Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-01
WASHINGTON.


The Loyal League.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30.-A meeting of
the National Executive Committee of the
Union League win be held at the Conti
mental Hotel, Phila., Tuesday next, at
P. NJ. Republicans regard this meeting as
important, from the fact that action is to
be taken on the difficult questions pending
in Arkansas, Louisiana and other States.
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.
Annual Report of the Fourth Auditor
of the Treasury.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-Judge Tabor,
Fourth Auditor of the Treasury, has COM
pleted his annual report for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1871, in which he gives the
following statement of work done: Pay
masters accounts settled 396, involving
cash disbursements of Sl6,075, 674.75; pen
sion accounts settled 225, involving $780,
020.55; letters written, IA ,578; received IT,
ZIG; twenty-eight prize lists adjudicated,
amounting in the aggregate to s., ,851.
Claims adjusted, 1852; amounting to 1884,
019. Navy accounts received, $50; settled,
CPS; involving S6,304 1902.
In relation to defalcations the Auditor
says: "MOst, if not all the defalcations
which have occurred in the naval service
were accomplished through the ability of
the Paymaster to obtain larger amounts of
funds than his rate of expenditures required.
Knowing that he would not be called upon
for his surplus until after the expiration of
his three years cruise, and the further time
necessary to pass his accounts through the
accounting officers offices, he was tempted
to use the public money for private specula-
ton, with the hope that he could make
successful operation and return the money
thus used before the day of account arrived.
Under the present arrangement the amount
of money each Paymaster has on hand is
known monthly. Should his acquisitions
upon the Treasury appear to exceed his re-
quirements, payment can be suspended,
and upon rendering his final return, the bal
ance he should have on hand, and which he
will be required to turn back into the Treas
ury without delay, will be definitely known"
The Auditor recommends that Congress
authorize the employment of not less than
three persons, expert in navy accounts, to
be styled accounting agents. These persons
should be attached to and under the direc-
ton of this bureau. Their accounts should
be somewhat similar to those of the National
Bank Examiners, and they should have
authority to call upon any paymaster,
whether on shore or upon any naval vessel,
without previous notice, to exhibit his books
and cash for examination. They should be
paid a reasonable salary, and allowed actual
travelling expenses.
Privileges of n Member of Congress.
A novel and important case, being the
first of its character that has come up, was
heard today before the Supreme Court of
this District, in General Term. Colonel
Sherod, of Alabama, while in attendance
upon the sittings of the last Congress, as a
member of the House, was served with
summons to answer in an action of asSump-
sit for a debt contracted in Alabama or
Kentucky. By his counsel r. NJ. COrwine,
he interposed plea of privilege as a MEM
Der of Congress. The plaintiff demured
to the plea, and the single question of priv
ilege came up for argument this morning.
Mr.. Corwine contended, first, that the
question Of privilege belonged to the person,
and could not be waived, and could not be
taken away. 1t was parliamentary priv
ilege. resting on the principles of the COM
mon law, and was as old as Parliament it
self. He cited cases in England and Amer
lea illustrative of this proposition.
Second-IIe maintained that by the Con-
stitutiOn itself the privilege was established.
The word .'aTrest," as used in that inStru-
ment, was as flexible rs the word ''citizen,"
used in the same instrument, The latter
had been construed by the Supreme Court
Of the United States to embrace corpora
tons. and suits might be brought against
the latter in the United States Circuit Court
under the clause of the Constitution limit
ing such suits to citizens of the several
States. So the former must be construed
to embrace any process which would with
draw the member from his official duties, or
which may distract his mind from these dIl-
ties; his constituents and the House have a
superior right to his whole time and mind.
Third-The changes in the laws to meet
the constantly increasing demands of COM
merce, the abolition of imprisonment Tor
debt. etc, have dispensed with the writ of
arrest as the mesne process in suits, but the
same consequences of disobedience of the
process follow and continue, and member
who disobeys may he punished by fine and
Imprisonment, and yet the power OF the
House to take him out of the custody OF the
civil authorities remains, and may be as
serted at its pleasure. 1t Overrides and is
superior to the process or orders OF the
court. This is the highest privilege known,
because it is conferred by the Constitution
and recognized by the common law and
parliamentary law. The case is still on
New APpOrtiOnment for Members of
Congress.
No action having been taken by Congress
at the last session on the appoTtiOnment
question. the Secretary of the Interior will,
under the laws of 1850 and 1862, make the
apportionment called for under the census
Just taken. The number of Representa-
tives will be two hundred and forty-one,
giving ten additional to the Slave States, two
each to Illinois and Missouri, and one each
to Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
New Jersey, Texas and Wisconsin; New
York will lose three, Ohio and Pcnnsylva-
MIA two each, and Kentucky one, while the
New England States will lose six in all.
Some two or three States will probably gain
an additional member for the large fractions
they may show, which cases will require the
action of Congress, to authorize elections a
large.
TIDnINTl