Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-01-03
FROM WASHINGTON.

FROM WASHINGTON.
December q.
Incendsrism lie rife in this city, directed
especially to the destruction Of forage aud
horses, and under circumstances that warrant
the suspicion that rebels have hand in t.
Three stables have been set on fire within
few days, all Of which were destroyed. Last
night the government stables were fired, aud
about half were destroyed In these stables
were from fifteen hundred to two thousand
horses, aud between one and two hundred
were killed The rest we're cut loose aud
rushed wildly about the city, to the great
danger Of everybody in the streets. Many
horses we're killed in their mad fight in the
darkness, and it will be very fortunate If
people in the streets escaped injury. OF
course many Of the horses which escaped from
the fire will be lost. The papers of this
morning contain an order from the Secretary
Of War. dated yesterday, prohibiting the pur-
chase Of any more horses until 'h"s" IN hand
are in actual service. Whether it was issued
before or after the FIRE, | cannot say, but
anybody may guess. Certainly il these
horses had been in actual service" they
would not have been in these stables that
were burnt.
All accounts from the Vermont brigade are
favorable, every report being thst the sick
: we're improving. The encampmeut OF the
sd regiment has been changed from bleak
hill to the shelter Of piece Of woods. The
cold rains with little snow and sharp
north winds will drive the troops to the best
cover to be found.
can give you no news on the British
question, beyond what you &c. in the news
papers. Here, as everywhere, people are
speculatng upon the subject. The Cabinet
keeps It's secrets, il il has any.
MASON AND sLIDELL RELEASED.
December 2s.
Yesterday / wrote you that we had nothing
definite on the Trent affair To-day we learn
that the question was decided yesterday by
the surrender Of Mason. Slidell, and their at
tachees, to Lord Lyons. The Cabinet, it is
announced, was unanimous As matter Of
feeling this is terribly CALLING Rebels, as
they are, and richly deserving the gsllows,
it is hard to give them up As matter Of
judgment upon the laws of nations, or rather
Of right, | suspect the conclusion reached is
correct. At any rate, it fully accords with
the principles adopted by Mr.. Jefferson in
1904, and held by this Government against
England ever since. We then protested
against her right to search our neutral) ships
and seize our sailors; holding as TO citizens
as well as to property, that there could be no
condemnation without regular trial. On
this ground the release Of these prisoners has
been ordered. You will doubtless nave the
material points Of the correspondence by tele- .
graph before this reaches you, and will only
add that France concurred with England in
this matter. Secretary Seward having con-
CURED in their views, expresses to England .
his satisfaction that question is finally /
and rightly settled between them, England
and the United States which, heretofore ex
hausting not only all forms Of peaceful dis
cussion, but also the arbirament Of war it.
self for more than half century alienated
the two countries from each other, and per-
picked with fears and apprehensions all other .
nations 70 France he intimates that the
occasion should be improved so to secure
definite agreement upon the whole subject
by all marstime powers, and adds that a. it is
sincere pleasure for the United States to
exchange assurances OF friendship which .
had its origin in associations the most sacred .
In the history Of both countries.
Thus the cloud Of war, which doomed over
The Northern frontier, is disspated-at least
for the present. II England really desires
war, she wi. fni occasions in the future
but in the meantime it is imperative upon
the Federal Government to push on its work .
against the rebellion with all its strength, /
The rebels will doubtless laugh at this con-
cusion Of the matter but it will be sorrow
tul fun. Their best chance Of success was in .
war between the United States and England .
They have lost it this time.
&ATnvnAv EvuNrNn nac