The New York Herald

A LEGAL QUESTION of great importance touching the authority of military governors and mayors has just been decided in the Supreme Court of the United States. The Mayor of New Orleans and the city authorities appointed by the general commanding the department during the military occupation executed a lease of certain property for a term of years. The lease extended beyond the time of military rule. Without impugning the general principle that the contracts of the conqueror touching things in the conquered territory cease with the military occupation, the Court decides practically that a fair and reasonable exercise of military power must be respected, even after the military government is at an end. As a general rule this principle would be hurtful, but we understand the Court not to make it a rule and to apply it only to the peculiar circumstances of this particular case.