Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-16
News From Washington.

Washington 10. Orders were tele graphed
from the ar department to Gen. Emory at
New Orleans to-day, insttucting him not to
bring troops into the city unless underex-
press orders from Washington.
The petition referred to the House Judici-
airy Committee askinga preparation of srti-
cles Of impeachment against Judge Field of
the United States Supreme Court and Judge
Hoffman of the California District Court is
simply revival of the one brought forward
two years ago by disbarred lawyer of
San Francisco, which expired with the last
Congress, no action whatever having been
taken by the Judiciary committee as the gen.
eral charges we're entirely unsupported by
proofs and specifications.
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs recon-
lends an Appropriation of Sl25, 200 for sub
shutting the Apaches of Arizona and New
Mexico for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Commodore Crossman and a number of
officers have been detached from the ship
Marion and placed on waiting orders.
The President has nominated to the Sem
ate Lieut.. Commander Edward Terry to be
commander. Capt. W. b. Whiting to be
commodore on the retired list. Also large
number of masters to be Lieutenants.
Justice Strong delivered the opinion of the
Supreme Court in the legal tender cases to-
day, substantially as follows;
The debts contracted since February 20
1862, are by far the greatest portion of the
Indebtedness of the country. They were
contracted in view of the acts of Congress
declaring treasury notes a legal tender, and
in reliance upon that. declaration no well
founded dis tinction can be made between the
constitutional validity of the act of Congress
declaring treasury notes legal tender tor the
payment of debts contracted after its passage
and that of the act making them legal tender
for the discharge of all debts.
There may be difference in the effects
produced by the acts and in the hardshps of
their operation, but in both cases the funda-
mental question which tests the validity Of
legislation is, can Congress constitutionally
give to the treasury notes the character and
qualities of money. and can such notes be
constituted legitimate speculative medium
Having defined the legal value, a lengthy ex-
animation of the rules of constitutional con-
struction is made, and the conclusion is, that
Congress has authority in all cases to exact
laws necessary and proper for the execution
of all powers created by the constitution, and
that the necessity spoken of is within the
judgment and discretion of Congress. 1t is
determined that one of the duties of the gov
eminent is to preserve itself, and that this
government is possessed of all the necessary
powers to that end and that if it were GER
tain nothing else would supply the absolute
necessities of the treasury; that if nothing
else would have enabled the government to
maintain its armies and navy; that if nothing
else would have saved the government and
consti ution from destruction while the legal
tender act would, it cannot be said that Cong
ress transgressed its power in the enactment
of these laws; or ii these enactments did
work this result, it cannot be maintained
now that they were not for legitimate end,
and appropriate and adopted to that end.
That they Gid work such results cannot be
doubted and if it be conceded that some 9TH
er means might have been chosen for the ac-
complshment of the same necessary object,
the argument is not weakened by the conces-
sion. Congress had the choice OF means and
it chose sufficient and proper one, as it had
right to. The grant to Congress of power
to coin money cannot be regarded as con-
! tanning an implied prohibition against the