Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1872-01-17
SPECIAL tothe GOLD HILL VIEWS
DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE

60 ~
WASHINGTON, January l5.-Justice
Strong delivered the opinion of the
Court In the Legal Tender case to-day.
Tho opinion is very elaborate and
lengthy. The Court takes the ground
that debts contracted since the passage
Of the Legal Tender Act are far the
greatest portion Of the indebtedness of
the country ; that they were contracted
In view Of the passage ofsaid Act, and
that It would DO gross injustice to de-
eide that these debts should be paid In
gold; that there Is no distinction to be
made between the constitutional va
lldlty Of an Act Of Congress declaring
treasury notes a legal tender for debts
contracted after Its passage and that Of
All Act making them a legal tender for
all debts-those Incurred before as we'll
rs after its passage; that the constitu-
tional grant to Congress Of the power
to coin money, cannot be regarded as
containing an implied prohibition
against the Issue of loyal tender notes,
and If 1t raises any implications they
are Of a complete power over the cur
rency ; aud that the objection that the
Legal Tender Act impalrs the obliga-
lions OF contracts, cannot be accepted,
as there can be no valid obligation to
pay In a particular kind Of money,
even u both parties understand and
expect that payment shall be made In
n certain kind OF money; that all the
law compels in payment Is whatever
the law shall recognize as money when
the payment Is made. The objection
that the unit Of money value must pos
sess all intrinsic value Is regarded as
foreign to the subject, as the Legal
Tender Act does not attempt to make
a standard of value, or the assertion
that their emission Is coinage or any
regulation Of the value Of money.
This decision overrules so much Of
the decision In the case Of Hepburn vs.
Grlswold Is Wall, d0al rs ruled that
tho Legal Tender Acts were unwar-
ranted by tho Constitution, In so far
ms they apply to contracts made be-
fore their enactment.
Justice Bradley read a lengthy opin-
lon concurrlng In the conclusions Of
Justice Strong.
Chief Justice Chase, Clifford and
Field, all the dissenting Justices, ex-
cept Justice Nelson, who was not pres
ent, read dissenting opinions, setting
forth at great length tho minority
views, with which the country Is IA
miliar, as having boon the opinion Of
the Court In a former decision Of the
Legal Tender question.
Tho Chief Justice announced that
the Court would not sit tomorrow,
but would be engaged In a conference.
The dissenting opinions refer to the
fact that tho question on It's former de.
cislon was as ably argued and decided
with as mature elaboration rs any
cause ever before In the Court, and by
a full Court, the decision being con.
Cured In by five Justices against three
dissenting. The Court by law thon
consisted Of eight Justices, and lts de-
cision is now overrulcd by five Justice,
to four. The Court Is now composed
Of nine Justices, and all those then
upon the Bench now retain the vlows
then expressed.
New York, January IA special
to tho Herald from London says: "Ru'
mors prevail at st. Petersburg that the
Grand Duke Inns been married since
his arrival In America to n Russian
lady, whom his father offered and Will
whom his supposed attachment was
broken off,"
The Branch,Attorney-G Generals office
In this city, which Charles O'Conol
has had charge of, Is discontinued In
view Of the fact that the present At
torney- General has an office Of his OWL
here. O'Conor, however, continues &c
give voluntary aid In prosecuting the
Ring suits. The announcement o.
this change In this city has given rise
to an unfounded report that O'Conol
contemplated withdrawing from thu
prosecution, Tweed's name docs no,
appear OH any Of the committees ap-
pointed In the State Senate ut Albany,
Mayor Hall has not Jet resumed hi
duties. Tho Comptrollers will have
the appointment Of Mayor. II Hal
don't return by Friday.
The principal defense which will be
set up In tho Stokes case Is conspiracy
to take Stokes life, and that the shoot
Ing was therefore In self-defsnse,
Stokes friends claim that Fisk hRd
men following Stokes for a week b.
fore the shooting. An attempt viii
also be made to prove that Fisk was
armed when shot, and that n loaded
revolver was taken from his person
afterwards also that tho wounds alone
were insufficient to kill Fisk. Every
effort Is being madc by Stokes coun'
sci to have the trial deferred. There
seems to DO no sympathy here fol
Stokes.
Washington specials say the result
Of the inquiring Of tho Committee Of
Ways and Means into the Syndicate
transaction Is the discovery that Gov.
eminent has lost the interest OH $780,.
OOO, 900 for three months, during which
time the money was In the hands Of
the Syndicate and Government Ind no
security whatever for 1t. In answer
to Inquiry by Cox, Boutwell, said the