Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-08-27
WHOLE NO. 27O6.

It was stated in the Senate that the Senator
from Massachusetts, had paired off with some
other member, who was also ndisposed. a
sncer OF contempt was observed through the
Chamber at the idea Of his indisposition. and
I the leaders of tho pro-slavery Democracy af
feet to believe that it is a prctence on the par
of man who has been suffering these two
years. la my opinion, the world has never
seen exhibited such refined malignity and
cruelty as this attempt TO treat with scorn
that suffering man. This is worse a thousand
fold than the spirit which under excitement
could strike the blow, for this is meditated
and continued malice. Loud applause
voice-Threc cheers for Sumner The
cheers were given heartily
mention this, my fellow citizens. to show
the condition Of things at Washington. Let
me tell you another fact. went as your re-
preventative two years ago 20 Washington,
almost an entire stranger, never having met
more than two or throc members Of the Sem
ate IN my life. | remained there as one Of
the representatives Of this State through two
sessions of Congress, sent there TO consult
with the representatives of other co-equal
states for the best good of a common country.
and for those two years was not placed on a
committee which ever met. Republican sem
ators were not consulted-we were ignored
ehtIe'y oy TINS proscriptiye, intolerant party,
lhat maze adhesion to the interests of the
save power the only test by which they al
ioWed person to take part in the proceed
lngs OF government wherever they could pre-
vent II. little different state of things pre-
Tailed alter the Fremont election in 1885,
nut let me tell you how 1t is now. The COM
mlttees were organized anew at the com
mencemcnt OF the last session of Congress,
and have with me list Of them. On look
ing at 1t YOU will find that all the leading
committees are not only entirely in the inter
est OF this pro-slaycry party but are control
lea 10y southern men. The Committee on
Foreign Relations Is one Of the most i'm
por'ant- 1t is presided over by Mason, OF
Virginia, and a majority of that committee
are from the southern states. The commit
teo on the Judiciary Is presided over by Bay
ard OF Delaware, and "a majority Of the COM
mlttce are from the southern states. The
committee on Naval Affairs Is presided over
by Mallory, OF Florida, and majority Of that
committee are from the southern states
ne committee on Military Affairs is presid-
ed over by Davis. Of Mississippi. On Post
ohces py luiee, OF Florida. Tho Committee
on flnance by Hunter OF Virginia. South
erh mon are at the head of all those commit
tees mat on Commerce is presided over by
Ciay' ot Alabama that on Indian Affairs by
oeoastlan' OF Arkansas | believe there are
one or two other committees besides that on
territories, OF which Mr.. Douglas is the
chairman the ohalrmanship Of which is given
TO the North ; perhaps the Committee on En-
rolled Bills or something of that kind Now
the Northern or free states constitute ma
.outy and you see how powcrless they are
IN the business OF the Senate
/ MS Is so, not only IN regard to the dstri-
button OF the business of Congress, but in the
At the last session of Con
'resS' more than threo-tourths Of all the mon
y appropriated for iortifcations on the At
anuc and Gulf coast was appropriated for
orthcations IN slaveholding States. There
ire two buildings in the South erected for
'ustom-houso purposos-onc at New Orleans
md the other at Charleston-not yet COM
'leted, and no estimates yet furnished of
What the cost ofcompletion will be. Already
more than five millions of dollars have been
appropriated to build these two houses alone.
here's where the money goes. The last
congress appropriated S450,00O to continue
he work upon them and when inquired in
he Senate, of the chairman of the Committee
N Finance how much the custom-house at /
lharleston would cost when completed he /
eplied that no estimate had been made but
ne inquiry led to the disclosure of the fact
hat marble palace was being built fronting
n fish market on one side, which had al
eady cost. with the appropriation then ask
d, some two millions of dollars, and it would /
ost some three millions before it would bo
nished How many men do you suppose
re to occupy this building when finished =
'orty-eight was the number of employees in
S67' the last year reported, and the amount
revenue collected was little over $780,
90. Laughter. The so-called Democra-
: want for the accommodation of those for
i-oight persons, and to collect S500,00O
uilding to cost three millions In the great
ty of New York there is a custom-houso--
ANY of you have seen it--a fine building it
, and it cost about eleven hundred thousand
pillars.
How many persons do you suppose arc en-
Dyed at the New York Custom House, and
DIV much revenue collected The last year
ported more than forty-two millions of dol
rs collected at New York, and there were
ore than thousand persons employed in its
election and building costing little over