-par
ing az d presenting to the Pension Office .alse
papers In support Of clsims for pension. has
been arrested and held 10 bail for appearance
al the April terD Of the United States Great
Court al Porii.nd, Maine
Hannah liiahan has been arrested and held
TO bail for appearance AZ the ems uing term of
the United States District Court al Boston, Mas.
sachuset's, for false swearing in support Of a
claim for pens ion.
Margaret Davis has been arrested and in
dicied in the United s ates Court II Boston, for
false swearing in connection with her own claim
Tor a pension
Louisa &. Walton has been arrested and held
10 bail for appearance al the ensuing t-rm of
the United States District Court at Philadel.
pLia, PENNSYLVANIA. for false swearing in con-
nection with her own claim for a pension