Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-20
Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. Is. 1867.

WASHINGTON, d. G., Feb. Is. 1867
TRUCTION-EXCITEMENT
Mr.. EDITOR More progress has been
made in the way of reconstruction during
the past week than during all the rest of the
session. 1t is really wonderful to see how
quickly the policy agreed on. and with
what unanimity. as we were not led to cx-
pcct any such thing from the temper which
has been exhibited heretofore bv the House
The crisis reached Friday last. when
things looked very badly and hopes of a
speedy settlement of the long vexcd question
Mr.. Stevens bill was intense. and it seemed
as if an outbreak must he the consequence
Had Mr.. Stevens then succeeded in obtaining
second for the previous question. fear the
goth Congress could have done nothing
towards reconstruction. " it was. Mr.
Banks substitute relieved the excitement and
the announcement that Mr.. Elliott BILL would
be introduced Monday completely satisfied
the House. few only. who are constitutions
ally grumbcrs. being dissatisfied Then Il
feeling of safety was experienced such a. had
not been felt for many months and all seemed
relieved from kind Of il-dcfined fear
Mr. Banks proposition was that a commits
sion Of three should be appointed. one bv
each body of Congress. and the third ly the
Secretary of War, who should rcnrganizc
Louisiana on the basis of manhood suffrage.
excluding rebels. and taking the cun~titu-
tional amendment as a guide
MR.. ELLIoT's BILL-AN IMPORTANT AND Salts
FACTORY MEASURE.
Mr. Eliot's bill. introduced on Monday.
also related t. Louisiana. and was formed as
portion of the report on the New Orleans
riot. was drawn hy Mr.. Shcllahargcr and
was received with almost universal approval.
The Republican portion of the House was in
fact well pleased a. to be willing t. pass
the bill without amy delay. even without
having it printed. but it wa, postponed for
one day, when it passed by very heavy
majority. The bill meets the issues very
squarclv. 1t assumes the Illegal character
of the present governments of the states and
while not in so many words declaring them
territories makes such strange mixture of
state and territorial forms of government as
seems to satisfy the different ideas. and har-
monte them perfectly. 1t has long been
certain that no proposition would he accepted
which did not have one of its provisions
impartial suffrage, and therefore find it
here The bill also avoids that sweeping
Acknowledgement of the rebel rank and file.
at the same time that il both DISTINGUISHES
and disqualifeS all who prominently sup
ported the rebellion down to the lowest Office
1t provides for a governor and council Of nine
men to disappointed by the President, by and
with the advice and consent of the senate
who shall entirely rcorganizc the state, pro-
vide for elections. for a constitutional con
vention and in every way, carry on the
government of the state till governor shall
be regularly elected. 1t allows the state one
delegate in Congress till it shall he regularly
admitted to a full participation in the gov
eminent, which will be as soon as the new
organization is complete The details Of the
bill are all important, and the powers which
are given are very carefully guarded. The
vote which it reccivcd-ll3 to 4S-shows
the estimation in which it is held. only one
or two Republicans voting against it. The
bill is before the Senate. and is expected
to be passed by them in time to prevent a
veto, or rather to defeat it if it comes
MR.. STEVENS BILL AND PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
Mr.. Stevens bill is received with less con
sideration, and passed the House only after a
hard struggle, and then by less than a two
thirds majority Little expectation is had
that this will pass the Senate. and all appear
to feel that it does not SO fully and clearly
set forth the right mode of reconstruction as
Mr. Elliot's No one here has the slightest
idea that Mr.. johnson will agree to this
measure, although some would seem to desire
to cajole the people by continually sending
forth the news that he will heartily cooper
ate with Congress-indeed it was said few
DAYS ago that he would now sign anything
and everything that came before him. Still
stranger things have happened than that he
should again turn. and in this astonishing
age we cannot safely predict single day in
advance.
BANKRUPT BILL
The bankrupt bill has at last passed the
Senate, and will in all probability soon become
law. thanks to Judge Poland's persistence.
NEBRASKA.
Nebraska only waits the acquiescence of
its legislature in the conditions imposed, to
become state Its senators and members
NAV. before the close of the present Congress,
take their seats, they are here now ex-
pecting the result of the matter u he in
their favor.
THE TARIFF.
1t is extremely doubtful if the tariff can
be passed this session Mr. Morrill, was I'M