Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-02-05
WISHING TOY .NiYTEP,S

The bill making appropriations for foreign
ministers and consuls. after being twice defeat
ed, was passed on Friday of last week. by three
majority Seven Republicans voted for it, viz
Messrs. Foster, Washburn, Morse, Wood OF
Maine, Morrill, of Vermont, Gooch of Massa-
chusetts, and Nichols of Ohio. Some of these
are among the frmcst opponents Of the Admin
istration in the House but they voted for the
bill partly on the ground that it was a reasona-
bic and necessary appropriation, authorized BY
expressed laws, and that, besides, it contained a
humane provision for the support of recaptured
Africans, to which it was desirable to give the
sanction of law.
The Pacific Railroad bill is pretty effcctually
killed for the present Congress. After being
loaded with several patches of amendments.
some of which were voted down and others
agreed to, Mr.. Doolttle offered an amendment
providing for preliminary survey, which was
agreed to; subsequently, motion to strike out
all except this latter amendment was made and
carried and in that condition the bill passed the
Senate.
Inc bill giving quarter section, or 100 acres,
OF land to every head of family over twenty
one years of age, who is a citizen of the United
States, or who has filed an intention to become
such according to the naturalization laws, on
condition oft actual settlement and cultivation.
passed the House of Representatives, on Tues
day, by the significant vote of 100 yeas to &c
nays.
Morrills Land bin, donating land for the es-
Enlistment of Agricultural Colleges, has been
considered in the Senate. a preliminary mo-
ton occasioned very nearly tie vote, but the
Senate was not full Its success is somewhat
doubtful
The tariff question excites more interest. both
from the intrinsic merits of the subject and the
conflicting opinions of the President and his
Secretary of the Treasury than AM, othar t,,,,:.
before Congress, save, perhaps, the thirty mil
lion appropriation bill. The Committee on
Ways and Means are at dead lock. The Re-
publicans are for an increase of duties in such
manner as to afford some protection to our
domestic industry. Some of the democrats are
against any increase ofrevenue from this source
The Pennsylvania democrats generally are for
protection as their iron interests are in a low
condition. The President is in favor of an in
crease of the tariff and, in some cases, of spe-
cific duties. Mr.. Cobb, the Secretary of the
Treasury, is opposed to any increase, and in ia
vor Of free trade and direct taxation. Under
these adverse circumstances there does not seem
to be any hope of an improved tariff this SEES
sion. If the opposition to the tariff will reduce
the expenditures Of the government, and prac-
tice rctSenchment and economy the most impor-
tant point will be gained.
The democrats have lately taken 10 caucusng,
and the reports of their proceedings occupy
quite as much space as does that of the doings
of Congress. This is an additional evidence
that the interests Of party are paramount to the
interests of the country. But now and then
some grains of truth appear in the speeches of
these democrats, which CLEAN with greater
brightness on account of their dark surround
ings. In the democratic caucus to consider the
tariff question, Mr.. Stephens of Georgia, ad-
ministered fagellation to the administration
for its extravaganza. He said that when he
first entered Congress in 1913, the expenses of
the government were only twenty millions per
annum. The country had gone through the
expensive Mexican war with $4,000 soldiers in
the field for 1913 100000, and now, in time of
peace, the estimates were S73,000,000. Many
expenditures were wholly unnecessary and re-
form was indispensably needed. lie believed
100000 900 an abundance for the national ex-
penses. He was therefore opposed to an in
crease Of duties, and said the expenditures
should be brought within the present receipts.