The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-18
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
Important Southern cases-The Civil
Rights Bili-Efect OF Pardons-The
Negro Debt Questionable Legal.Ten-
der Act and the Cotton Tax.

The adjourned term OF the United States
Supreme Court commenced on Monday. A
number of important cases which were argued
previous to the adjournment last May are ex-
pected to be decided during the present term.
Among them is one from the Circuit Court
Of Kentucky, involving the question OF the
coIslitutonaty of the Civil Rights bill; the
| case OF Klein vs.. Pargont, Involving the con-
| stilutiopality of the so-called "Drake amend
men. " relating to the effect OF pardons In the
| Court OF Claims, and the case OF Watson ct al
VA Jones ct al, involving decision of the dis
putpd rights to property OF the Presbyterian
| Church, North aud South, were also both held
under advsement until alter the recess, aud
will doubtless soon be decided. The latter
case, which came from Kentucky, was very
elaborateiy argued oy an imposing array OF
counsel ON both sides; but hopes were enter
| tanned that the differences would be accommo-
dated and an amicabe settlement effected By
| the general assemblies OF the TWO churches
during the summer.
The case of White vs. Hart ct al, on an ap-
peal from the Supreme Court OF Georgia, In
yoving question as to the binding force OF
notes given for slaves before the issuance of
the emancipation proclamation, will be de-
cidcd after argument Is heard In the similar
case of Holmes vs. Sewer, on appeal from the
Circuit Court of Arkansas. which will proba-
bly be reached In the course OF two or three
months. The decision 10 the former case Will
turn upon the question whether the provisions
of the Georgia Constitution, prohibiting the
enforcement of any debt the consideration oil
which was a slave or slaves, or the hire there
of. is in contrayention Of the articles OF the
National Constitution. which declares that no
State shall make any law impairing the obll-
CATION of scontracts. The decision OF the Su'
preme Court rendered last spring In case
where O note for slaves was concerned, was
determined BY other considerations; and the
impression prevalent in scme quarters that
the foregoing question was then decided, Is,
therefore, erroneous.
The opinions OF the majority Of the court,
consisting CT Justices Miller, Swayne, Davis,
strong and Bradley. and that of Chief Justice
Chase and Justices Nelson, Field and Clifford,
constituting the minority, In regard TO the
were withheld when the decision was an
nounced last May, will be made public during
the present term, soon after Its commence
ment.
Among the important cases to be argued
this term. or the next, 1t is expected there
will be one to test the constitutionality OF the
cotton tax. 1t will be remembered that case
appealed from Tennessee, involving this
question, was decided by the Supreme Court
last winter. when the Judgment OF the Inferior
tribunal affirming the constitutionality OF the
cotton tax was upheld, but only by division
of the court, the Chiet Justice being aoseut.
No opinion having been rendered, and the de-
cision applying only TO the particular case then
presented, other cases involving the same
question will not necessarily be decided In
the sume way, and the final Judgment OF the
Supreme Court upon 1t is, therefore, yet TO De
recorded.