Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-04-28
WASHINGTON.

DIesGLl Ll0N OF 4nE hAEE1 yL-D NyA-
MISSION - ITS ACTS NULLITIE -
DOMINGO A DEAD COCK IN TIE PIT.
WASHINGTON, April 27.-The Joint
High Commission terminated its
IabOrs at an early hour yesterday
afternoon, and after q lunch at the
State Department, adjourned. The
members will, however, meet again
the third of May, to consider some
minor matters, preparatory to final
dissolution as a commission. The
result of the commissions labor has
not been formally turned over to the
State Department, but everything will
be finished and ready for cOnsidera-
tiOn at the Cabinet meeting on Friday,
May 5th, at which time all members
are expected to be present.
The members of the Commission
still refuse to indicate any points Of
the treaty; but il Is stated that one or
two Senator's have been informed Of
certain agreements, and are already
looking up facts and preparing
speeches in opposition to the treaty.
Some English members Of the Com
mission VIII 60 to New York ia a day
Or two, as VII also General Schenck.
Judge Hoar viii leave tomorrow
for Massachusetts.
There does not seem to be any truth
in the report that the subject of the
annexation of San Domingo is to be
brought up at the approaching session
OF the Senate. The fate Of the project
IN such event could be easily lore
shadOWed.
The passive friends of annexation
are barely i'm the majority, if indeed
they do number a majority, while the
earnest advocates are less than one
fourth of a quorum as the Senate now
stands, and In the present light, as re-
CARDS the island project, annexation
could not get a twO-thirds vote by any
turn it could take. Senators leading
IN the matter are aware OF this, and it
is not probable the subject will be al
luded to in the coming session,
DOINGs OF SUPREME COURT-FEDER.
AL QUESTIONS ANSWERED..
1t is now positively asceTtained that
the opinions Of the majority and mi
nOrity Of the Supreme Court on the
legal tender cases will be reserved for
the adjourned term, which eOmmen-
ses on the 10th of October. 1t is un-
de-stOOd, however, that an elaborate
opinion will be ready on Monday, an
nouuciag the unanimous decision Of
the court on collateral points, sus-
tanning the validity Of gold contracts
made since the passage Of the
legsl tender act OF 1862. Sew
er5l important cases which have
been argued this term are
not to be decided until after the eX-
piratiOn Of the recess. Among which
Is one from the Circuit Court of Ken
fucky, involving the question Of the
coustitutionality Of the civil rights Dill
case Of Klein and Pargand, involving
the cOnstitutiOnality of the sO-called
DrakeameDdment, relating to theefect
of the pard 0ns in the court of claims, to
be held under adVisement until OctO-
Der; and 80 also will be the case Of
Wilson ct al. VS.. Jones, ct al, in
-vOlving the decision Of the disputed
rights Of property Of the Presbyterian
church North and South.
In the latter case, hopes are enter
dained that the differences viii be
accommodated and an amicable set
tlement be effected by the General
Assemblies Of the two churches this
summer, and it is probable that it is
with this ia view the Supreme Court
reserves its decision.
In the case Of White vs. Hart ct al,
,pn,eal frOm the Supreme Court Of
Cisorg,s, involving the binding force
of note given for slaves before the
Issuance of the emancipation prOcla-
nation. 1t will not be decided until
the argument IS heard in a similar
ease, Holmes vs.. Sewer, appeal nom
the Circuit Court in Arkansas which
will probably not be reached before
December next.
The decision in the former case viii
turn upon the question whether the
provision in the Georgia constitution
prohibiting the enforcement Of any
debt, the consideration Of which was
for slaves, is ia c0ntravention with
the article of the Federal constitution
which declares that no State shall
make any law impsiring the obliga-
tiOn Of contracts. A decision of tbe
Supreme Court rendered a Jew
weeks ago in case in
which a note for slaves was
concerned was determined by other
considerations, and the impression is
prevailing in some quarters that the
foregoing question was then decided