Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-12-26

Speculations are rite to the new Secreta-
ny Of State some suggest sumner others
Collamer and others Fessenden. Still do
not see how either Fessenden or Colamer
can be spared from the Senate.
Secretary Chase mas replied, TO the inquiry
Of the House in regard to the delay in pay
ing the army, that the cause is deficiency Of
means. Since July lst, 1862, he hos paid for
the army s66,55l,2sl 64-of which $780,
600 was for bounties on enlistment, SlO,l72,-
500 Al for recruiting and organizing, and
SIS, 1881 92l 23 for ordinary pay. The un-
paid acquisitions amount to S2s, zoo, 600, and
one million per day is paid on these requsi-
lions. The truth, suppose, is that the Sec
Rotary and Congress are mot quite agreed as
TO the mode Of replonishing the treasury --the
Secretury doubling the expcdicncy Of issuing
more treasury notes, and Congress preierrng
that course, or at least something beside
bonds and bond banking ! am not author
lied to speak for Congress, but ! exercise the
Yankee privilege of guessing The Chair
man Of the Committee Of Ways and Means
Mr.. Steyens) yesterday MADE characteristic
speech expressive Of HE own views-nothing
more He did not speak for the Committee.
1t is reported that Secretary Chase is prepar-
ing a bill to carry out his scheme OF Finance.
When that shall have been done, an issue
will be made up, and trust it will be speedi-
ly settled. Money must be had the soldiers
must be paid aud viii be. Under all the
circumstances Of the Case Indicated by the
foregoing. think Secretary Chase is entitled
to credit for keeping SO nearly up to the i'm
mense acquisitions which devolvo upon him.
The editor of the Chronicle (rornoy, Sec
rotary of the Senate) states that there was no
vote in the Senatorial caucus (Republiean)
which did not stand % to DIN short, that
the caucus was unanimous We may well
hope, therefore, that the result Of Senatorial
action in respect to the Cabinet If that was
the topic considered will be suspicious.
The Democrats who Withheld their vote on
the army bill, or were absent, was twenty of
these | count five who have given fair sup
port to the government, and | think will do
SO. Probably these gentlemen We're absent.
This leaves fifteen to be suspected as prob
able copperheads hope the real number
is less than that.
The friends Of the soldiers will be ejoiced
to learn that Congress has passed bill to IA
cilitate the discharge of disabled soldiers, A
special corps of medical examiners is provid
ed for, whose duty it is to make frequent in.
spections of hospitals, and to designate per-
sons entitled to a discharge No legislation
has been more urgently demanded than this,
for the relief both of sick soldiers and the
national treasury; and Congress has only
done its duty in promptly passing the bill.
In the Senate, yesterday, Mr.. Powell Of
Ky. again brought up the subject Of arrests,
by an inquiry whether, in discharging such
persons, they had been required to promise
not to prosecute the officers who arrested
them. Senator Crimes said the Secretary of
War had never imposed such condition.
Suppose he had done so, for the reason that
the arrests had been made in perfect good
faith is there an honest loyal man in the
land VINO would in his own case complain of
it, Would not both parties say, Here was
mistake, it has been corrected we will not
quarrel about it, and so add another hard
ship" 1t strikes me that mon--aye, bena-
tors-who are constantly harping upon the
hardships of suspected traitors, can find some
relief if they would give some little consider
alton to the hardships Of treason, the horrors
Of civil war brought about by rebellion, and