Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-04-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
specal Correspondence Of the Alexandria aasettc.


o.day by the Supreme Court of the united
States, Justice Matthews delivering the
opinion Justices Bradley aud Gray dissent
inc The seven cases decided involved every
feature of the debt question, and the opinion
covered every poiat in favor of the bond
holders. Il occupied nearly one hour and
half in its delivery, and completely over,
threw the Riddleberger bill and It's kindred
LEGISLATION. 1t reversed Sneed and len.
nessee. and Antoui and GreeuhoW, anu
declared that all the laws passed were I'M
constitutional. In the first case, Poindexfer
VS.. Greenhow, coupons were tenueTea III
payment of taxes. They were refused ne-
cause not verified as required by law. Inc
taxpayer refused to pay anu the treasurer
levied upon desk valued at $50 TO collect
the tax. The plaintiff sued out warrant
in detinue to recover the desk. Bat it was
dismissed by the Corporation Court of Rich
mond. The case was then brought here. The
Court held that the tender Of coupons was
a payment of the tax: that after such ten.
der the tax payer could rest upon 1t, and
that any interference with his property was
a trespass which might be redressed by an
action of detnue or of trespass. This, OF
course, makes the duty of receiving coupons
imperative upon all collectors. But the
court went further and declared the
whole Riddleberger bill and the other
acts passed in connection with 1t TO
be absolutely void, as impairing the
obligation of the contract. Where in two
cases the United States Court OF the Eastern
District had decided that an action OF tres
pass would not lie where the amount in
controversy was less than $500, the court
| affirmed the judgement as not within the
jurisdiction of the court. Where as In the
case of Parsons va. Marye, Auditor, it was
sought BY proceedings against Marye to
compel the collecting officers of the State to
receive all coupons verified 10 that suit, the
decision OF Judges Bond and Hughes
was reversed as being without precedent.
| But Notwithstanding these decisions, when
are of minor Importance, the whole deOt
legislation is wiped ont of existence and the
coupon declared to be when rendered pay.
ment of taxes without suit or Identification.
The dissenting opinion of Judge Bradley
took the ground that all these proceedings
were against the State, and therefore for
hidden by the Constitution, he making 20
reference to the debt legislation except from
that standpoint.
A delegation CT prominent Gaorgians, in
| Guiding Mr.. Howell. who declined the Man.
chester consulate that Was recently offered
him, arrived here last night, and waited
upon the President to-day to invite him to
attend the national commercial convention
to be held in Atlanta.
The appointment of Mr. Morgan to the
Melbourne consulate has created even a
greater hubbub among the democrats than
that Of Mr.. Pearson to the postmastershlp OF
New York 1t is stated that Morgan not
only wrote pamphlet advising all foreign
born citizens to vote for Blaine, but that he
avowed his intention of voting for Blaine q
few days before the election, and that he &C
tually did so. He was assistant postmaster
of the U. S Senate under Mr. French, the
republican Sergeant-a5 arms of that body,
and was removed when Col Bright, demo
crat. was elected to that position. He Is a
bruther-in-law of Adjutaat General Drum,
u. S. A. 1t is said that h. is not resident
of South Carolina, though be is credited
to that State He is known here as one Of
Boss Shepherds set, aud was recently with
that Boss in Mexico.
The territorial people here are not pleased
with the appointment of q Missouri lawyer
to the U. 5. Judgeship of the Territory OF
New Mexico. They say that Territory con-
tains several Grst.class lawyers, and that by
not appointing one Of them to the position,
not only was the provision in the national
platform of the party on that subject sell at
naught, but the Presidents own previous
expressions on the subject ignored and dis
| regarded.
Elk Gov. Boxham Of Florida, who has
been appointed Minister TO Bolivia, is in
the city to-day. He is u native of Virginia,
and first cousin of Mr.. Johu Bloxham, OF
West End, Alexandria.
The reported probable nomination OF Miss
Carroll TO the place of postmaster at Bau.
more, if true, is said to be due to the inhu-
ence of Miss Cleveland, who believes that
| women should not be overlooked in the
distribution of the Offices Of the Govern
ment.
Lieut.. Schueze will take with him gold
medal to present to Vasilli Bobrowsky lone
cared Bill, when he leaves here to distribute
rewards to the natives in the vicinity Of the
Lena river who aided in discovering De.
Longs party. The native to be honoreh
with the medal discovered the party in
charge Of Melville. He was given his alias
because of his having but one ear.
Congressman Daniel, O'Ferrall, Wise and
Barbour, of the Virginia delegation, are still
in the city, doing all they can to further the
ends of the applicants for Office among their
constituents.
The Presidents reception, that was to
have been held two weeks ago, but was
postponed in consequence of The supposed
| illness of General Grant, will be held to-
morrow night, and will, it is expected, be
attended by an immense crowd. The re-
ception will be for the general public, and
will continue from o'clock to IL. Guests
will enter the White House by the tempo
rary bridge east of the main north entrance;
access through the south balcony being re-
served as usual for the diplomatic corps.
Secretary Whitney has received the fol.
lowing telegram, dated the 18th inst, from
Admiral Jouett: "The situation is uuchang
ed. Everything is quiet on the Isthmus
Beardslee reports no fighting around Car
tageua for fortnight"
The case of Mr.. William Dickson, charged
with attempting TO influence the jury in the
star route case of which he was the fore.
man, is in progress before the Criminal
Court of this CITY to day.