Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-06-25

sion Of The Senate.
On Monday, the 18th, at o'clock p. m,
the 'hrty-ffh Congress closed its first scs-
sion, after six and ono-quartcr months ser
vice This is not far from the average length
of the long sessions for the last twenty years,
measuring by months-but it is said that
Congress has been in session more hours dur
ing the present term than in any previous
one, and Chat the amount of business has been
comparatively large The list of acts shows
the following.
Public acts passed 30
Resolutions and Joint Resolutions, IS
Private bills, 1874
Total 2ll
Tho appropriation bills cover an expenditure
of about serenity millions Of dollars, and yet
many of the customary objects Of expendi-
turo have been omitted, and others greatly
reduced. Notwithstanding this rctrcnchmcnt
and the extraordinary provision Of treasury
notes and large loan, it will be hardly pos
sble to keep the government in funds beyond
the first of January next, without revival Of
imports such as we have no right to desire or
expect Beginning with surplus of seven
teen millions, the present Administration win
leave the country with a debt of forty mill
ions, created between its Inauguration and the
first Of January, l8j9--makug a deficiency
Of fly-seyen millions in less than two years
1t is quite probable that the first duty of Com
gross at the next session will be "toraisc the
wind and it viii be fortunate if an extra
session shall not be required previous to the
LIST Monday Of December.
On the adjournment, the Senate was re-
convened by Proclamation from the Prosi-
dent, and remained in session until Wcdnes-
day, the l6th-mauly devoted to executive
business
The Washington States Democratic thus
speaks of Congress
"When Congress convened there was cycry sign Of
troublesome times Men, representing the worst passion.
OF the two great sections Of the country met ltthcr u
the national couucaalls, prepared for fearful strggl,
on that question which mist iu spirit az least forever
separate the South from ihc North But That question
hos been settled for The time The proceedings Of the
Gus ia the cNtrcmc-dicrut parties working together
with hearty good will where sectional prcjudcos n-
/ tcrosts DO not interfere
/ 'I The more moral portion or the community have mo
doubt Remarked with sincere pleasure and PRIDE thai th,
scenes Of riot and dcbauchcy which have characterized
the close Of other sessions were yesterday omitted
-" In fine, looking back the transactions OF Congress
since December last find that much has been accom-
pi,hcd i1r the public good and benefit but much more
adhered strictly to heto14tR Performance Of therpuI-
/ lic duties"
The complimentary part of the above is no
more than just, so far at least as the House
is concerned, for which can personally vouch,
The closing days of the House were charac-
terizcd by quite as much order as usual, and
rather more than usual good temper: and |
will say that | Witnessed, in the closing days
I of previous Congress, more incompetence
and violence altogether than have been exhib.
tied during the entire session of the present
Congress. Father Giddings (the father O
the House. being the oldest member testi-
ies that he has never known a Congress with
so little vice among its members, as the pres
ent. Most of this credit is unquestionably
due to the members themselves for the mean,
Of induging vicious propcnsities are Away,
ample at the capital: but something is also
due to the unwearied efforts of the President
Of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
to preserve the order and decorumo of the bod
les over which they have presided. Speaker
Orr has endeavorod to rule with a strong
hand and aside from pretty severe sacrifices
which have been occasionally exacted from
him by his party, he has had the approval anC
hearty good will as well of his political OPP
pononts as Of his political friends | think
Congress was fortunate in selecting him foi
the chair, as the man most fit to preside il
the especially exciting scenes attendant upor
the Kansas question. The fact is that tn,
most explosive material was upon his side o
the House, and he could anticipate and con
troll it as no Republican could have done
, On the other hand, think the men Of tn,
North have either stronger selccontrol thar
their Southern neighbors, or are better school
ed in the rules of order for certain it is
that the Republican side of the House ha,
very rarely called for the intorposition Of tn,
chalr' even III PERIODS OF the most ntens,
excitement
Absorbed, as Congress was for more thar
half Of the session, by the Kansas question
members were left with little opportunity fol
other matters beyond the measures absolute
ly necessary to keep the wheels of govern,
ment in motion : hence no public acts Of un
usual importance have been matured o
those most interesting to Normonters, will
add, that Mr.. Mcrrill's land bill (Which pass
ed the House was not acted upon in the Sen,
ate majority is counted for the bill by it,
friends in that body, but Senators Clay and
Pugh prevented action by intimating thai
they would talk against time, to prevent the
passage of the bill. The two land bills il
, the Senate Foot and Johnson's $, and Grow,
in the House, were all alike unsuccessful
and the House bills granting pensions to sol
diers in the war Of 1912, and providing fol
revolutionary claims met with the sat,e r., "a