Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-23

House will pass Tariff bill The prospect
of concurrence by the Senate is not very IA
vorabe.
California Mail,.- Poiygamy.- Slavery in
Neic Mepico.
The bill from the Post Office Committee
reported by Mr. Colfax (Republcan), which
is intended to save about half million dol
lars year in the transportation Of California
mails, has passed the House. On Wedncs-
day, tho Judiciary Committee. through Mr..
Nelson Of Tennessee American, reported Mr..
Morrill's bill to punish polygamy. 1t made
a furry. Mr.. Houston Of Alabama Demo
craft promptly declared his opposition to the
bill. Is it not strange, passing strange, that
anybody should object to Pains and penalties
for that which il a crime in every State in the
Union; But there is reason for 1.-THE old
reason a colored gentleman in the woodpile.
II Congress has power to prohibit polygamy
in Federal territories, why not to prohibit
slavery They are "thc twin relics Of bar
barism," says the Republican platform. Mr..
Houston understands that and therefore, "a
protect slavery, he deliberately chooses to toll
crate polygamy You see this is bringing
the matter to the point. What will tho OPP
ponents Of the Republicans in the North do
about it Are they ready for both, slavery
and polygamyi This, however, is only sig
nifcant Of the exaoting spirit Of the Slaycoc-
racy. 1t will stick at nothing This bill is
to be followed by another, repeating the pro-
slavery act Of the territorial legislature Of
New Mexico.
The Senate Imprisons Witness.
The most interesting event in the Senate
has been the order for the imprisonment OF
Mr. Hyatt Of Massachusetts lie is summon
ed as a witness and appears, but denies the
right of the Senate to compel attendance, and
refuses TO make satisfactory answers to inter
rogatories put to him. What shall be done
with him? By a very large majority IA to
l0) the Senate ordered him to be imprisoned
for contempt, and TO be kept there until he is
willing to answer. The debate is interesting
and will repay erusal but must say | sus-
pect that, had the occasion been different,
there would have been much more nearly
balanced vote on the result. The Republi-
cans had promptly united in demanding full
investigation OF the Harpers Ferry affair for
the defcuce Of their own party and people,
who had been assaied en- masse as accessories
before the fact with John Brown they de-
manded the truth, and the whole truth. Hy-
att was supposed to be an important witness
Now, if the investigation fails--as ! think il
will, utterly, in duplicating the Republican
party or the people of the North--what would
be said if Hyatt and other witnesses, who are
supposed to know something about Browns
affairs, should be discharged without telling
what they know-and discharged, too. by
Republican Senators The answer is obvi-
Gus: at once a camor would assail them from
every quarter of the country, accusing them
of sitting tho truth-of blinking investiga-
confession of guilt Now | will not say, as
have no right to say, that any Senator has
voted contrary to his judgment on this ques-
tom but do say that this consideration has
had great weight with Republican Senators.
1t has undoubtedly influenced their Judgment
in this case. ! think it would have been bet
ter, had Mr.. Hyatt waived his question of
right, after stating it, and thus putting the
fact on record, and then testified to all he
knows about the case, as a matter of expo
diency.