Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-05-16
From washington.


on the 10th to the Watchn,ar', says:
The past week in Congress has beer
marked by great acts; enough to make ar
entire session memorable The Senate
for its share, passed the homestead bill
with but few dissenting votes-33 to Z,
1t also made decided advance in settling
the con6scation question, by referring all
the bills to committee, which will un.
doubtedly report some measures accepta-
bic to a majority Of the Senate, The
House passed a Pacific railroad bill, 70 to
40 /; also a bill to establish the territory
of Arizona and sent to the senate a res.
olution for the impeachment of West II,
Humphreys (rebeD United States judge
for the District of Tennessee. One of the
last acts, and the most unanimous, was a
resolution acknowledging the hand of the
Almighty in the recent overthrow of the
rebels, and especially thanking Gen. Nc
Clellan for his great success with SO little
sacrifice of life. The resolution was in
troduccd by Mr. Lovejoy of Illinois,
somewhat to the chargin of the democracy.
1t was we'll timed and we'll done, and a
proper rcbuke to those who are solictous
to make party capital out of Mcclellan,
either pro or con. However impatient
many have been in respect to him, success
has been cordially accepted as healing
balm.
The Arizona bill originally contained
a section prohibiting slavery in all terri
tories. This section was modified so as
to apply only to Arizona, the design be-
ing to pass an independent bill prohibit
ing slavery in all territories The bill
therefore involved nothing but the qucs-
ton whether Arizona shall have gov
eminent of its own. or wait little longer
as q part of New Mexico. Following that
bill, Mr. Lovejoy reported from the COM
mittce on territories hill prohibiting
slavery in all territories--in all forts,
magazines, arsenals, dockyards and other
ncedful public buildings, where the land
has been purchased of the states-in all
vessels on the high seas outside of the
state jurisdiction, and on all national
highways-and wherever else the Federal
Government has jurisdiction. The prin-
ciple of serving the national government
from all completely with slavery, leaving
the responsibility strictly to the states
which recognize that calamitous institu-
ton, is perfectly correct, and accordant
with the teachings of the fathers. have
no doubt that this principle ought to be
applied to all territories, and | think it
will be, as it has been to the District Of
Columbia. The free and loyal states have
now the opportunity to make that record
of their testimony against slavery, and
they should make it, leaving it to pro
slavery men in future times to take the
responsibility Of attempting to overturn
this legislation and to extend slavery if
they dare. 1t is, however, questioned by
some whether it is sound policy to 60 be-
You'd that. Mr.. Lovejoy himself modified
his bill by striking out "public high
ways" This was doubtless on the ground
that it is not best to raise nice questions
or create petty annoyances. Like object
ions were made to the other provisions as
to public buildings and vessels. 1t was
suggested that if master cannot send
his slave to fort, or post Office, or GUS
tom house, or vessel, without losing
Him, he will not send him at all hence no
slave will be freed by these provisions,
and the masters will simply be annoyed
by being put to an inconvenience. The
bill was discussed during the whole of
Friday without any advance. 1t goes
over as the pending question, and with a
suggestion to refer it for consideration in
committee. .t.s