The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-02-08
From WashingtOn.

count of the impeachment resolution which
still fingers in the hands of the House
committee on the Judiciary. The ''con-
servative'' Republicans are generally
against the movement, and the weak kneed
ali through the land are trembling. Some
are afraid it will damage their political
prospects, while Others fear financial
panic if impeachment is pressed.
The bankrupt bill was lost by a tie vote
in the senate on Tuesday, though motion
to reconsider was entertained, and absent
senators may change the result next time.
All the New England senators but Wilson
and Morrill, voted for the bill.
A great effort is made in congress, by
lobby members, to reduce the tax on
whiskey, and the telegraph gravely in
forms us that ::Mr. Commissioner w ellis
made an able argument before the COM
mttee of ways and means" in favor of
reducing the tax onc-half.
| John H. Surratt was indicted on Mon
day for the murder of President Lincoln.
Surratt is soon expected, but there are al
ready doubts expressed with reference to
his conviction.
Mr. Randall of Pennsylvania introduce
ed bill to take away from national banks
their power to make the paper money Of
the country: to draw in the national
bank notes, instead of the government le-
gal tenders, and make the latter the sole
paper money of the country, and thus to
constitute the government directly instead
of indirectly through the medium Of banks
of discount, deposit and issue, the agent
for creating and issuing all our currency.
This measure has made quite sensation,
but it is not believed congress will act SO
fooliShly as to adopt it.
The tariff bill passed the senate last
week. There is good deal of growing
about some of its clauses, but it is believed
to be a step in advance towards protecting
American industry. 1t has yet to 90
throumh the house.
Thad. Stevens has introduced bill to
establish common schools in the District
Of Columbia 1t opens with the curious
statement, in the preamble, that the cap
ilal of a great nation. though q political
necessity, is generally social evil, and it
proposes to lessen such evil as far as pos
sble by the education of the young, which
next to christianity is the best foundation
for virtue and safeguard OF republicaniSm. =
! The bill requires the establishment of 4
sufficient number of schools in the District
for the education of every child between
the aces of and l6. the schools to be
kept open for ten months in the year, and
one-third the expense to be paid by the
government and two-thirls by the people.
The father who neglects to send his chill
dren TO school is to be punished by the
loss of suffrage.
The president is reported to have 4 new
reconstruction scheme But he has no
expectation that the present congress will
adopt it, In fact he means to recommend
it to the next Congress and make it an
issue in the next presidential campai On.
\ bill has been introduced INTO the
house Of representatives as an amendment
to the act declaring who shall act as presi-
dent in case of vacancies in the offices of
president and vice president. 1t provides
that the president Of the senate, the speak
er OF the house, the chief justice, and the
justice of the supreme court who has been
longest commissioned shall, in the order
named, i'll case Of the failure of the preced-
inc one, act as president. But in case of
such vacancies, on concurrent resolution
OF congress, the secretary of state shall
order an election If the vacancies occur
i'll the recess of congress, the officer acting
as president shall at once convene congress.
TIE DIFFERENCE.-The New York
police made descent upon the premises