Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-30

dream that they will be false to their birthrigh
to their Unborn rrincipes--to their ira
ditions--to the interests of their fathers ant
mothers and friends, as we'll as to their owl
interests That, | think, is the terrible mis-
take of the copper-hea look for a health,
political reaction in the West. Certainly i
will come-toih success IN the field. All, tina
we must have any way. Let us pray anC
hope for it. If have been unconsciousl,
led into few mistakes, console myself il
that the copper-heads are in worse one.
THURSDAY, Jan. %.
The Senate passed the Court Of Claims bill
yesterday, 23 to l6. IA several amendments
have been made, the bill must 20 to the
House again. The last amendment was q
very important one u the Secretary Of the
Treasury will make it so it was by Senator
Hale, and provides that Congress shall make
no appropriation to pay judgment Of the
Court until the Secretary Of the Treasury
shall have made an estimate therefor. have
not doubt that the Secretary ought to send
every case from the Court to the Auditor and
Comptroller, to which it shall belong, for a
thorough examination of the files of the Of
fee bearing upon the case Then shall ex-
pect to find errors corrected and frauds de-
tected-sometimes. My own searches in that
quarter justify that expectation amply The
amendment, If thus improved by the Secreta-
ny. will be very valuable one, and goes a
great ways in removing my doubts as to this
bill.
The House has spent part Of two days
on the question whether a member Of Con-
gress forfeits his seat by accepting commits
sion and serving in the army decided it af-
frmatiyely, reconsidercd that decision, and
then postponed the question to the end Of this
Congress. There cannot be two opinions,
except from different ways Of looking at the
question. Those who negative the question
do so on the ground that the military appoint
ment was made by the Governor Of the State,
and therefore there are not two incompatible
national offices. This is both true and false
While the officer of the State has not been
mustered into the service Of the United States,
and is not taken from Congress to serve in
the field, it may be true, and probably is
But the moment the member is mustered into
the actual service Of the United States, he is
national officer, and as such is subject to
the military authority; and, clearly, when
actually put to military service, the Offices are
utterly incompatible. The man cannot be in
two places at once he cannot earn double
pay by rendering double service at the same
time ana therefore 1 think If he elects the
military service, his seat in Congress should
be vacated; and Uice versa. There are seven
members Of Congress in this position; and
it has been tolerated for the reason that they
are patriotic, efficient, and meritorious men.
know them and admire them as much as any
body but they "canno: serve two masters"
and the House has erred in lodging the
question.
The estimated expense for making the
Illinois and Michigan canal illinois river
mainly,) nsvigable for war vessels is 81 ,000,-
600. Add 5000, 900 for the Erie and On
tario, and the estimated cost will be 81 .00O,-
900. Not so much as l expected. Moreover
provision ought to be made for the applica-
ton of portion of the income Of the canals
to refund this expenditure. The scheme is a
great one, but presents itself so favorably
that anticipate It's adoption.
The new Governor Cannon OF the slave
state of Delaware was inaugurated yesterday,
and he declared himself boldly for the sup
preston Of the rebellion, and for the eman-
cipation Of the slaves in Delaware. How re-
freshng, compared with the copper-head
Governors Of New York and New Jersey
l wonder. can they blush
Two rebel captains, 10Th belonging to Stu
arts cavalry, have been captured within the
Union lines while acting as spies. One con-
iessedly, and the other proved guilty by pa
pers found in his possession. Both are in pris-
on here. The penalty is death.
The annual meeting of the American colo
nzation Society, on the Goth, was very in
teresting. Vermont was well represent ted by
three delegates-by Rev. DR.. Sunderland. in
whose church the society met-and by Hon.
John A. Kasson, late first assistant p. NJ.
General, who delivered an able and eloquent
speech. Within the last year, the :ndepen-
dence of Liberia has been acknowledge by
the U. s., and the African trade has been in
creased from S2,449, 74O to SO, 537, $40
Agriculture is advancing in the production OF
coffee, sugar and cotton-all wanted just
now by the United States. Population 200,
900, Of whom about 10000 we're sent out by
the Colonization Society Every one Of them
therefore, has redeemed nine from African
savagery. Is not that worth something
nay, much Then the slave-trade has been
cut up to a large extent by Liberia, More
over the Society is the agent of the United
States for taking charge of Africans rescued
from captured slave ships, and expended
sl04, 765, government funds) in that servic,
the past year. Admiral Foote, Of the Navy
and one Of its brayest and most successful
officers, spoke strongly in behalf of the soci