Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-04-29
FROM WASHINGTON.
Fugitivc Slave Latos.

Fugitive SLAVE Latos.
April 20, the Senate debated Mr.. Summers
bill to repeal the fugitive slave laws, as a
mended-excluding act Of 1898.
The House considered the tax bill, and
passed bill for coinage Of new one and two
cent pieces.
Long and Harris.
We must remind our readers that the House
did more than censure these men. 1t voted
that they "are unworthy members Of the
House," and yet did no, expel them so one
can never think Of tha, House without re-
membering poor dog Tray.
Gen. Banks and the Freedmen.
The Government has approved Of Gen. B's.
plan Of managing the Louisiana freedmen
and plantations. Possibly it had not heard
Of the hostility Of the Green Mountain Free
man. We are sure the Government intended
no contcmps Of the Freemen and no injury to
the negroes.
The RESOLUTION for Increase Of Duties.
1t is understood that Mr. Stevens's resolu-
ton to increase customs duties fifty per cent,
was preparatory to a revision of the tariff,
and was intended to prevent importers from
anticipating the rise by heavy importations.
The House refused to suspend the rules
for the resolution by vote Of ~ to 3S, less
than two-thirds voting for the suspension.--
OF the Ss nays all are opposition men ex-
cept Mr.. Clay Of Kentucky, who voted for
Colfax for speaker, but has periodical fits Of
getting into the wrong box. When the op-
position call out for taxation, it is worth
while TO remember that they blocked the way
for this measure.
In the Senate April 81 Judge Colamer
reported the House money order bill. which
will doubtless be passed. although be is un-
derstood to be opposed to it.
In the House, Mr.. A. W. Clarke of New
York, from the Committee on Printing, made
a report, the design of which is to secure the
continuation of the publication Of the Con-
gressional Globe by additional compensation.
Recommitted with instructions.
The House then went into committee for
the consideration Of the internal tax bill
Mr.. Washburn Of H., offered an amend
ment providing that the stocks of liquors on
hand be taxed so cents gallon. Some de-
bate followed. He also proposed an amend
ment which was agreed to. making the tax
one dollar per gallon from the let Of May in
stead Of the first Of July. Mr. Washburne's
first amendment was rejected, 50 against 70.
April %, the Senate passed the bill to es-
tablish bureau Of military justice. Senator
Foot presented the memorial for higher tax
on cheap foreign wool The House on mo-
ton of Mr. Morrill, fixed the tax on whole
sale liquor dealers whose annual sales do not
exceed $50, 900 as follows $50 for license.
and tax of 81 on every $1,000 in sales over
$4,000. Every person who offers for sale
more than three gallons at time is made
wholesale dealer.
Amendments to The Banking Bill.
The Senate finance committee reported the
national currency bill Thursday, with i'm
portant amendments. They strike out the
part of the Fenton amendment allowing states
to tax the capital stock Of banks the same as
the property Of other moneyed corporations,
and insert a section providing that, in lieu Of
all other taxes, every association shall pay to
the treasurer Of the United States in January
and July of each year, one-hah Of one per
cent each half year, from and after January l,
1864, upon the average amount Of notes in
circulation, duty Of one-quarter Of one per
cent each half year upon the average amount
Of deposits, and the same duty upon the av-
erage amount of capital stock beyond the
amount Invested in United States bonds, with
the proviso that nothing in the act shall be
construed to prevent the market value Of
shares in said associations held by any per
son or body corporate from being included
in the valuation of personal property of such
person or corporation in the assessment of
taxes imposed by or under the state laws
but they are not to be taxed at greater rate
than is imposed upon other moneyed capital
in private hands. In lieu of the clause fix
ing rate of interest not exceeding per
cent. the committee recommend the clause
The late allowed 10y the laws OF the state or
territory where he bank is located, aud not
exceeding seven per cent in states or terrific
res where no rate is fixed by law"
Why Congress is so sioto.
The newspapers have uttered some very
harsh criticisms upon Congress and some of
thom have been unreasoning. A maj jority of
the members of Congress have at all times
been anxious to attend to the business before
it, but dozen men in each house--the self
constituted ledutfh--uhNt uuhc nearly ali but
talking, all the managing, and have forced the
whole country to hear what they have had to
say. A sagacous member of the House said
to me this morning. have wanted to make
speech or two this wnter'-he is an old
member and brilliant 81 eaker-" but have
been ashamed TO do it. There are twenty
men in this House who have done nothing
but talk" He might have ad led that half Of
them are new members. There is Mr. Ker-
nan of Utica, new member, who should be
modest, but he has made dozen speeches
already Brooks of the New York Express
is always talking. Winter Davis has made
several speeches, but he is not new in Con-
gress and always says something worth hear
ing. The new members are not modest in
this Congress-that is the takers are not.
There is one man on the Republican side of
the House who is always trying to mix in the
debate though he is new in Congress. The
other day he got off speech on the Long
expulsion debate, when one Of his brother
members exclaimed, soto UOce, " II that squirt
does not quit his practice of sprinkling dirty
water over the House III resign my seat"
There are too many such men in the House.