Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-02-12
Congressional. C

In Senate, Feb 4, the Senate took up, on mo-
ton Of Mr. Patterson Of New Hampshire, the bill
regulating the tenure Of certain Offices.
The question was on Mr.. summers motion to
except special agents OF the State Department.
Messrs Buckalew and Patterson opposed the
amendment, the latter alludiug to bill Of $4,000
presented by one Of these agents and contracted
by the Secretary Of State.
Mr. Fessenden had supposed that the expenses
Of defending persons charged with crime in foreign
countries was incurred by their friends. II it
the practice of the State Department to do it, it
was a pernicious practice.
In the House. Mr.. Logan asked leave to offer
resolution to tax L $ Bonds two per cent semi
annually but objection was made
The House proceeded to the consideration in
the morning hour Of the bill reported from the
committee on foreign affairs concerning the rights
Of American citizens in foreign States.
In the House, Feb. 4, the Speaker presented
communications from the Secretary OF War, trans
mitting the correspondence between the President
and General Grant In reference Go the Secretary
OF War, as called for by the resolution OF yesser-
day.
The reading of the correspondence having been
concluded Mr. Wilson OF Iowa moved to refer
the correspondence to the committee on recon-
struction and that it be printed, aud moved ths
previous question.
Mr.. Coyodc OF Pennsylvania asked the Speaker
whether &c was IN order, IN view Of the straight-
forward aud manly course OF General Grant in the
whole transaction to move vote OF thanks to
him
The Speaker said It was not in order.
The reading of the corresp spondence between the
President and General Grant was listened to with
the closest attention by everybody in the House
tins afternoon. There some disposition on
the republican side to applaud several OF the most
notceable passages in General Grants letters, and
Mr. Coyode's suggestion for a vote of thanks to
him was received with clapping OF hands. IL is
seen at once by men OF all parties that the cor
respondence is Of the highest Importance. The
Presidents long letter Is little more than rehash
Of the matter given out by him two weeks ago to
several democratic papers. The republicans are
immensely delighted with General Grants letters,
and his pluck IN dealing with the questions at
issue.
In the House. Feb. 3. Mr.. Beatty, member elect
from the sth district Of Ohio, appeared and took
his seat.
Mr. Cook, from the committee on roads and
canals reported bill authorizing the building Of
a railroad from Washington to connect with the
Northern Central railroad, at neaI the State
line, between Pennsylvania and Maryland. 1t
was ordered to be printed.
The House considered the bill declaring forfeit
ed to the United >tates certain lands granted to
aid the construction ct railroads in Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana and Florida
The amendment of Mr. Averill to exempt from
forfeiture the lands OF the Nashville and Decatur
railroad was agreed to--yeas 81, nays 5S.
The bill was then passed--veas So nays 73.
IL declares forfeited to the United States all the
public lands. with the exception above stated in
the States of Alabama Mississippi Louisiana and
Florida which we're granted to those States in 1856
to aid them in the construction of railroads and
which have not been lawfully disposed of by the
United States, such grants having expired by linn
itation and it declares such lands henceforth sub
iect to homestead entry and settlement under the
act of the 2lst OF June, 1866.
I In Senate. Feb 6. Mr. Sherman and Mr. Hen
derson reported nlvoraby, from the Committee
on Finance, their respective finance bills and gave
notice that they would call them up as soon as de-
/ bate on the reconstruction bill had closed
/ In the House memorial was read from the Ar
/ kansas Reconsideration Convention, setting forth
that die Offices of that State are in the hands of
the enemies Of the Government who persecute
/ lovasts and asking that the Convention may be
authorized By Congress to appoint new State offs
GERS without which legislation they say, they will
be unable to adopt Constitution. 1t was referr-
ed to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Blaine Of Name in reporting the army
appropriation bill this morning, called attention
to The iact that the total amount embraced in the
bill was thirty-three million dollars This is
deemed by Gen Grant an ample amount for the
M 'iitarv service and bis estimates have been made
wiiA the greatest exactness and with degree cf
economy wholly unknown TO the army on It's peace
establishment preceding the war For the four
wears of Buchanan's administration the army ex-
penses averaged nearly twenty-two millions per
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