Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-16

Buchanan. or course President Pierce is
entitled to the credit Of retaining him in SER
vice--not Of appointing him. 1t is to Mr..
Whittlesey's credit record the fact that he
ebided steadfastly by his political views thro'
all administrations, and that at every incom-
ing of Democratic administration he did
not leave it to the odium Of removing him,
but rendered his resignation voluntarily. |
infer, therefore, that Mr. Buchanan at first
decided to accept his resignation; and that il
was not done until the disagreement between
Mr. Buchanan aud Mr.. Whittlesey as to the
unworthy clerk. Unworthy have no doubt
he was for more just, knd-hearted and
generous man, in personal relations, than
father Whittlesey I have never known. am
sure he was right. and that President Buchan-
an was wrong. 1t was wrong to the coun-
try to cast of such a man as Mr.. Whittlesey
for petty clerk, whose claims were doubt
less purely political.
Congress closed the weeks work yesterday
and adjourned over until Monday. This for
no holiday, remember; the bushes Of mem
bers at the Departments and for the soldiers
is really the most lsborious day Of the week.
have noted the most important business
Of Congress from time to time now | will
add that the House has disposed Of the prin
cipal appropriation bills and that the great
remaining question is the financial one. The
comming week has been assigned for il. May
infinite wisdom be vouchsafed to guide the
decision Of that question. Vast results de-
pend upon it--more than ] can estimate
Secretary Chase is now consulting the hnan-
ciers Of New York upon the great question.
trust that both the Secretary and Congress
will be prepared to yield all preconceiyed
plans to the necessities Of the country yea,
and that the people will be prepared to re-
spond patiently and petrotically to whatever
legislation may be forced upon US.
The Committee on Military Affairs has re-
ported a bill Of great Importance, providing
for an enlargement Of the Erie canal, and also
the Illinois canal, so as to admit the passage
Of war vessels from the Mississippi river aud
the ocean to the great Northern lakes. The
Committee on Naval Affairs has however rec
commended that the lakes be supplied by war
vessels constructed on their borders. Ny
recollection is that by treaty with Great
Britain the latter cannot be done; nay, am
sure. II cannot be done until the treaty shall
be abrogated by war with Great Britain
Then we can begin to build war-ships for the
Britain can run her war-steamers through the
St. Lawrence and her canals. and command
the lakes long before we can be ready TO de-
fend them. | have no doubt. therefore, that
sound policy and common prudence, indeed,
require at least one ship canal to the lakes. |
have favored an enlargement Of the Cham
plain canal, and Of the locks OF the Erie-ai
that is required Tor the latter. HIT the srs~.
West demands far more expensive work. in
,la nnl-.r--~--.--s 49, uis..4..s canal and
will insist upon il as sine qua non. A mo-
ment's reflection will show that in this project
there is much more than war measure, or
rather great peace measurei e. the pres
CREATION Of peace with Great Britain by max
ing ourselves invincible on the lakes. 1t will
be a grand improvement of means for cheap
transportation OF internal commerce. The
railroad interest will perhaps for a time be
adverse but the vast and rapidly increasing
productions aud population Of the West will
require all the facilities both Of canals and
railroads, and think the people will not be
content to depend on railroads alone. For
wheat, salt, and bulky freight generally they
will demand cheap transportation by water
and in this the interests Of the East and
West are identical. l am disposed to look
with more favor than have done upon this
question. Iii no, very formidable one as
to expense---at least in these days Of large
appropriations. New York viii enlarge the
locks Of the Erie canal, so as to take war
steamers, to both Erie and Ontario, for eight
millions of dollars. cannot state the esti-
mate for the Illinois canal, but it must be
greatly larger than that sum, as the whole
canal will have to be enlarged
think was mistaken as to the time father
Whittlescy entered Congress, having follow
ed the "Star" in dates even now | cannot
verify by reference to the books. The last
statement is that be entered Congress in
1928 and continued sixteen years. This
would give him nearly forty years OF public
service, less the two occasions when he resign-
ed the First Comptrolership. Hon. JOSHUA
X. GIDDINGs, who continued in the House
until be became "the father of the House"
succeeded Mr.. Whittlesey so that Messrs.
/ Whittlesey and Giddings represented the
j Western Reserve district thirty-six years. A
most extraordinary district, for a Northern
one and yet it cannot be doubted that both
the district and the country gained by retain
ing such men in service. Mr.. Whittlesey's
opinion on claims bad almost the authority of
law in Congress, and in fact has that authority
even to this day. and will have il for years to
come His rules will be applied to and will
decide cases being dead, he yet will speak.
And OF MIR. Giddings ] must repeat what |
have written heretofore, that no mans judg
,oert in Inalters outside of politics was SO