Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-03-01
TO THE EDITORIAL CHAIR.
WAsuINeToN. Feb, !


Len Montpelier at A. M. of the 18th via
Central, Sullivan, Cheshire, Ftchburg, Nashua o.
Worcester, and Worcester g. Norwich railroads,
and by steamer through the Sound 10 N. Y. city,
and from thence by railroad; reached PhiIadel-
phia in 80 hours, and ought to have been IN
Washington city IN a. hours, but was delayed
1s hours. nil for the want simply of railroad
Jridge instead of a ferry. The Philadelphia and
Baltimore railroad has a ferry across the Susque-
hanna, which is now closed by ice from one
foot to thirty feet thick, packed in by late flood.
OF course The boat does not run; passengers
walk over (nearly mile,) and the very energetic
corporation has Just exactly one sled TO bring
over say one ION OF Uncle Sans mails, and the
baggage of some three hundred passengers each
train. To accomplish this work, this old sled
has to cross about half dozen times, while the
passengers have the pleasure Of waiting in the
cars. Yesterday, to forward the matter little,
the passengers were sent on as soon as they had
crossed, and an extra locomotive was left to wait
for the mails and baggage. In order to make
up lost time, the latter was put to unusual speed
and when near Elkton ran off the track, killing
demoshing the locomotive. We passed the
wreck TO-. day. and when keenly feeling the loss
of life, property and time, we could not help
rejecting that in our advocacy Of The Bridge at
Rouse's Pointewe have been laboring for the
safety and comfort Of travellers and the interests
of the public The transportation of freight be-
tween Baltimore and Philadelphia, by this rail-
road, is almost an impossibity; it cannot be
done, except by taking much time ana mourning
great expense. From this example it is evident
that Vermont must have bridge at Rouse's
POINT or give up the idea Of getting her flour
directly and cheaply from the west during the
winter; in short, she must have the bridge or
pay the cost Of round about transportation
We say must, for the thing is demonstrated be-
fore our eyes o.day. The man who opposes the
Bridge opposes the public interest and will in
the eud be compelled to surrender TO the public
!. voice.
AS yet we have seen nothing Of Washington
but the depot, the street lamps and our boarding
house-the first is small, the second scattered,
and the last full.
MONDAY, Feb. 49,
Yesterday attended service in the capitol, and
heard an able discourse upon the Word of God as
the only nfalible authority in matters of faith.
Rev. r. r. Gurley was the preacher, gentle.
man well-known for his valuable services In the
cause Of African Colonization. The associations
connected with the Hail Of the House of Rep
resenlalives are far from favorable to the proper
,hso,y,pco nf Sabbath coropon;aS opd t,;s 10,
pertinent satisfied US that the church, consecra-
ted to the services Of religion and sacredly guar
ded from secular USE is best suited for ligious
purposes. The spirit of the place, be it sacred
or secular, will have its influence upon every
worshpper. Few men are so dead 10 holy sym
pathies that they can pass from the busy throng
of Wall street or Broadway into the grand and
gloomy oisles OF Trinity church, without instant
ly feeling that the place is holy-that they must
walk softly before God; and few, we are afraid,
are holy enough to worship in the capitol with
out disturbing thoughts of the weekday scenes
enacted there.
The services were conducted much as they
were in Vermont, half century ago. The sing
ing was gatonal-eac psalm being iineO
out by the preacher. As for the audience: il
was not large, aud appeared to be composed
mainly of strangers: perhaps dozen members
of Congress were present. Members OF Con
gress and of the government, however, atient
the various churches of the city; we mean, som
of them-for our observation Goes not warran
us IN drawing very favorable conclusions as t
The religious character of our public men as
body. There are very good men among them
and very, very bad men, oo,-like to jeremiah
figs, not fit for use, or men whose nomination /
Office as Daniel Webster said of old lacks
"was not itto be made"
To-day we have visited the Supreme Cour
and for the first time seen the bench full c
gowned judges. Learned, dignfed, and ven
cradle men, yet there is but one of the min
judges who would be recognized off the benc
by stranger as notable man. This one
john MCLEAN" honest John of Oho"-wh
was our iavorite for the last Presidential race
Judge Mclean is far the noblest of them all
appearance, and we think him entitled TO ran
next to the Chief Justice as Judge. His hor
esty, integrity, and moderation, as well as h
learning, commended him TO Gen. Jackson f
the bench; and we cannot help thinking tn,
when to these high qualities are added the habl
ual study of the constitution, and the habnu
respect for it, and an entire exemption from pa
ty prejudces and intrigues consequent upon h
station as judge for twenty years past, JoI
MCLEAN is really The best man for the next Pre-
idency. If "a better shall turn up ere 1852, ,
shall certainly rejoice that the country has mo
than one man in il worthy of such high exal,
tion.
Congress is doing nothing, or very nearly 7
thing. Important questions of public poll
cannot well'be settled, since neither party
the power to carry out its own views. Moth
was 70 be expected of this character, thereto
unless it be some measure for the government
New Mexico and California, which is urgen
required. The House to-day made this subj
the special order after the appropriation bi
and it will probably occupy the remainder of
session. We have had great fear expressed 4
The North is to be betrayed on the Free S
question: betrayed, too, by noisy iree-soil lo
f,cos an The other In nd we ha Va hon I'd CO.,