Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-12-24
FROM WASHINGTON.

graded.
Thu Committees Of both Houses have been
appointed In the House, the Committees
are substantially as at the last session, the
Vermont members occupying the same places,
Mr.. Morrill, having been placed on the Com
4nittee of Ways and Means at the last scs-
sion, where he now remains That is always
a laborious, and usually the most important
committee of the House it is now so, the
revision of the Tariff devolving upon it, as
we'll as ali Of the appropriation bills. The
Chairman is tho leader OF the House, this .
committee having special privileges by the .
rules. ] Clancy Jones was the Chairman
at the last session. but having been repudi-
atcd by his constituents, he withdrew from
Congress to repair damages, and the Presi-
dent has kindly assigned him to Austria, as
L. s. Minister Plonipotcntiary whom the
people reject the President rewards. The
vacancy in the craftsmanship Of the Commit
tee of Ways and Means, thus created, has
been filled by the appointment of Mr. Phelps
Of Missouri, a native of New England and
his unfortunate predecessor. This Commit /
tee consists of nine members-six supporters
of the Administration. two Republicans
Howard of Mich, and Morrill,, both Yer
monters,) and one American Mr.. Davis Of
Md guess that every Democrat on the
Committee is opposed to any revision of the
Tariff and that the three members in the mi
nority will be the only ones to second the
recommendations of the President. 1t is
remarkable fact that the President and his
Secretary of the Treasury materially disagree
in their views, as will be evident on compar-
ing the Message with the report of the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury. Hence, there is rea-
son to suspect that the recommendations Of
the President, especially of specific duties,
will not be earnestly pressed, except it be
anon articles that do not come in competition
with domestic productions. The Secretary
of the Treasury believes that duties for reve-
nue. shoHld be laid, first and heaviest, upon
such articles, and last and least upon articles
that do compete with our own-thus entirely
reversing the principle upon which every
Tariff hitherto has been arranged; thus re-
jecting entirely the principle of favoring do
nestle productions. and giving TO our own
producers even the leastpossible incidental
protection. If, tlen, Congress will select for
the imposition Of duties such articles as we
do not produce--such. for instance, as tea
and cofee-t is very likely that the Secretary
will agree to specific duties and thus, and
only thus. the President and his Secretary
even the Dutchmen of Pennsylvania will be
apt to think that the Presidents Message on
the Tariff was designed simply for their
amusement.
In the Senate Committees ! observe no
material change, except in the Committee on
Territories. This Committee has the charge
of all bills relating to territories, and of
course it is he committee which has to deal
with the slavery question: as involved in ter
riiories and States to be formed from them.
Senator Douglas has long been its Chairman,
and long has be faithfully served the slavo-
cracy in that position: but at the last session
he dared TO differ with them on the Kansas
question. For this offence, he now been
deliberately degraded. The Senate Commit
tees are appointed, not by the Vice President,
nor yet (really) by ballot, but by a caucus
The Democratic Senators in caucus make out
the lists, taking tbout tco-thirds Of all impor-
tant committees to themselves, aud then turn
over these lists to the Republicans to fill out
IL L. all ,c oh
Having promised this, have only to say that
the Democratic caucus determined to degrade
and disgrace Douglas, by dropping him from
the craftsmanship, and placing Senator Greer
(the leader of the opponents of free Kansas
last year. in his place: and it was done. Onl!
seven Democratic Senators voted in caucus tn,
Grst time against this undignifed and illibera
proneedng-and only four on the last ballot
Among the seven minority was Senator
Toombs Of Georgia, an ultra pro-slavery man
with three other Southern Senators, Will,
several Of the Democratic Senators from fire.,
States united in an act which some Southern
Senators denounced. These Northern Sena
ts-s we're doubtless faithful to The Administra
sion, to which Douglas has now been sacri
feed. The South will not be united on thi
question 1t is well understood that tn
leaders Of fhe pro-sayery forces-sueh a
Toombs ip .tlss Senate, and Stephens in tn
House-pre for Lseping terms with Douglas
50 the fight will 90 on between Douglas an,
she Administration, and Douglas will have
southsrp party with him, Whether he VII
retain his sirepgth with the Northern Demoe
racy, under cbsss circumstance remains t
be seen.
Criminal Gases IL Iedeyai Counts.
Mr. Foot has introduced Sill in the Sen
ate amendatesy Of existing laws relating /
the punishment Of certain crmes againstth
lfnilod Sfnfos-ihn r..lrnnsc of which il [