Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-02
FROM WASHINGTON.

rarely equaled and never surpassed; and
with praises are mingled hearty excavations
for the supposed default Of the general in
command, in that our gallent men we're not
properly supported. Rumor says, and appa-
rontly upon good authority, that there was
a very bad reason for this neglect and upon
that was founded the action Of the House
yesterday, in adopting the resolution Of Mr..
Morrill, of Vermont, requesting the President
to dismiss every officer "who has been known
to be habitually intoxicated by the use of spir-
ituous liquors while in the service" To-day
the Senate ordered an investigation into the
matter, and acting Maj. Gen. VIM. f. Smith
was named az the officer implicated. He is a
Nermontct, and moreover stands high in the
estimation Of Gen. Mcclellan as an officer.
His fall would be the occasion Of deep regret !;
and yet, il he is guilty, he ought not to be re-
tanned for single day in his position. Re-
ports Of the same kind are prevalent as to
other eminent officers, and particularly as to
Gen. Grant, and the reverse Of the first day
at Pittsburgh Landing is charged to him.
How much OF this is scandal of the camp,
or due to the jealousy and iivalry Of officers,
or how much is truth, can be determined only
by investigation.
cONfIscATIoN OF REBEL PROPERTY.
The House, as well as the Senate, has at
last been giving its attention to the confsca-
ton question In the House there were six
teen different propositions, all Of which were
referred to the judiciary committee. The COM
mitiec could not. or did not, agree to any one
Of them, nor to any bill as substitute, and
reported the whole back to the House with a
recommendation adverse to their passage. OF
course the House may pass upon each, and in
doing so act upon whatever propositions may
be offered by way o. amendment, The first
vote yesterday was on a motion Of Mr.. PEN
deton Of Ohio dem to lay all the PROPOSE
tons on the table. Ayes So, three Of whom
have been reckoned as Republicans, to wit :
Blair Of Missouri, Divan of n. Y. and Thorn
as Of Massachusetts,, the remainder being
Democrats and representatives from slave
states Noes &C, all Republicans, believe,
though a few we're elected as Union men,
Then came up bill 1876, "to manumit and lib
crate from seryitude the slaves Of all persons
who shall engage in or aid and abet armed re-
bclion against the United States" Mr..
Bingham of Ohio Repub) moved substi-
tute in two sections, the FIRST section freeing
the slaves Of all persons who hereafter engage
in or abet rebellion, and the second section
providing that every person, who seeks to re-
cover fugitive slave, shall establish the fact
of his loyalty. Mr.. Porter of Indiana Re-
publ moved as a substitute for that, Senate
bill ISL as amended by Senator Sherman
This bill confscates the property and liber-
ates the slaves of five classes Of persons,
hereafter guilty Of treason, they are
also barred from recovering fugitive slaves, to
wit: first. persons in the rebel army or navy
second, rebel President, Vice President, Mem
Der Of Congress, or Judge; third, state Off
GERS, members Of convention or legislature
and Judges, If they have taken or shall take
the confederate oath fourth, persons who
have held office under the United States aud
hold office hereafter under the Confederate
States and fifth, persons who reside in the
loyal states and give aid and comfort to the
rebellion. Those who continue in rebellion
for sixty days after the passage Of the act are
to be excluded from office in the United States
The President may by amnesty rele Sc ehei
Of the fire classes above described Tho pro-
ceeding is against the property, as n cases Of
prize, or OF goods imported in violation Of the
revenue laws, and not against the gunner; and
therefore it proposes confscauon Of property
for a crime Of the owner, without trial an(
conviction Of the owner for the crime. Or
this ground the constitutionality of the bill IL
denied by some, and doubted by many gooC
lawyers The mode of proceeding as in priz
es aud smuggling, does not avoid the objec
4 tion, because in those cases The property ttsef
by its nature or uses or conditions in which
it is found, Always proves the offence fo
which it is confsoated. Property may b.
\ found in actual use for reasonable purposes
and there will be proof Of treason in some
body, and it may be confscatcd under the &C
of August last; but in all other cases tn
property itself certainly can prove nothing
against the owner, and | see no way Of reach
ing it but by identifying the owner, and, a
: the very least, by also finding good reason 70
counting him as a rebel. The safe way is t.
convict him.
In thu discussion on these propositions @
Messrs. Bingham and Porter, Mr.. Walto
stated few reasons for prelerring the substi
tue presented by Mr.. Collamer for Senate bill
ISL and gave notice Of his intention to pre-
sent it. BY vote of 50 to 81, House bill
1876 was postponed to Tuesday next.
The House then considered bill 1917 for tn
capture and condemnation of rebel property
when Mr.. Bingham of Ohio (Repub.) move
a substitute condemning all property (slavo
excluded, these being provided for else~ here
OF persons hereafter engaged in rebellion, an
providing for proceeding against the propert,
precisely as before described, Mr.. Hickma
Of Pa. (Repub, moved as a substitute for tb'
s;,.lo sact;,p 1oolarinf, hat the prpsid n