Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-02-20
FRoN WASHINGTON AND UoINITY

report that Secretary Seward has rejected
the proposal for a meeting Of commissioners
from the North and South, 10 arrange terms
Of peace, as the French proposition II such
thing there be-, has not yet reached our
Government.
A meeting Of prominent book and news-
paper publishers was held yesterday in this
city.
To-day delegation from them consisting
Messrs. Raymond, Appleton, Harper. Osborn.
Wilson and Brothers, representing various
parts Of the country, had conference with
the committee on Ways and Means, and re-
presented their reasons why the duty on pa
per should be reduced.
1t was stated before the committee that it
would cost II cents per pound to import pa
per, with the duty all off. At the present
duty Of 35 per cent. and with exchange at go
per cent, not one pound could be imported.
consequently no revenue could be obtained
from this source until the duty was reduced.
There is no duty on imported rags.
The President to-day sent to the Senate
the following dispatch:
10 The President Of The United States:
Tho Secretary Of State to whom was refer
red the resolution Of the Senate Of the 10th
inst, requesting the President, If not in bis
judgment incompatible with public interest,
to lay before the Senate any correspondence
which has taken place between this govern
mcnt and the government Of France on
the subject of mediation or other measures
looking to the examination Of the present
civil war, has the honor to lay before the
President copy Of the correspondence called
for by the said resolution.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) VIM. II. SEWARD.
No apprehensions whatever are entertained
here as to the safety of the Brooklyn.
Rear Admiral Farragut in letter to the
Secretary of the Navy lays great stress upon
the want Of naval officers. During the war
Of 1912 he frequently heard some of the most
Intelligent British officers say that our great
successes in the encounters between the
smaller vessels was owing to the great num-
Der of officers we had in our vessels, and the
small number they had in theirs.
They seldom had more than three or four,
and when these were killed or wounded the
men had no one to lead them. This was the
case recently in the affair of the Harriet Lane
1t is stated that she was surrendered by a
Masters Mate, and perhaps, the Admiral
adds, the same was the case in regard to the
Hatteras. lie urgently shows the Importance
of providing trained naval officers, and in
this he has the hearty cooperation Of the
Secretary of the Navy.
At late hour tonight the Senate passed
Secretary Chase's finance bill 1t taxes bank
notes one per cent during the ensuing year,
and two per cent afterwards. A call for the
meeting of Democratic Congressman elect in
New York, in March, has Just been issued.
tIa
Chamber to-day and had long conference
with many of the Senators. The Committee
on Ways and Means will not recommend a
tax of over 25 cents additional on liquors,
and will not increase the tax on tobacco as
much as has been represented. The military
Commtte of the Senate have rejected the ap-
pointment of $50 chaplains.
Gen. Tom Thumb and wife visited the
President and Cabinet tonight. There was
brilliant assemblage in the East Room Of
the White House.
Cassius NJ. Clay has determined to abandon
his military commission and 60 to Russia.
The Tribunes Washington dispatch says
the discharge Of the Judiciary committee by
the House from the further consideration Of
the memorial Of Pierce and Bacon in the mat
Ter of Floyd's acceptance, leaves in force the
oplulOh VI Aub OtntENA tue
government is not liable for these Acceptances.
1t is rumored on military circles that aplan
will be adopted authorizing the Commanding
Generals to transfer their entire regiments to
the Regular Army for their bravery in battle.
The Senate has ratified the treaty by which
the Kaw Indians are to be moved from Kan
sas, and settled elsewhere soon as the
necessary arrangements can be made by the
Indian Bureau.
Bills have been prepared, and are only
waiting an opportunity to be reported from
the Select Committee on Emancipation, ap-
propriating ten millions of dollars for the alb
clifton Of slavery in Maryland, and one mil
lion and a half for West Virginia, and four
hundred and fifty thousand for Delaware, for
similar purposes.
The Herald's Washington dispatch states
that Commander Freble, recently dismissed
from the navy for permitting the escape Of
the rebel steamer Oreto from Mobile, has been
nominated for restoration to his rank in the
ervice