The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-28

Svern themselves according to this decision In as
sessing and collecting the incomes OF State ofcersn
| The United States Supreme Court-The
| Legal Tonder DocIsi0n-Importane Cases
1 Postponed.
1t has been stated that the decision Of the Supreme
Court In regard TO the legal tender cases would be
announced on Monday next but 1t Is now posi-
lively ascertained that the opinions OF the majority
and minority Of the court will not then be read !;
they will be reserved for the adjourned
term, which commences October 16. 1t Is under.
stood. however, that an elaborate opinion win be
read on Monday, announcing the unanimous
decision Of the Court on q collateral point
sustaining the validity OF gold contracts made since
the passage OF the Legal Tender act OF 1862 There
seems TO be no reason to doubt that majority OF
the court, consisting OF Justices Miller, Swayne,
Davis, Strong and Bradley Will affirm the consttu-
tionality OF the said Legal Tender act and decide
| that contracts made before the war, IN which no
| special kind OF money was mentioned. may be full
| filed by the payment OF greenbacKs The minority,
consisting OF Chief Justice Chase and Justices Mel
son, Field and Clifford. will dissent from this de-
cision and declare that in their opinion the Legal
Tender act cannot constitutionally apply TO any
| such contracts.
| Several important cases which have been argued
this term viii not be decided until after the expra
ton OF the recess among which Is one from the
Circuit Court OF Kentucky involving the question Of
the constitutionaty Of the so-called 'Drake amend
ment" relating to the effect OF pardons in the Court
OF Claims and will be held under advlsement until
October and so also will be the case oil Watson ct al
vs. Jones ct al. involving decision OF the disputed
rights to property OF the Presbyterian Church. orth
and South. The latter case, coming from Kentucky,
has been very deliberately argued by an imposing
ray OF distinguished counsel both sides, but hopes
are entertained that the differences will be accom-
modated and an amicablc settlement effected by the
General Assemblies OF the two Churches this sum-
mer, and II Is probably In chs view That the Supreme
Court reserves It's decision.
The case OF White vs.. Hart ct al, on appeal
from the Supreme Court OF Georgia. involving the
binding force Of notes given for slaves before the
issuance OF the emancipation proclamation will not
be decided until the argument Is heard In the smi.
similar case Of Holmes vs.. SEWER on appeal from
the Circuit Court OF Arkansas which Will not pro.
badly be reached before December next The de-
csion IN the former case will turn upon the ques-
ton whether the provision OF the Georgia constitu-
zion prohibiting the enforcement OF any debt the
consideration Of which was slave or slaves, or the
hire thereof is IN contravention OF the article OF the
constitution which declares that no State shall
make any law impairing the obligation Of contract.
The decision OF the Supreme Court rendered few
weeks ago In case In which note for slaves was
concerned was determined by other considerations,
and the impression prevalent IN some quarters that
the foregoing question then decided Is therefore
erroneous.
The Joint High Commission.
The Joint High Commission having yesterday
taken recess till next Wednesday, 1t is presumed
THAT the interval Will be occupied in preparing the
necessary drafts for the Commission and re.
duclng to shape the results OF the negotia.
lions as far as they have gone. In other words
though the general principles Of settlement have
been agreed upon the plan has not yet acquired
form. There Is little any doubt that the fisheries
and the navigation of the canals ana the river st.
Lawrence have been considered as separate ques.
tons; but the details have not been arranged.
These subjects, together with the principles on |
which the claims against Great Britain are to be |
settled, and the arbitration Of the san Juan ques-
ton, will all be embraced in one treaty TO be sub
mttted to the Senate.
Charming Social Event-yIigh Digniturfes |
and Private Theatriculs.
The British members OF lie Joint High Com. |
mission attended private theatrlcals given this
evening at the residence Of Mrs. Wise, on G
street. The company numbered upwards OF
three hundred persons, the creme de la creme OF
Washington society. Tie Presidents wife and
daughter members of the Cabinet, Senators,
eminent civilians we're among those present. The |
tollettes OF the ladies were OF the most |
elaborate description and were fully as beautiful as
any seen at the receptions this season at the Execu-
tive Mansion. The entertainment was for the bene-
fit OF the children Of the soldiers and Sailors Or
phan Asylum in this city, and realized over 500.
Claims Of Southern Loyalists.
The Southern Claims Commission to-day con-
siiered the claims OF MIS-. Margaret Bodin. George
w. Mitchell AMI George Trimmers, all OF Manassas
Va, for various descriptions OF supplies taken by
the United States troops OF Blenker's division in
1851 and 1862 amounting in the aggregate
TO sll,59s 20. Thus far there have been
some five hundred claims filed before the Commits
sion, amounting on paper to two and half million
dollars. OF this number and this amount 1t is not
probable that twentieth Part will be allowed, I'M
less Congress hereafter extends the existing laws SO
as to compensate loyal people In all the States for
damages or depredations suffered by them during
the occupancy of their nelghborhoods by the United
States army, instead OF combining the compensation,
as now, to cases where stores or supplies were actu
ally remitted for the use OF the army.
Illness of James NJ. Mason.
A despatch from Alexandria, va dated this
evening, says James NJ. Mason, OF Virginia, ex-Con-
federate Minister to England, is not expected to live
through to-nght, His disease Is general nervous
prostraton.
Health Of Treasurer Spinner.
Treasurer Spinner Is still in feeble health. Having
had chill last night, he rcmained in his house to-
day, but Is said to be now improving.
Important Patent Case Decided.
In the interference case between the application Of
John Riley, Of Troy, New York, for a composition
for casting steam boilers, and patent granted TO A.
G. Bauman, OF New York city, for similar patent
on appeal from the Board OF Examiners In Chief,
the decision OF the Board awarding the priority of
invention to Riley has been sustained by the Acting
Assistant Commissioner OF Patents.
The New LORn-Tre asury Balances.
Subscriptions to the new loan to-day 100000
Balance in the Treasury ut the close OF business
dsy:-Coin, s1oe.59aooo; currency, s9745,ooo; coin
certificates, S2I,253
Coinage Of the United States Mints.
The coinage OF the Mint or the United States at
Philadelphia for the first quarter ending March 81,