Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-18
FROM WASHINGTON.


moved to reject the bill ayes 43, noes %.
The line was drawn pretty strictly between
the Republicans Of the Free States, and the
Democrats from the Free States and members
from Slave States. There we're a few excep-
tions: Haight of n. Y. (dem.,) Clements Of
Tenn. Blair of Mo. (rep.,) Brown and Shelf
field Of X. |. (union,) Fisher Of Del. (union,)
and Odol of N. Y. (dem.,) all voted in the
negative. The bill is in committee Of the
whole, and will be pushed as rapidly as pos
sible. To-day the House voted to adjourn
without day on the Sd Monday in May. We
are rejoicing again in the light Of the sun, and
boping that few bright days will enable our
army to advance with the work at Yorktown.
ArRlL y. 1862
The House closed its business for the week
Yesterday by passing the Senate bill abolish
ing slavery in the District Of Columbia. The
majority began with determination to pass
the bill before adjournment, and the task was
accomplished after skrmish Of six hours.
In their zeal for the passage Of the bill every
amendment was voted down, and the bill
passed as it came from the Senate. cannot
say that this was deliberative yet hope the
bill will stand the test in the courts Of this
District Some friends Of the bill have
doubts on that point. If their fears are well
grounded. the President can return the bill
without his signature, and let us do the work
over again aud that would be better than in
cur the risk Of losing the whole by too nasty
action Mr. Crittenden Of Kentucky made
the strongest argument against the bill, and
it will be seen that be did not question the
power of Congress, or defend slavery, but
rather conceded both the power Of the one
and the wrong Of the other. His argument
was that the act is ll-timed, and calculated to
alarm the slaveholdng states and delay the
restoration Of the Union. On the other hand
it strikes me that no time could be better,
albeit any time would be good enough for so
good an act. Never we're slaves so worthless
to masters. and therefore never could masters
be SO little harmed, if harmed at all, and the
national treasury so little taxed. Moreover,
there was the power 10 do the thing with the
lcas, trouble. In fact, the iron was hot,
and it was Just the time to strike 1t is
worth rcmarking that every body went for
emancipation in some form the Republicans
voting for the Senate bill, while most Of the
Democrats and slave state members voted for
two substitutes, each providing for gradual
emancipation. Yesterday the President sign
cd the joiut resolution relative TO emaneipa-
ton in the states The subject is now under
discussion in Maryland, the Baltimore Ameri-
can taking the lead in defending the Presi-
dent and urging the subject upon the people
Of that state.
The Senate has no, yet concluded the de-
bate on the confscation bill, bu, it must soon
do SO. or coniscation will have 10 give way to
the taS-bill. 1t is very easy for a Northern
gentleman, sitting in his easy chair--though
perhaps very unsasy as he mediia,es upon the
profound rascality Of rebellion-to jump to
the conclusion that hanging aud confscation
are slight punishments for treason and whole
sale robbery and murder; and just. too,
tleman, seated in the Senate and feeling the
restraints OF that supreme law which he is
bound to obey, would find great difficulty in
shaping his sentiment Of justice into stat
ute. Senators find this TO be the fact; and so
do the best lawyers in the House. You will
remember that the Judiciary committee Of the
latter body has not been able TO agree upon a
bill, and submitted three projects, one Of
which turned over the business TO the Presi-
dent, on the ground that he has the right to
confscate under the rules of war. while the
power Of Congress is doubtful Certainly.
when the rebels are themselves coniscating
the property Of loyal citizens, and that, too,
by their Congress and under our Constitution,
which they have adopted, we ought to be able
to devise some mode to give them justice, and
in full measure. How to do it is the great
question. MIR. Critlenden yesterday plead
for kindness, forbearance and mercy to the
rebels, as to the weaker vessels in this con-
test but how have loyalists Jared even in his
own Kentucky, and in every other state where
they have had the power; BY confscatiou,
rapine, yiolence-by FIRE and by sword-tbeir
work has been a work of ruin and their reign
a reign of terror
Notwithstanding the grave difficulties Of
this question, ! have reason to believe that
they may be obviated by new act fixing the
punishment Of treason, which will be strictly
within the provisions Of the constitution.
Such bill has been drawn and will be pre-
scented to the Senate by way Of amendment to
the pending confscation bill.
~ The assertion Of the Freeman that
large numbers of the paper containing Mr.,
Lords Sermon have been bought by anti Re
publcans for distribution a political tract,
is met by the following order from Repub-
lican in Boston, who has been such ever since
the organization Of the party, who received a
copy of the paper containing it. He says 81
read with great satisfaction Mr.. Lords Fast
Dav Sarn,on and thanh von for sendinp il