Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-02-11
FROM WASHINGTON.
By f. T. WALTON


70 claimcnts on the JUSTICE OF the government
The plan was to take up the list Of bills that
had been objected to, give ten minutes for
debate to esch--hve in favor and five against
and then take the question. The result
was that most Of the time was wasted, and but
few bills we're disposed Of Ills pretty safe
10 guess, that the Administration is short Of
money, and altogether acsgse to paying claims
Of its citizens. Yet, Spain, it will be re-
membered, was a preferred creditor in the es-
timation Of the Administration, for pay for
The Amistad negroes, who had redeemed
themselves from save-traders on the high sea.
and were decided to be free by the Supreme
Court Of the United States The President
told us in his message to pay Spain for these
negroes, aud it was urged in the Senate on
the very first day of the session Then, too,
there is another great preferred creditor, in
Slacery, which demands thirty millions for
It's benefit, when the Government has not
dollar in the treasury, except what has been
borrowed. In a word. our own citizens.
whose claims have boon established in the
Court Of Claims and passed the second ordeal
of a committee, must stand back for Slarerg
We had another test on Wednesday. in the
French Spoliation bill, claim Of half a cen
tury's standing. which has many times recciv-
cd the favor of Congress, and twice by both
branches Of the same Congress, when the bill
was defeated by the veto. A motion TO lay
on the table was lost, log to Is. A point of
order was then interposed, that, as a money
bill, the bill should 20 to the Committee of
the Whole, and the Speaker sustained the
point. An appeal was taken. but motion
TO lay it on the table was carried. 1913 to 50:
SO | am afraid that those who have waited
more than half century already, will have
to wait a little longer 1t would not be far
from the truth to say, that they, too. must
stand back for SlaUcry--ior while the vote
was not strictly sectional one. it is true that
the opposition to the bill is mainly in the
slave States and its support mainly from the
free.
The African lSiarc- Trodc.
On Tuesday, there was vote in the House
on the slaye-trade. Mr.. Kigore of Indiana
(Repub asked leave to introduce series of
strong resolutions against the save-trade.-
Mr.. Burnett of Ky. DEM objected; and
ON the question of suspending the rules, the
ayes were 10, noes 81. so, although two
thirds vote was not obtained, there wss ma
jority Of 81 against the slave-trade. Thir-
teen Democrats from free States voted with
the South on this question, and five Ameri-
icans and one Democrat ,Boyco) from slave
States, voted with the North.
4 Vote Against Nore Loans.
On Tuesday, also, the House voted against
suspending the rules to admit loan bill for
twenty millions ayes rs, noes 1874 ma
jority. Until at least one of two things hap
pens, reduction of expenditures, or an adj
dition to the revenue, 1--WE ought to have
both there will be stern resistance in the
House to any increase of the National Debt
Homestead Bin Passed.
Mr.. Grows homestead bill passed the
House on Tuesday, by over fifty majority
The vote was more nearly sectional than any
taken for a long time only three representa-
tiyes from slave States supported the bill.
Why: In my Judgment, more efficient
dnfi-stauery measure cannot well be devised.
1t allows every head of family, OF person
81 years Of age, ,if he is a citizen. or has de-
cared his mention to become such, to enter
upon 100 acres of land-to cultivate the
same consecutively for five years, and then If
actually citizen to receive title to the
land on the payment of $40 and the costs at
the land office. The land is to be exempt
from levy for all debts contracted previous to
the date of entry upon the land. This divis-
ion of the public lands into small farms. at
moderate cost will stimulate the emigration
of small farmers and young men iuet starting
into active lite-the very men who are least
bnrdened with slaves. The old States have
some reason, it is true, to object to any new
stimulus to emigration yet the policy of
breaking up land monopolies is so eminently
necessary and wise, that particular States
like our own, for instance-may well forego
this objection. doubt the fate of the bin
in the Senate
The Tariff.
The Committee of Ways and Means is at
deadlock cannot report a tariff BILL
In the meantime liking Caucus" has vetoed
Tor attempted to Veto legislation on this sub
ject. The Democrats in the Senate, in eau
Gus, so decided by all but unanimous vote
MIR. Douglas going with the anti-tarifr men.
About fifty Democrats of the House met in
Caucus, and, with but two or three dissenting
votes, agreed with the Democrats of the SEN
ate. Thus the President is without marty
or the Democratic party is without Presi-
dent, The rumor is that the President is in
dignant, and Pennsylvania Democrats ditto
Indeed that the latter have asked for the re-
moval of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
What our Delegation are About
In the Senate, Judge Collamer maintains
his deserved prominence in the general de-
bates, and has spoken particularly on the Pa
oific Railroad and Mr.. Morrill's Land bill.
The latter, am sorry to say, was re-commit-
ted yesterday, by bare majority. am