The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-07-09
Federal Usurpation.

possible to make out OF the action OF the
Federal courts in coupon cases. will be
made by the Democratic party in the pres
ent canvass.
Let it be so. Let all the advantage that
can be got out of this action be taken.
But let the party whips not forget to
stick to the truth. The Federal judges
may be very bad people. They may be as
wicked as old Nick himself. But give the
devil his due. Don't tell lies on him.
There has been a good deal charged
against the Federal judges in respect to
their action since the decisions made by
the Supreme Court on the 10th of April
last. If we were to heed what is printed
habitually in some of the Richmond papers
we should conclude that both Judges Bond
and Hughes had been turning out DEGREES
in the Federal court, against Virginia in
coupon case, by the dozen day.
We have had some curiosity to enquire
into the facts of this subject and we have
been surprised to learn how little has
been done by the two judges in the direc-
ton complained Of. We find, in regard to
Judge Bond that he has signed final DEGREES
| in about six cases. All the cases in which
he signed such DEGREES were argued and
submitted for decision and final decree in
October last. DEGREES were withheld I'M
til after the Supreme Court should act on
the cases already pending in Washington,
A month or more after the decisions of
that Court, in April, Judge Bond signed
final DEGREES in the cases which had been
held up for six months. His DEGREES pro-
ceeded upon the principle. that where the
pleadings in case showed that the gen.
uineness of the coupons was not denied,
and was taken for confessed, then ten
der of such coupons was, under the late
ruling Of the Supreme Court in the case of
Poinde:cter Us. Greerhosc, a payment OF the
tax. This is about all that Judge Bond
has done. He has acted in half-a-dozen
cases which had been held for eight
months and which could not with any pro-
priety be held any longer.
/ Judge Hughes had declined to act in
1 these cases, and they had been, for that
reason, taken to Judge Bond. Yet the
press has stated, over and over again, that
he did sign those very DEGREES. We I'M
derstand that the reason of Judge Hughes,
in declining to sign those DEGREES was, that
new cases, arising after April lasti had
come before him, which he had set down
for argument at future day and that
he was unwilling to make up his mind,
or to seem to conclude himself, on the
questions involved, until after the hearing
in the new cases. and after argument by
learned counsel. 1t is stated that Judge
Hughes has invited two very eminent
counsel to appear in the argument OF some
of the new cases, one for the State and one
for the bondholders, each as alnacus curioe
and that these counsel have agreed to pre-
sent arguments. They will of course ap
pear respectively in aid of the counsel en-
gagged by the parties to the record.
The principal question to be argued viii
be whether coupons rendered in payment
of taxes shall in all cases be verified &C
: cording to the provisions of the act of Jan
nary IA, 1882. Coupon Killer No. l, and
if not in all cases, then when and under
what circumstances is it necessary to pur
sue the provisions of the said statute.
We have obtained from the clerk a
Richmond list of all cases in which Judg,
Bond has signed DEGREES, and in which
Judge Hughes has entered orders. sine
April last, and present it to the reade
. below.
: It will be seen that except in the tw'
first cases on the list. the orders Of Judg
; Hughes are all mere orders nasi, fixing thu
cases for future hearing on the questions
involved, and announcing no conclusion
of law.
. List Of DEGREES in coupon cases signe'
: . by Judge Bond since April last
!. us. CIRCUIT COURT, CLERK IS OFFICE,
RICHMOND. June 10Th, 1885.
!. /. Executors Of John Stewart VS.. VIM
u Taylor, Treasurer Of Henrico; deere
Il perpetuating the injunction and givin
{ COmpl't his coStS-entered May 25, 1856
. 2. Daniel X. Stewart VS.. VIM. Taylor
Treasurer of Henrico.
s. 8. Tanner 6 Delaney Engine Co.. VS.. same
g 4. III. G. Dulaney VS.. j. l.. Mcintosh
@ Treasurer of LoudOn.
q 5. q. r. Paxton VS.. same.
= g. VIM. Selden VS.. A. l.. Hill, Treasure
j. of Norfolk.
u All of the above were identical.
II John C.. Shafer vs.. S. G. Greenhow; SET
4 ting motion for preliminary injunction
= for hearing at Danyille on July 7. En-
% tered here June 18th.
- List of orders made by Judge Hughe
! since April /, 1885, in coupon cases.
/. VIM. L, White VS.. S. c. Greenhow; i
! trespass, May 9th. An order Obeyin
d and carrying into effect the mandate 9
Il the Supreme Court, directing jur
|. trial, and awarding costs.
g 2. Ex-parte w. L. Royall-order refusin
u writ of Habeas Corpus in two cases
dated May Goth.
q 8. Norfolk Trust Co., VS.. Mr.. Marye, AL
e' ditor-order to show cause, dated Jun
:, I'd, embracing temporary restrainin
IL clause cause to be shown June 18th.
81 4. John G. Shafer vs.. S. C. Greenhov
r Treasurer.
n 5. M. Millhiser VS.. S. G. Tinsley, Asst!
: tant Treasurer.
6. Tanner & Delaney Engine Co., vs., Wn
re Taylor, Treasurer.
le Temporary restraining orders, and O
70 ders setting for hearing motions for pr,
liminary injunctions, dated June Sd.
~ Z. w. T. German VS.. Board of Com RS
il Sinking Fund order to show cause WI
to mandamus should not issue, dated Jur
10 18th. Cause to be shown 26th june
IA Continued ON last date.
~ q Norfolk Trust Co., VS.. Marye RESTRAIN
,e ing order continued as an injunction
O. with leave to def't to apply for dissol'
tiOn. on notice. June 10th.
s. Millhiser VS.. Tinsley.
IN g. Tanner & Delaney Engine CO.. VS.. Wn
- Taylor injunctions awarded June lot
u, with leave to defendant to apply for di
Of solution thereof. on due notice.
re NJ. +, PLEASANTs, Clerk.
lg From the above showing of what Il
is Federal judges have actually done, the il
Q, preston stamps itself on our mind, tn
or they have rather striven to avoid actio
is than rush eagerly and pr ecipitately into
I'd
10 On the 9th the President made nul
a. Der of appointments of Post Master
IN among them c. w. Button, or Lynchbu1
he vice r. w, z. Morris, suspended. and Y
" w Herbert Alexandria vice D. A. Win