Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-05-29
with mutton, were killed in Rochester, VT,
the largest weighing $50 pounds.
Political Inlclliycncc.


The Republican State Committee of Mas
sachusetts have called their State Conven-
ton at Worcester, June oath next. The
call embraces all, without regard to past or
present political differences on other ques.
tions, who recognize, as of paramount i'm
portance, the issue which the platform adopt
ed by the Philadelphia convention, on the
18th of June, 1856, presents in opposition to
the pro-slavery policy of the past and present
administration, and the necessity of a ma
tional organization-of which state organ
cations are part-upon the basis of that is
sue,as the only practicable mode of peaccablc
and constitutional resistance to the recent
more aggressive, arrogant, and intolerant
and intoerabe spirit of that policy, of
which the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise, the lawless invasion of Kansas. and
the decision of the Supreme Court in the
bred Scott case, are Developments and
proofs.
The NY. Americans used to deny before the
Presidential election that it was their object
to elect Buchanan. But now that the spoils
are being divided, they claim the dubious
honor. Says the New York Express -
The News ought to know that the nomi =
nation of Mr.. Fillmore, and the one million
of votes cast for him, by party and cti-
zens who had no prospect Of success, and lao
hope of reward, gave its own candidate the
ascendency and its own party the victory
The Legislature of Ohio has made an inn
portant change in the election law. Thirty
days residence in the county, and twenty
days In the township or ward, are now re-
quired to constitute legal voter.
A matter which will have its significance
to those who have any doubts of the absolute
wisdom and integrity of the present ad-
ministration, has recently found its way in
to public notice. a claim for $40 900
which was denied payment by the former
guardians of the U. S. Treasury, has been
paid under suspicious circumstances The
facts are MS follows
Congress appropriated $2iO 200 to the
Menomonee Indians for lands surrender
ed by them. Mr.. II. w. Thompson of In
diana claimed $4,000 of this under an
agreement that he, as their agent, should
receive one-third of the sum allowed to
them by Congress. The Indians denied the
claim, and when he reduced it to $40 900,
still refused to acknowledge it, but took the
appropriation and divided it among them
selves. Mr.. Thompson applied to the gen
eral government which promptly decided
that it was not bound to make good the
private contracts which the Indians had
made with him
Mr. Thompson next succeeded in getting n
clause inserted in the Civil and Diplomatic
bill appropriating $40, 900 to him, provided,
according to the journals of Congress. " that
the same be paid with the consent of the
Menomonees, but according to the pub
lished act without any such condition.
How the condition slipped out of the act, il
1t was properly in the journals it would
he dithcult to say still more difficult
how it got into the journals if it did
not belong there. Mr.. Guthrie, with the
advice OF Mr. Cushing, refused to pay the
money under this state of things, till the
consent Of the McnomOnecs should be OBJ
TIMED. Mr.. Thompson undertook to obtain
this. but although the Indians seem to have
had no interest in the matter, they re-
fused their assent, and Mr.. Guthrie steadily
refused to pay the money, and the ad-
ministration of Mr.. Pierce went out leaving
the claim of Mr.. Thompson unsatisied
In the mean time Mr.. Thompson, former
ly Wing, became an active Know Nothing,
opposed Fremont with zeal, and by working
for Mr.. Fillmore rendered efficient aid in
carrying Indiana for Mr. Buchanan Since
then he has been to the treasury and his
claim is paid. Mr.. Black, the Attorney
General gave an opinion in opposition to that
ofIMr. Gushing, Mr.. Cobb promptly reversed
the decision OF Mr.. Guthrie, and Mr.. Thomp-
son goes on his way rejoicing with the
$4,000. The general government, on a
doubtful Interpretation of a suspicious act,
pays the private debts Of the Menomonee
Indians.