Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-03
Special WashIngtOn Correspondence.

NpcclNl washington correspondents.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan 30. 1869
Life at the Capital this winter. is gliding
smoothly, but with quicker pulse than usual
Socially, everything isat full tide, and every even
ing brings some occasion Of Social Reunion, 50
that It becomes the general expression that 4" it is
good to be here tor season. There are few
places II any, in the country. that can afford
greater social advantages than Washington, dur
ing the winter months, however much may be
said Of the corruption Of the lobby. and the fierce
0nslaughts Of the " ring. The Millennial state
should not he looked for here more than in other
cities and with public lectures. receptions, par
tics. carnivals, and general ainusements in such
prolusion one almost iorgets to mention the lower
exhibitions Of humanity.
Congress. too, seems TO be aware of the pcr,a-
ding spirit without, and rather regard this as %
holiday sessiOn-Or o sort Of transition period
The most important national matters of legisla-
tion are therefore dragging slowly, and with few
exceptions, must 60 over u the next Congress
In regard Ia new appointments, That require COM
trmation by the Senate. the same is true. There
is AN obvious purpose 10 avoid Executive sessions
hereafter ia general and but few more combinations
can be looked for until after the Inauguration Of
Gen. Grant, as all hope to find some additional
advantage then, by giving a " new deal as lar as
possible. The President has sent 10 the Senate
the names Of several prominent republicans, who
are ia all respects capable and worthy but the
Senate will for no other reason than the above,
refuse to act upon them during this session.
Speculation runs high, as it ever does at such u
time, as 81 the construction of the next Cabinet,
but more than ever before, all prophecies are
merely opinions, that are shaped after the wishes
Of the writer, rather than based upon any we'll
grounded evidence All must allow Gen Grant
~ do Just us he pleuse- in this mutter, and il is
perfectly safe to conclude that he will select his
advisers from the ablcst class OF Republican states
M D..
crumb Of comfort To those crafty democrats, who
are busily representing, through some OF their
journals, that there is already nm eStiungement
between the President elect and the representa-
tive men Of the radical party IL sequally sure,
that not more than two OF the present cabinet
VIII be retained, and far more probable that all
will be changed Sch1held has the best chance
to remain and Eyarts next but it is generally
believed that the President will open a new sheet
and that Gen. Scholeld may be given some other
good position.
There is far more certainty in calculating the
chances of the next Speaker Of the House. that
must be chosen Immediately after the fourth of
March, and to-day, Jane, G.. Blaine Of Maine. hus
the best chances Of success. He has much to
recommend him, and from all the numerous ospi-
rants for that honorable position, no better man
could be chosen While it might be impossible
% fill at once The place Of Speaker ColluX, who
has now occupied the Speaker, chair longer than
any OF his predecessors, with one exception, it is
believed that with ordinary experience MIR Blaine
would make "a first class presiding officer. His
reputation a. q member vi the House, already
gives him rare prominence for it, first office, and
that reputation he has achieved, unaided by his
own natural powers, rs a debater and parliament /
toran Mr. Dawes of Massachusetts,, is also /.
widely mentioned for the same position and as it
seems to be conceded that the Speakershp will be-
given to cw-Englnnd, one Of these two gentle
men haye good reason to expect it. nm not
aware that Vermont has any aspirant for TINT dis
tinction, although her delegation ON the floor are
the peers Of the most hopeful.
There is much satisfaction expressed relative 10 /
the general character Of next Congress, especially
towards the Senate, in which the improvement Is |
very manifest. OF such men MS Gov. BuclIing- I
ham OF Connecticut, Hannibal llnmlin OF Maine, .
Carl Sclurtz OF Missouri. Gov. Fenton Of New .
York, Gov. BrownlDw of Tennessee il is idle to T.
flourish encommns, and the States Of Pcnnsylya- [
mia, Indiana and Wisconsin have, it is believed, |
chosen senators who will do them honor. and who
will bear high the republican standard where it .
has not been unurled for the last six years. Hon
NJ. W Carpenter, the senator elect from VISION .
SIM it is well known, is native Of Vermont, and .
a son-in-lnw Of Ex-toy. Dillingham;. due de- .
gree Of State pride, therefore should incline all .
iern1nters 10 wish well Of him. and TO speak no .
III of him at such crisis in his experience, unless
mpelcd by sense Of duty. May the country
have cause to admire the steadiastness Of his re-
- ""Nl ~ "''N "i' Hitiu9 the
brlIIiancy OF his talents
Inc papers have already given general pub
llcity to the National oman Rights Convcn-
tion held here ON the 18Th and 10Th inst. 1t was
the hrst OF the KIND ever held IN Washington, al
though smaller meetings ana weekly free discus
SONS nave been held all winter, 50 that the pub
lie mind Is growing somewhat familiar with this
new question mere, as well as IN the States where
iaui'7'l measures usually una more favor. mo-
ice some conflicting reports as TO the success OF
this convention but every honest observer must
nave admitted that 1t was all the most ardent
.rle'us eoSlq expect Inc largest hall IN the city
was crowded TO excess, and many were turned
away VINO could not get IN the last evening, and
now the regular discussions are To be kept up
every week 1t can now be truly said, that this
mas become topic oil earnest, healthy nyestga-
.i ana discussion BY many among the best {