Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-05
Newspaper Postage Stamps,

this class of stamps, TO make out their
acquisitions, limiting their estimates to one
months supply. The orders are now be-
ginning to come in. The department is
of the opinion. judging from the
amount of the orders so far received,
that the value Of the stamps required for
the month of January will not fall far short of
half million dollars. This, it is thought,
4 will, however, exceed the average monthly
demand. 1t is estimated that the aggre-
gate value of stamps received for the year
will not exceed S2,0O0,0OO. One months
actual weight Ofthe newspaper and periodi-
cal mail at the New York pOstofice, shows
daily average of nearly 60 tons. Taking
this in connection with the approximation
of business at other offices, as indicated by
the postmasters' orders for stamps, and the
above estimate is reached. The increased
business will yield to the department a
revenue of about half million annually.
The statement that the mails will be used
for great distances, and the express to points
near by, to the loss of the government and
the department, is not considered well
| grounded No loss Of revenue is aDtiei-
| paied from this source.
Important Supreme Court Deeisi on
Relative 10 Confederate Cotton Con-
| tracts.
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.
The Supreme Court of the United States
has just rendered decision in which for
| the first time the question of the power of
| the Confederate Government to make
valid contract has been adjudicated. The
plaintiff had knowingly purchased cotton
Of an agent Of the Confederate States.
| This cotton was subsequently seized by the
| United States and their proceeds covered
| into the Treasury. Plaintiff brought
| suit in the Court of Claims to
recover. This Court rejected the
claim. The Supreme Court affirns
| this decision of the Court of Claims on
two grounds: l. Because the purchase of
the cotton and the payment of the consid-
Grafton necessarily tended to give aid to
the rebellion, and that all such contracts
are void as contrary to public policy. This
was cOncurred in by the whole court .
Because tine so-ealled government of the
| Confederate States had no existence except
as a conspiracy to overthrow lawful au-
thority. In support Of this second position
of the court, the Chief Justice and six As
sociate Justices concur. Two-Mr. Jus
tice Clifford and Mr.. Justice Davis-dis-
sent on the ground that its announcement
was not necessary to the decision of this
case.
Candidate for Clerk of the Next
House.
Charles A. Eldridge, of Wisconsin, so
soon to become an ex-Congressman, is a
candidate for the Clerkship Of the coming
House of Representatives.
A Furry Among the InfIatIOnIsts.
Special to the Cincinnati Times.
Some Of the most prominent Republican
tive in advocating further imitation of the
| currency, are thoroughly satisfied that it is
| the Presidents purpose TO recommend in his
annual message the repeal Ofthe Legal Ten
der Act. and argue that this is the most
feasible plan to resume specie payments.
This information has occasioned much
CONSERVATION among the advocates of more
paper money, and they predict that the
only effect of such Recommendation on the
part of the President will be to further di-
vide the Republican party, and to prevent |
the passage of any financial bill at the COM
ing session of Congress.
To repeal the legal tender act at this |
time, they argue, would bankrupt the
Treasury. All debts or contracts of the |
Government, which includes the salaries of |
all persons holding official positions, would |
have to be paid in gold, and the future ap-
propriatiOns 10 run the Government would |
be made on gold basis; and the practical |
working Of such repeal, they are confident, |
would in a very short time deplete the |
Treasury and cause it to suspend all pay
ments'
This is the view taken by Congressman |
who are opposed to a return TO specie pay |
ments, and they regard with much alarm |
the policy which they are assured the Presi- |
dent intends to recommend in his message. |
Special to the Cincinnati Gazette.
Several Republicans from the East have |
called on the President and Secretary of |
the Treasury, to urge them, as a matter of |
expediency, not TO fix any precise date for |
returning to specie payment, and not to |
settle upon any specific plan for accom-
plishing this result. These gentlemen, |
when questioned all admitted that they |
were hard-money men, but they thought it |
inexpedient to endorse and urge it as a
party measure. These consultations, how
ever, failed utterly in producing any effect,
and while the President will adhere to his
former views, the Secretary of the Treasury
will 90 further, and present definite plan
by which he thinks the country can and /
should return to specie payments.
A Doomed Party.
Special to the Chicago Times.
The number of Republicans who express
their faith in popular reaction in favor Of |
their party at the next national election,
grows smaller as the real state of the politi-
cal situation becomes evident here. One |
of the most prominent aud distinguished |
Republican politicians of the West, who |
is not at present in Office, has expressed the |
opinion within day or two that unless the |
administration cuts loose from its present |
narrow policy and discreditable surround
ipgs, and Joins hands with such of the earli-
or Republicans as Charles Francis Adams, |
Carl SchurZ, Judge Davis, and eX-GOv. |
Cox, of Ohio, whom it has alienated, it will |
be simply out of existence at the next Pres
identisl election. He thinks that the /
wisest thing Grant could do would be to |
dismiss his whole Cabinet, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Bristow, and make Charles |
Francis Adams Secretary of State. He
has no idea, however, that Grant will do |
any such thing, and believes that the days |
of the Republican party are numbered.
The gentleman referred to is the leading |
Republican of the State in which he re-
sides.
The Civil Rights Bills.
Special to the Cincinnati Enquirer:
The Calender of the House received |
/ from TIE pubic DIlLllCE lO-UilN, SuOHS lldS /
| both the Senate Civil Rights bill and one |
reported by the Judiciary Committee of the |
/ House, by Mr.. Butler, occupy positions |
| thereon which must necessarily be called, |
| if not on the first, on the second day of the |
! session. The former bill is No. l of the |
| bills passed in the Senate to their first and |
! second reading, while the other is the first |
motion in order. On a motion entsled by |
| SIR. Butler to reconsider the ivote thereon, |
the House ordered the bill to be recon- |
| mitted to the Judiciary Committee. 1t is |
/ the poiicy of the Radical members to dis
pose of both bills as early as possible, it not
| being their desire to allow this measure to
hamper the business Of the present as it did
| of the last session.
The Tax on Raw Cotton
Whether the unconstitutional and in
! iquitous tax on raw cotton exacted from the
South for some years after the war is to be
refunded, even in part, al this session, is