Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-11
q Congressional.

In Senate Dec. ?, the committees were reap
pointed. Senator Edmunds is on Public Lands,
Pensions and Judiciary. Senator Morrill, is on
Finance, Post Offices and Post Roads, Indian
Affairs and Claims.
In House, Dec B. Thad. Stevens introduced a
bill to establish schools in the District Of
Columbia. One of his first public acts was to
secure common schools for Pennsylvania and this
might well be his last. He was so feeble that he
could not be heard from his seat and presented his
bill from the Clerks desk. He also introduced
resolutions Of inquiry as to the partition Of Texas
and a census of the late rebel States, both of
which objected to and another as TO the
proprety of taxing dstillaries by the capacity of
their stills which was adopted. The Presidents
message was received and read
Dc. ., the Senate ordered the usual extra
copies of the Presidents message, and passed Mr..
Summers bill striking the word white from
laws relating to the District of Columbia. Mr.
Edmunds argued ably in favor OF his resolution
declaring that bonds payable in gold. The
House passed the bill repeating the duty on cot
ton after the present crop, and admitted four Of
the Kentucky members of Congress-all dems.
DEC. 6, in Senate debate continued on Mr..
Edmunds' resolution. In the House Mr.. Boutwell,
concluded an able and temperate speech in favor
of impeachment. Mr.. Wilson replied, condem-
ing the course OF the President, but declaring that
there is not proof of any impeachable ofIense.
In SENATE, Dec 6, Mr.. Edmunds' resolution
on the gold question, with an amendment of Mr..
Hendricks (that payments shall be made in cur
rency except where otherwise now provided by
law) was referred to the committee on finance
In THE HOUSE,, Dec. Z, the vote was taken on
the resolution of impeachment-Aye 81. Noes
1OS Only five New England members voted
Aye, to wit Lynch of Maine, Stevens and Ella of
New HAMPSHIRE Boutwell, and Butler of Massa-
chusetts. The Vermont members all voted No
The result does not disappoint Bad as the
will of the President is and has long been there
is no proof of overt impeachable acts clear enough
to warrant conviction
In THE HOUSE, Dec. 7, the bill prohibiting the
withdrawing of any more United States notes
without further authority from Congress, was
passed 127 to 80.
Dec. 8, nothing of Importance in either House
SENATOR EDMuNDs' SPEECH on paying the
United States bonds in specie consists of yer,
comnlete collation. nj acts If Cor,ress deba,es
aa.,s..,; - -. - M - a.
"eoiai a.o"' an" P'0n'sos VI o'noui treasury ON
GERS and agents. all pledging specie payment an'
OF elaborate citations from high financial authori
ties on the general subject discussed The fact is
A.. .tl =. L.. - 1Lt,u
"A' e'e''ooV'' ~ 'eaS'' ''o'e "no "oiu 'ne bonus
UNDERSTOOD 'hA' the government Is pledged Just
our Senator argues, so we do not think it necessa
~ IN nrint the sneech IN conyince tho nubEc :,
ali. -ao;o, Tha oo,,ol,,.;o,s 90 a. III -.
u '"' 'Pee0" a'
That the nuhl;c faith 10 c,aarl, n,odcod 4,
this payment by the words of the statues alone
2. That whether so or not the contemporaneou
INTERPRETATION of these statutes ON their enactmen
and In the publie action of the officers and sgen,
of the Government under them binds ms nv ever
consideration that can appeal To our honor n stan
by that Interpretation.
q That considerations nj the b;ahast axnod;or