Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-11-28


States and the North German Union,
including Prussia, the Swiss confeders.
tion, and the Empire of China.
Gen. Grant has assigned Gen. Barry
to the command OF Fortress Monroe and
of the new school OF artillery practice at
that post. Gen. Barry is thoroughly
competent for the work, having organ
lied the artillery OF the army of the
Potomac and of Sherman's army of the
West, and having been identified with
that branch of the service all through
the war. Gems. ]. Roberts and William
Hays have also been appointed to the
school, and four batteries of artillery
ordered to the post.
Recent correspondence from Mexico
has been received vt Washington to the
effect that President Juarez has permit
ted the free transit Of army stores and
provisions to the military posts of the
United States in Arizona, from the port
of Guaymas, through the State Of So.
nora. A great saving will thereby be
effected, as the present rates Of trans
portation by the overland routes are at
least four times greater than those
which are now paid for the supply of
the military posts on the northern from
tier of Mexico.
Speaker Colfax has been earnestly
entreated not to put reckless. easy going
members upon the committees which
have control Of the public purse. His
disposition is right, but he will hardly
venture TO offend his best friends by dis
placing them on committees for the
sake of economy. If the ways and
means, appropriations and claims COM
mittees were made up Of able, honest
and economical men, millions would be
saved every year. The claims commit.
tee last winter was admirably consti-
tuted.
The statement that the committee
on elections have prepared report on
the Kentucky cases is incorrect. The
evidence is with the printer and has not
been considered by the committee. 1t
will be taken up at an early day and the
House will have to determine what
amount OF sympathy with the rebellion
should debar member from his seat.
In each case the member elect offers to
take the stringent irOn-clad oath, but
some Of the House evidently doubt the
sveracity of the member. "A new con.
tested case appears from the first district
Of Tennessee on the ground Of disloyalty.
Secretary Seward has bought st.
Thomas Island, and agreed to pay
100000 in gold for it. He has no
authority to do this, except that he can
negotiate treaties, acting as agent of the
President, and his work is liable to re-
lection in the Senate. Thad Stevens
approves of the project. Seward has
seen him, and got pledge OF his sup
port. A strong opposition will be made
in both Houses on the ground that to
hold the island will cost us millions, and
In case Of foreign war we could not hold
1t. Seward has got letters approving of
the scheme from Farragut and other
admirals. One OF them says that no
hurricane ever blew at st. Thomas, but
within a fortnight it vas destroyed by
one.
The arrangement OF committees is
talked OF a good deal at the capital.
Speaker Colfax has been strongly urged
to put an advocate of economy at the
head of the committee on appropria-
tiops, but he feels that he cannot put
any slight upon Tbad Steyens. seversl
members have urged Stevens, on account
OF health, TO decline the place, but he
won't do it, He favors the most extrav-
agant appropriations, and some check
must be put upon him hence the plan
now is to put Washburne of Illinois, 8
well.known economist, second on the
committee. Stevens health will make
Washburne acting chairman most OF the
time. The leading Republicans are
alive to the necessity of economy OF the
public expenditures.