Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-07
FROM WASHINGTON.

FRIDAY, Feb. %.
The weary weeks Of rain have been closed
bya fierce gale from the northwest, sweeping
away the humid atmosphere above and the
atrabiliary humors which have vexed every
body below. For four days, with the excep-
tion Of little rain on Wednesday night, the
weather has been favorable, and the earth
has been hardening; and though not yet hard
enough for rapid field work, the army was
started on the first signs Of dry weather, and
is now in rapid motion. To-day the govern
ment has assumed control Of the railroads and
telegraph lines in this region, and the troops
are in motion. These things should be hail
ed as good news at least as answering the
expectations Of the people, and yet find men
vexed because every movement is not herald
ed by telegraph 1t would indeed be crafty
ing to our curiosity to know the plans and
movements Of the military commanders, much
more gratifying and more important to the
rebels | think we are bound TO take that
view Of the matter, and to be contented with
it. The government may be trusted to give
us all news, both good and bad, so far as con-
sistent with their duties to the country, OF it
can be trusted with nothing. In the absence
Of official or reliable intelligence, We are star
tied by all sorts Of rumors, and these doubt
less will fnd their way to the newspapers
Take them with great allowances, and wait
patiently for the truth. For instance: yes
terday at noon a story ran through the House
that Gen Hookers division had crossed the
Potomac and engaged the rebel batteries and
that Gen Sickles had been killed; and still
another. by way Of correction that Sickles had
been shot by one Of his own men in camp
and still another that Gen. Banks had cross
ed the upper Potomac and been repulsed, and
that the fragment Of his army was in full re-
treat note was shown, said to be from
somebody in the War Department confirm
ing this story. Mr.. Train, Of Massachusetts
Immediately went to the War Office and
learned that no such intelligence had been re-
ceiyed there, and the Secretary Of War sub
sequcntly denied the report by letter, and f.
nally came in person to the House and stated
that the report from Banks, received that
morning. was every way favorable. The fact
is that whenever the telegraph Offices have
been ,loscd, as on Sundays the fashion here
is to indulge in all sorts Of exciting rumors.
Now we shall have them daily, aud every
story will have its run until it shall be denied
at head quarters.
Congress has completed the treasury note
bill, and the President has signed it. At the
last moment the bill was reconsidered and
provision inserted making the fifty million
demand notes, now in circulation, receivable
for duties or imports In other words these
notes are just good gold for that pur
pose, and will soon be absorbed, leaving for
circulation the one hundred and fifty millions
authorized by the new act. Another impor-
tant bill has also received the sanction Of Con-
gress, without a moments hesitation or
word of debate--a bill authorizing the issue
Of certificates of Indebtedness by the Treas
ury, to the amount OF one hundred millions
OF dollars, payable in one year, or sooner at
the option Of the Secretary, and bearing six
per cent interest This for the relief Of cred
itors, while the new treasury notes are being
prepared, and Justice to those creditors de-
rands it. still it locks very much like pre-
monitory symptom Of the ultimate issue of
one hundred millions more Of treasury notes.
While on this subject will add, from person
al knowledge, that the Secretary Of the Treas
ury now thinks that the adoption Of his plan
Of bringing all the banks Of the country under
one national system is absolutely necessary.
Another act Of the present week is of espe-
cial importance to Vermont | mean the bill
for the apportionment Of Members Of Congress
for the next ten years. The bill has passed
both houses. II gives eight additional mem
bers-one each to Vermont, Rhode Island
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky. Iowa,
and Minnesota Vermont, therefore, will
hold her three members for ten years more at
least. hope even for ten years longer than
that, If the principle Of this bill shall hcreaf-
ter control the appointments. The act of
1850 permitted equalization of presentation,
by allowances for fractions, up to an arbitrary
number, and no farther to wit, to the num-
Der of 233 members, which was the number
assuneu 20 uhu tue iatlo ol REPRESENTATIVES,
The new act sets aside this arbitrary limita-
ton, and gives an additional member to any
State whenever by so doing the constituencies
in that State will be brought nearest to the ra-
TO Of representation. Whatever be the ratio
derived by dividing the whole population by
an assumed number, that ratio is of course
the rule of absolute equality ! and the effect
of the new act is to bring the representative
constituencies in every State in the Union
nearest to this rule of absolute equality The
credit of this project belongs TO Vermont.
The House passed the bill without debate
in the Senate, Judge Collamer explained the
bill so clearly and defended it so strongly as
to silence opposition.
WASHINGTON, March |.
Edward H. Walton, company F, 49th New
York regiment, died of pneumonia on the