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

Feb 20, 1850. By order Of Committee.
FROM WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY Eve, March 8.
To-day Senator Collamer delivered a very
able speech on the slavery question, and you
will observe that he walked up some Of the
lions on the pro-slavery side He did not
seem to think that they were very much in
his way. The most remarkable scene OF this
week in the House was the savage assault
(verbal) on Mr.. Van Wyck Of New York
but it was not by any means so savage in the
House as it appears in tho Globe. The worst
language OF Mr.. Davis, though uttered, was
TO those around him rather than to Mr.. Van
Wyck, and was not heard either by Mr.. Van
Wyck or the friends around him, nor by the
reporters. 1t is said, however, that Mr.. Da-
Wis avowed the language and desired to have
it printed. There were signs that different
assault would grow out Of the affair to-day
but Mr.. Van Wyck was persuaded to omit an
intended declaration in respect to Mr.. Dayis's
language, and the other parties made no new
demonstration.
One of our Boys.
Ed. Bridges is chief clerk in the House post
Office This scrap about him is Characteristic
MIR Lucas the Postmaster n tho House. has appoint.
ed as his first assistant Mr. r. H. Bridges, Of the Chi
cago journal Mr.. Is. is native II Vermont originally
printer and graduate from the Montpelier pafclnaq
office lie the clerk Of the Illinois House Of Repre-
sentativcs the occasion when the Democrats forciby
seized the Hall and proceeded without authority organ
zc that body in the absence OF the Republican members
Mr. Bridges alone resisted the democratic mob, until
they put him foreiby out Of the Hall. minus his coat.
vest and shirt which he lost in the struggle lie can
bear his hand in any cprcsshlc conflict that may arise
OF five boys in the lVatclman Office at one
time, three have been in Congress, two as
members and one as an officer, and the other
two are smart enough for either position
One of the two is Oliver Johnson, the well
known editor Of the And-Slauery Standard,
and the other dropped the "stick" and rule
took to trade and fell---into a postmaster
ship under Buchanan. Alas for Charley
THURSDAY, March 10.
The Homestead BW.
Tho week has been marked by important
measures in the House, and for the first have
to record the passage of the Homestead bill
(Grow's) by large majority ayes IA, noes
&C. The vote was eminently sectonal-Mr,
Craig of Missouri being the only slave State
man who voted aye, and Montgomery of Penn
sylvania the only Northern man who voted no.
Missouris status even in the early future, is
doubtful, both politically and in respect to
slavery. Montgomery protested to be favor
able to the principle, but opposed to the de-
tails of the bill. Why sectional vote, /
heard Southerner say Il would vote for the
bill u you wouid giUe every man a title niger"
All there is no "litte Niger" in the bill
so it is a sectional measure But think the /.
tendency Of the bill is to freedom, and against
slavery. The unanimous pro-slavery vote
against the bill certainly indicates that South
ern men do not regard it as specially favorable
to slavery. Consider its provisions a free
homestead Of l60 acres of land worth 81 25
per acre, OF of so acres worth 81 so per acre,
to every head of family, who is an American
citizen, or who shall have fled his intention
TO become such. He must become an actual
settler, and must stick to the land five years
before a patent can be issued, to which he
will then be entitled on the payment of $40
The land to be free against debts incurred
previous to the issue Of the patent. Small
farms to actual settlers that is the bill. No
big plantations, such as many handed slave
holders want, and no chance for big specula-
tons. The land is open to those who will
work il and the men who are enured to work
and have energy and hope, will be the first tc
take and hold 1.-THE promised land" This
consideration has reconciled representatives of
old States to the bill, who might well object
that it offers a bounty to their citizens to fit.
The old States cannot have the share in the
lands TO which they arc entitled: it is not the
policy of the new States to permit it, nor of
the Democratic party Gin the MAIN in the old
States. Thus the old States have nothing to
gain for their own citizens, except what they
can gain for such of them as are compelled or
disposed to emigrate. This bill affords the
opportunity TO the poorest; and il is these, If
they have good heart and strong hands left,
who will be the most ready to emigrate, and
probably to the greatest advantage. Itwould
be hard to deny the privilege to such and
the House has not denied it. The Senate has
to decide next. Politically the vote on the
bill stood thus
ayes, Noes
Democrats, % 80
Anti Leeumpton Dem,
Americans, IS
Republicans "a o.
Total, IA Go
The Tar'6.
On Monday, Mr.. Morrill, asked leave to in
toduce bill to provide for funding tho
Treasury notes and raise the necessary reye-
nue. by modification of the Tariff. Obiec-
ton being made, he moved a suspension OF
the rules The ayes were lO5, noes GO; a
large majority, but not two-thirds vote so
the motion failed. On Tuesday, Mr. Sher-
man, for the Committee of Ways and Means,