New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-04

WASHINGTON, March 3.-The Howard
court of inquiry adjourned till March 10.
Nominations.
The following nominations were made
to-day: Charles p. Ramsdell, as marshal of
the eastern district of Virginia, and r. f.
Mcdonald, as postmaster at Charlotte,
North Carolina.
Supreme Court Decisions.
Among the decisions of the Supreme
Court to-day were the following: In the
case of Chaffee and others vs.. United States,
brought to recover the penalty prescribed
by the forty eighth section of the internal
revenue act, June 30 1864, against plain
tiffs in error for having in their possession
distilled spirits for the purpose of sale, with
the design of avoiding the duties imposed
thereon. This court reverses the Judgment
of conviction on various grounds of evidence,
and for the following error in instruction to
the jury. In this class of cases the govern
ment need only prove the defendants were
presumptively guilty, and the duty devOlved
on them to establish their innocence, and if
not, they were guilty beyond reasonable
doubt. On this point it is held that the
error is palpable. On its statement all the
authorities condemn it. 1t sets at naught
established principles, and justities the crit
icism of counsel that it virtually withdrew
from defendants their right of trial by jury,
and cOnverted-what at law was intended
for their protection, the right to refuse to
testity-into machinery for their sure de-
structi0n.
Mr.. Field delivered an opinion in the case
OF Bulard, trustee, VS.. National Eagle
Bank of Boston. The court holds that q
national bank, organized under the act of
1856, can not acquire valid lien upon shares
OF its stockholders by virtue of articles of
association or by laws. This reaffirms the
decision versus Lanier, ii Wallace 1863; Mr..
Justice Strong delivered the opinion; Mr..
Justice Clifford dissented.
Sykes vs.. Spencer.
The Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections to-day heard the closing argu-
mehts in the Sykes-Spencer contest for @
seat in the Senate from Alabama, General
j. T. Morgan speaking two hours for Sykes,
Spencer.
Sheridan vs.. Pinchback.
The argument closed in the Sheridan ws,
Pinchback affair and the case is now with
tF.' Committee on ELECTIONS. Early action
IL ,pkpected.
Carpenter'sBill.
Mr.. Carpenter withheld his bill to-day on
account of Mr. Mortons absence, who il,
sick. 1t will probably come up tomorrow.
General Hoberrs Address Before tho
House Committee On Railroads and
Canals In Opposition to the Eads Plan.
Governor Hebert addressed the Housa
Committee on Railroads and Canals at
length this morning. He was listened to
with marked attention throughout, pro-
ducing an evidently favorable Impression.
He condemned in strong language support
ed by arguments and an array of facts, the
jetty system as proposed to be applied to
the mouths of the Mississippi, pronouncing
the system as fallacious in every respect.
contrary to experience, and in direct vic.
lation OF every principle of sound engineer
ing. He said that the Mississippi river had
been jettying itself for thousands of years,
pushing the bar farther and farther into the
Gulf of Mexico. Artificial jetties would
only accelerate the process, but the bars
would still be there, and there they would
be for all time to come. So long as the
river carries alluvion to the sea this result
is inevitable.
Whenever the cause of an evil ia peri
odical or constantly recurrent, the remedy
must be of the same nature; this ia self
evident. Will you, therefore, for year af.
ter year, for all future ages, as to that mat.
tor, continue to fight nature and it's re-
moreeless workings 1t tho mouth Of tina
Aississippi, or win You adopt the aimnle
remedy Of tappis9 tho river into deem
COoNrYH1RD nw v,n-.