Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-01-11

I
Judgment Of that committee the question,
whether or not Colonel Roberts Is entitled
to the complimentary notice from the Amer
ican Congress which is contemplated by this
resolution. The oficm dispatches aud re-
ports Of all the chief officers of that cam
paign--of Scott and Twggs, and Smith,
aud Quitmau, and Lane, aud others-bear
united and unqualified testimony 10 The i'm
poriant services, TO The gallant bearing, and
the heroic courage Of Colonel Roberts on
oil occasions Of difficulty and danger.
These records of hrs services, 1t | mis-
read them not, if misjudge not fully jus
MY and sustain the assertion that he received /
the first fire Of the enemy at Vera Cruz;
that he had selected extraordinary commauds /
IN every main battle that he executed those .
commands with the utmost fidelity, and with I.
entire and uniform success that he was the
officer to whom was intgusted the American
flag which led the army into the cry Of
Mexico that he was the first American
who entered the palace of the Capitol, and
raised there the first American nag ever
reared nihe halls Of the Munieznuias, ind
fought the last fight in the streets of the
city Of the AZtecs.
You have indeed honored that far, but
you have not hunored the officer with whom
II was specially charged. and who bore 1t
wherever II was borne. You have not even
acknowledged him as concerned in lts hon
or. or az partner IN lis glory. humby
submit that This is not right To show spe
clal marks Of honor TO the flag, 10 deposit it
among the archives most valued M the me-
MORALS Of the country's honor aud It's glory,
without even tender of thanks or any
token Of appreciation to the officer who bore
II, and who gave it all ITS value and all It's
consideration, | respectfully submit again IL
not Just, nor WISE, nor even very sensible.
Ii is my purpose, "a tits my privilege, to
make reasonable effort at least to have tins
wrong repaired TO vindlcale, 80 far forth M
| may be able TO do it, the claims of Colonel
Roberts to proper aotice, and his services to
proper recognition by hls Government
He is himself far away, upon duty on the
outer borders of the country, aud Is unndvls-
ed of this proceeding But, sir, his profess
sional reputation belongs not to himself
lone it belongs not to his fany alone; it
belongs TO the country, and il belongs en-
phatlcally to the State which gave hun his
birth and his education and is, in u meas-
ure, committed 10 tie keeping of the rcpres-
enlatlves from that State.
Vermont sir, shed too much blood upon
the batle-feds of Mexico too many OF her
youthful sons we're left upon It's plans. and
among its mountain passes, to allow her to
be unmindinl of the reputation Of those who
survive. She made costly sacrifice o. The
spirit of that war when her gallant and &C.
complished Ransom fell before the walls Of
Chepultepec. 1t shall not be laid TO my
charge If she makes a greater sacrifice by
neglectng to yindicate the we-earned re-
putatlon OF any of her surviving sons. But,
cir iorbear further remark until we shall
have received the report Of the Committee
on Military Affairs, 10 whom move the re.
ference Of the resolutions.
The documents annexed fully sustain the
positions of Senator Foot, mud are highly
creditable to Col. Roberts.
The Presidents Message was followed by
an interesting debate on the Clayton and
Bulwer treaty-all on one side, however, and in I
acc ordnance with the views Of the President
Mr.. Clayton fatty repudiatcd the construc-
ton now adopted by Great Britain, and to-
gelher with llessrs. Cass, Seward and Wei
Ter, held that the u. S. should stand by the
treaty, and insist that Grolt Britain shall al
so stand by 1t. Aessrs. Seward and Cass
were for that, aud little more--ior insisting
upon the Monroe doctrine" which is, that
no European Government shall be permitted
to obtain further ioolhold upon the Ameri-
can continent. Mr., Hale subsequently, re,
minded the Senate of the interesting fact
that " tho Monroe doctrine" was adopted an
asuggestion by Great Britain, and with
pledge that she would aid in carrying it out.
This was done when Great Britain feared
that nther European Governments might put
their fingers in the American plum pudding.
The message was subsequently discussed by
Mr.. Hale, who said the document was histor-
ically false on the Slavery question, and an
insult to a vast majority of the people, who,
because they are not pro slavery men, are
sligmatized by the President as enemies of
the Constitution" Mr. Hale suggested that
the President hurr led in his pro-slavery mes
sage, because several Southern Democratic /
Conventions were about TO meet 10 elect del |
Ns"N'' :" W. iiesiuS"iial conventions ana 4
he predicted thatthe Presidents haste would
be IN vain that, having entirely forfeited the
confidence Of the North the South would
now drop him. Messrs. Cass and Stewart
the Michigan Senators, took occasion 10 soy
that they still insist upon the doctrine OF
squatler sovereignty, and hold that the terri
torlal legislatures have the right either to adj
init or exclude slavery.
In the House a long discussion arose ON
The question of receiving and reading the
Message, the result Of which was that the
whole matter was laid on the table. The
Message has not been officially received by
he House, and has not been read.
The contest for Speaker is still waged
Without material changes. Now and then
IN interesting episode occurs, like this;
WASHINGTON, Monday, Jan. z.
sENArE.-in the Senate, today, Mr. Brod-
head Of Pa, called up his resolution direct.
ng the Committee on Finance To inauire in
% the expedency Of reporting the genernl
appropriation bills, or adopting some speedv
iction On them in order TO AVOID night SEES.
'ions at the close of eeeh Congress. and
scenes which his sense OF deeacy prevent.
ed him from describing He was in favor of
doubling the pay Of members, If thereby
sessions could DO shortened.
a discussion followed participated in by
Messrs. Clayton, Toombs and Seward.
The resolution was adopted
Adjourned until Thursday next
HousE.--The House took another vote for
Speaker, with the following result:
Necessary 10 a choice l0s