Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-21
WASHINGTON.
Cabinet Meeting=TncOmPet Ju-
b rOrs-ImpOrtant Decision i'm n Cot
ton Claim Case.


Cabinet Meeting=TncOmPete Ju
o rOrs-ImpOrtant Decision i'm a Cot
ton Claim Case.
~ WASHINGTON, Oct 20.-There was a cab
met meeting to-day, continuing in session
an hour. All the members were present
1t is said mere routine of business wa!
transacted. Some important official eyi
dence was submitted regarding ,additiona
Cuban privateers, alleged to be fitting out
IN New York and other ports. The under.
standing was that the United States Mar.
shal should continue to keep sharp lookout
under existing instructions, and that the
government would follow the legal result in
the Hornet case as a precedent for future
action in similar cases.
u was discovered to-day that two-thirds
Of the grand and petit jurors Of this dis
trict, who were summoned yesterday, were
negroes, and that half of them could not
read and write The National Republican,
a strong Radical paper, comes out with a
loud cry against such proceeding.
The only member of Congress from
Florida had an interview with Gen. Sher-
man to-day, and asked that troops might
he sent into the State to repel the outrages
there Gen. Sherman referred him TO
Gen. Terry, whose department embrac es
Florida.
There is no Disgusting the feeling of in
terest among resident Washingtonians over
the National Capital Convention in St
Louis They do not so much fear that the
capital will be removed as that Congress
viii be deferred by the agitation of the
subject from making any appropriations for
this district
In the Supreme Court a decision was
read by Justice Davis IN case No. 3, Of
John II. Mckee gs. the United States, a
claim for cotton and other property cap
tured at Alexandria, Louisiana, by the ma
val forces under Admiral Porter, engaged
IN the Red river expedition in the spring of
7S6J The claimant was a citizen and resi-
dent Of New Orleans, who traded beyond
the lines under a permit of Treasury
agent, 10y virtue of license of the military
authyritios then in possession of the cOun-
thy. The cotton, &c, was purchased from
Mckee. distant relative of the claimant,
aud an agent of the Rebel Treasury Depart
menJ for the purchase and sale Of cotton.
The decision against the claimant Is af-
tlnned; the court holding that under the
~ Of Congress in operation at the time Of
the seizure, any treasury agent who issued
permit an horizing trade with the enemy
beyond the military lines did SO without
warrant Of law, and the permit was void;
that the duty of the military was wholly
confined to the protection Of persons trad
ing under legal authority, obtained from
the proper department of the Government,
and hcese or permit obtained from that
source to do anything unlawful conferred
no authority whatever. 1t was also held
L.. Il
The claimant had never had any title TO the
property in question, because it had been
purchased from an agent of the Rebel Gov
eminent. The appeal came from the Cir
cult Cont for the Southern District Of Hi
nois
John NJ Moneritv, President of the
IrishRepubhcanA Association OfPhiladelphia,
had an interview with President Grant aud
Secretary Fish to-day in behalf of American
citizens of Irish birth now in British pris-
ons. Nh Moriarity stated these men who
had been convicted were not for express
sions. or forany overt act in England, but for
sentiments uttered IN the United States,
TWAS Mr. Gladstone had refused to hber-
ate them. he thought it was the duty of this
government TO insist that the prisoners
should be set al liberty. The President
remarked that several delegations had
called upon him in relation to the same
subject His sympathies were with those
prisoners. and therefore, he should be
gratified at their release. He had placed
the matter in the hands of Secretary Fish.
Subsequently the last named gentlemen
informed Moriarity that he had already eX-
erted his influence to secure the object OF
his visit and would persevere to that end.
He gave the assurance that the government
would adopl every means in its power to
protect all American citizens, both at home
and abroad, in ailtheir rights.