Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-01-29
WASHINGTON MArrERS.

| little affair in the Senate which needs ventll-
alton, particularly as uncommon pains have
been taken to cover it up and keep it close
At the extra session last year, Senator Ben
iamin of Louisiana offered a resolution to
print 10000 copies of the bred Scott decis-
ion at the expense of Government. The Re-
| publican Senators indicated their intention to
oppose this movement strenuously and the
| Democrats, rather than proong the session by
such discussion, let the matter drop.
Another similar resolution was offered re-
Gently to the Senate and went to the Commit
tee on Printing The fact was then discover
ed that Mr. Benjamin and some other Sena-
tors had induced the Senate printer. without
the slightest legal authority, topay $1,000 for
the copyright Of the decision, to pay 5000 for
a manuscript copy of it, and to oxpend a
good many thousand dollars more in printing
an unauthorized edition. Having got the
printer into this scrape they are trying to got
him out of it at the expense of a bankrupt
treasury, by passing through the Senate res
oution to pay for this illegal and partisan
transaction To do so, would be a violation
of the compensation act, for the bred Scott
! decision is not government document, and
| the Senate has no more reason to pay for an
edition of it than it has to pay for an edition
| Of Biglor's speech on Kansas, and 20 allow
that eminent orator $1,000 for the copyright
of this production, The transaction is job,
quite as bad in principle as some of those
which the House is now investigating with
such indignant and cdifying virtue"
WAsurxorov. Jan. % rHeraH cores
pondcnco u is confidently stated in diplo-
matte circles here that war between Mexico
and Spain is inevitable. The latest adyices
] n,I.r af4,faf 90, 4ff
that it is the generally received opinion at
Madrid that Spain will shortly make dem
stration on Mexico. England and Franco to
the contrary notwithstanding, and that active
| preparations 10 that end are now in progress.
limitations Of Santa Anna completely in the
contemplated invasion are also mooted. The
government has sent stringent orders 60 the
Captain General Of Cuba to have the Spanish
naval forces in America put at once in the
highest state of efficiency on the other hand,
lctters received here by the last mail from
Mexico a day or two since say that a negative
reply to Spanish preliminary propositions has
been sent to General Almontc the Mexican
minister 20 England, and to Senior Laiitagua,
and that they are instructed by the Mexican
government not to recodc in a single point
from the just demands that Mexico has made,
The story that Santa Anna has been lately 20
Havana is not credited horo although it Is
known that his agents are actively at work
there and possess the favor of the govern
mcnt
Tho Republican members are holding "a
caucus this evening, for the purpose of max
ing arrangements and and fixing their plans
TO oppose the Lccompton Constitution, which
will shortly be communicated to Congress.
Mr.. Blair is to be their leader They are
confident that sufficient number of Demo-
Gratis Will go with them to defeat It,
Information has Just been furnished the
Treasury Department Of extensive attempts
ON the part of the Captain and officers of the
frgate Congress to pass through the Phila-
delphia Custom House a large amount Of val
uables of various kinds, free Of duty and in
violation Of law. The matter is now being
Investigated.
WAsurNoroN, Jan p lTrib,oe Cores
pondence.) The California combination for
carrying the Mormon war from that side
OF the Mountains has effected its object
Gen. Scott will start for California next week,
with full powers from government to organize
in that State ana army for tho invasion Of Utah
if the latest adyiccs from Salt Lake city
which he shall receive in California, are such
as to warrant the prosecution of hostilties
In that case he viii employ the regulars now
on the Pacific side, and will also call upon
the Governor of California for volunteers.
lie expects to reach Salt Lake in juno, sim
ultaneously with Col. Johnston. 1t is part
of his plan Of operations to conduct the army
up the Colorado river which is believed TO be
nayigable for 800 miles above it's junction
with the ella, and in the exact direction of
Utah.
The southern route for the Pacific Railroad
has been voted down in the Senate Committee
by the casting vote of Mr. Douglas.
The President is in travail with Kansas
again. He denied himself even to members
of the Cabinet on Thursday, and was sup
posed to be engaged in the preparation of an
other message on the question Of the day.
SECRET HrsroRY OF THE PREs1DENr's
APosrAcY.-The secret history of Governor
Wise's detection from the Administration is
thus given by the Washington Republic with
substantial accuracy, we have no doubt:
The President started out with the policy
of securing to the people of Kansas fair
vote upon their constitution He sent Gov.
Walker to Kansas to execute that policy. For
awhile he stood firm, and wrote letter to
Gov. Walker, mot yet published, but shown
by Gov. w. to many persons,) assuring him
Of the support of the Administration 'La
Georgia and AiaboDa and Mississippi hort.
said the President in this letter, 4 ioW stand
( By you That the President used substanti-
ally this language is well authenticated fact.
In the end, the horlmg' became so terrific that
poor Buchanan was frightened out Of his wits.
changed his policy and abandoned Gov, Wal
ker. Before he changed his policy, he had
arranged with GOV. Wise to make diversion
/ against the fre-eaters in VIRGINIA CIV