The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-13
TELEGRAPHTC NEWS.
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.
srECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.


srECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.
WASHINGTON, February IL, 1863.
The proposition Of the Committee on
Banking and Currency for re-distrlbu-
ton of national bank currency, whereby n
large amount of circulation is taken from
Boston and New York, is meeting with con-
siderable opposition from officers of banks
of that city. The redistribution effects
the large banks Of those cities more than
any other.
The Senate and House committee to in
form Grant and Colfax of their election
have received q reply from the President
and Vice-p President elect that they will be
ready to receive the committee tomorrow
morning at II o'clock. The proceedings
are expected to be private. WALLACE.
ASSOCIATED Press TrLEgRAMs.
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
ARGUMENT IN THE WRIT AGAINST
JUDGE UNDERWOOD.
WASHINGTON, February FIN the
United States Supreme Court to-day the
argument was made on the writ of prohibi-
ton issued against Judge John c. Under
wood, of Virginia, in the matter Of restrain
ing him from multiplying the decisions of
the Virginia courts on the ground of the
ineligibility of their officers under the four
teenth amendment.
MIR. James Lyons, of Richmond, spoke in
support of the writ of prohibition. lie
cited the cases of three persons sentenced
for crime, including that of James Jeter
Phillips. sentenced to death for the murder
of his wife, in which the convicts were per-
mitted to 90 UNPUBLISHED by Judge Under
wood. II this Judge could thus set aside
the judgments of the State courts in these
cases, he had the right TO do SO in all, thus
in effect overthrowing the judiciary. While
the speaker represented Virginia, yet this
was a matter in which the other south
ern States were also concerned. The
criminals were tried according TO the laws
of Virginia, and according to the laws re-
cocnizcd by the General Government, by
acts of Congress, and by military autho-
rity. There had been no impeachment Of
the trial nor of the correctness of the sem
tence, but Judge Underwood had set them
aside because the judges were incompetent
to try the cases because Of ineligiblllty un-
der the fourteenth amendment. Under the
writ of hnbens corpus he undertook not to
inquire into the guilt or innocence
of the accused, or any illegality con-
nected with the trial, but into the
tenure the officers Of the Virginia
courts exercised their power under. The
Judge had decided in effect that grand
and petty .juries as well as judges were
Illegal, and this action extends to civil rs
we'll rs criminal cases. The Commonwealth
of Virginia had therefore asked for this
writ Of prohibition to prevent these cnor-
nous ills and to protect the people IN the
liberties and rights which the Constitution
secures. Mr.. Lyons showed from authorl-
ties that the supreme Court could grant
writ and use its authority whenever an in
feror court transcribed its powers in civil,
criminal, or ecclesiastical cases. He then
proceeded to show that Virginia is State
and is so recognized by all the branches oil
the General Government.
The court held the motion under advise
meut.
Judge Underwood was not present.
Mr.. a. 3. Guigon, Of Richmond, was II
court to watch over the interests OF the
Jcter Phillips case.
VARIOUS ITEMS.
The Reconstruction Committee to-day
further considered Mississippi affairs.
1t is stated that General Longstrcct l:
| an applicant for the New Orleans collector
ship.
There was full Cabinet meeting today
The House Pacific Railroad Committee
today heard Generals Fremont and lieint
| zlcman in favor Of Pacific road over tn
| thirty-second parallel.