The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
rs,.Veuder pccisicn In the Supreme
Court.

-..,o 1,ru;t to-day Mr.. Justice StronS lrfu
,',". arin;on of tho majority Of the justices
=; ,,, y; The constitutcnaii:y Of the LEGAL
.,i i.-' ss He said the debts now suos'st-
Nv .Sronchoui the country have been con-
e - ~ s;Tce February IS. 1852, and IN vic"
Z, ,,'r Ir,a|.,cudcr act. TO hold that these
-, .,,;oS. can only I've discharged by the
5,nn, of coin would work Il hardship
,,,,,t;nc 10 general distress and bank
-.-r There is no distinction TO be made
- -. .., ne constitutional validity OF mn act
;, "rl&rs notes legal tender for debts
reacted after It's Pa>>aSr, and one winch
w. - them LEGAL tender also for debts con-
~. "a. l%.lugr T. passage.
l., ,.,fA s.l,rs The Fundamental question Is,
-. (n0.;r>s con>ti;uiionally give the trca-
800. rntes the character Of money The
...srsion reached is that Congress. under
,..hority 10 enact laws necessary and
1900. ,rthc execution Of all powers created
80 Constitution, is the Judge Of the nece>-
-, ana tac propricty o; the law. IL, at the
Vs., tho net was passed, il be conceded that
. was -" culv mcanS which could have re-
..,,,.h.d IN, Treasury and sustained the
airy then II must he conceded that its
,-.,,rr, WIS within the Constitution.
III, did work thu! result, then il WIS ap-
~.,,r;ltc and adapted 10 The end. Congress.
D.. - choice Of means. selected sufficient
j ,ropeT one. For the court to pass upon
~ t1ciuacy Of alternative measures would
q. - qS>urue the function of legislation. III
=. he court is OF opinion that the legal ten
p . ~ Was he only possible means. Some
. ~.,,, refused 10 receive the earlier issues,
.gt tho head oC the Treasury Department
=. rod Il Congress that il was impossible
-. 1,a.d the necessity of making them legal
",lrr.
tn, grant TO Congress Of the power to
sy money does not imply q prohibition
inst the is,uc OF these notes. The objec-
- :aat the icsai-tcndcr act impair> the obi
-; n Of contracts Is not sound. The con-
-, ! 20 uay money what the law Regards
. money. II may hc the expectation Of one
r, - 1ay and The other TO receive coined
. ! end silver, tut the expectation of the
no. docs not constitute the obligation Of
r contract. Congress may indirectly I'M
ar he Obligation Of contracts IN the sense
rendering them fruitless, as by the pas
so OF \ bankrupt act, applying to past as
70 i as future transactions.
Tho objection that the unit Of money value
..g;. possess intrinsic value is pronounced
~,.-n to the subject. What Is asserted is
nj Congress has the power 10 enact that
.aarumrut promises 10 pay money shall be
ar Tie tim" being cqu'rnient in value to the
, preventative OF value determined by the
o.a4-,e acts or il multiple. The Constitu-
t,4 docs not contemplate n standard Of
,}Ue. Value Is an ideal thing; the gold
la- called . dcIiar is in no sei,Se the standard
j ln,iaT, but q representative.
hi. decision oycrIilleo so much of what
'a- decided in Hepburn against Griswold
T. Wall, G03.) aS ruled the legal.tendcr acts
.awagHntc,i by the Constitution, so far as
icy apply to contracts made before the en-
cement.
VI. Justice Brrdlev read n lengthy opin-
ou crmrurring in the conclusions Of Mr.
slice strong The Chief Justice and jus
= clifford and Fic!d--ai! the dissenting
J>,ire, except Mr.. Justice Nelson. who was
sl grescnt-reaG dissenting opinions.
lG concluding, the Chief Justice says " II.
iuu, the plain sense OF words, il the con-
.pporMc"us exposition Of parties, if I'll.
.aNucn consent In understanding, if the
figioUs Of courts avail ANYTHING in deter
rs the meaning Of the Constitution, il
'@n.s impossible 10 doubt that She power to
in mou"v j power &c establish uniform
a''s'rh Of value. nad that he other power
"'"1' ILL such standard is conferred upon
"3-Ic-N BY the Constitution
IaG dissenting opinions of the other Jus
-, refer 10 the fact that the question on ilS
amer decision was so ably argued and de-
2d"4 with rs mature deliberation us any
@,;se ever before the court, and by full
lrt. The decision before was CONQUERED
q hy fi'e justices against three dissenting
Tie court By law then consisted of eight
':,'.crS. and its decision is now orerrulcd by
&c ,G>tlCeS TO four, The court now hcin.
IMPOSED Of nine justices, and all those theI
H'n The bench now retaining the then
NircsScd.
Amnesty With n Vengeance.
The till pissed by the House Monday goe:
! The senate.
Ii" first section provides for tho remova
=: a. l@sal and political disabilities imposed
= - laird section Of the fourteenth article
h; amendments to the Constitution Of th,
Mtod States OH the persons therein nlen
"U"d, because Of t:tcir having engaged il
or rebellion against the Unitct
tl;r>, Or given aid or comfort 10 the enemie
hereof; provided the act Shall not apply t.
Il! in any way affect or remove the diSabilitie
,! any person included in either Of the follow
" classes, namely:
First. Members Of the Congress Of tin
mon who withdrew therctrom to aid tn
Second. Officers Of the army or the navy 0
he United States who, being above the az
t tWcnty-one years, left said army or navy
-4G aided The rebellion.
The second section provides that befor
ny person shall be entitled TO the benefit o
his act, lie shall, within the district wher'
i" resides, before clerk Of some court OF tn
nittd States or Il United States commits;
'0ncr, take and subscribe IN oath or atiirlna
,"n 70 support the Constitution of the Cnitet
tdt'@, QLi 10 bear true faith and allegiance
. the same, which oath or affirmation shall
q" forwarded 10y said officer TO the Secretary
/ State Of The United States, who Shall caus,
IL; Of all persons complying with the pro
.,!oD~ Of this act TO be laid before Congress.
! tie opening Of each session thereof; ant
\" officer before whom such oath or atijrlna
IN Is made shall give to the person taking
4 certificate OF the Tact under such forms
nd regulations a. the Secretary of State sinai
!rscr!tc.
Petitions.
Ia the United States Senate on Monday
j.. Johnston presented petition of Jane L
Mi>pn, Of Virginia, heir, and for the coheirs
i edward Durant, deceased, praying indem
lily for losses sustained by French spolia
!on>; which was referred to the Committee
u Foreign Relations.
lie also presented the petition of Francis
nd sarah Arnistead, of Matthews county,
a., heirs Of William Respass, praying i'll
e!mity for losses sustained by French spo.
alIons; which was referred to the Committee
Il orel-.u Relations. -.-..----+-
Nr. Lewis presented the petition Of large
lumber OF colored citizens Of Virginia, pray
x for the passage Of the supplementary civil
Ghts bill; which was ordered to lie on the