The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-07-12

From Washington.
A correspondent Of the Iribane dis
courses in a very interesting manner and
quite forcibly of the action of Congress
in reference to the bill for confirming the
preemption claims of Messrs Hutchins and
Lamon in the Yo Semitic Valley-Claims
dating previously to the cession of the val
ley to the State of California, and fully
recognized by that State.
To a woman,a non-politician non-partizan,
non-votcr, which, of course, is next to a
non-entity, this denial and deprivation of
the rights of two brave and honest set
tiers seems not only cruelty unjust but
absurdly inconsistent, following, as it did,
Just on the heels of an affirmative vote on
the bill to secure homesteads to actual
settlers on the public domains. Mr.. Ju-
Ian, the chairman of the Committee on
Public Lands, was very earnest and faith
full in sustaining his report, and in advo-
eating what he believed a just and rea-
sonable demand, but all was Of no avail.
Mr.. Schenck wished to dispossass these
settlers, who were unfortunate enough to
have Il taste for beauty and souls to be
impressed by grandeur, and so chose their
homes in that wild and wondrous place.
because, as he said, there was a possibili.
ty that they might construct there "places
Of resort and amusement" and even
{ lager-beer Saloons" or use their small
tracts of land for agricultural purposes.
Now, all this tender anxiety for the beau
ty and order of this wild pleasure ground,
thousands of miles away, seems to me a
little strained and ridiculous, when l look
on the %forlorn, uncared.for condition Of
our Capitol grounds, that for years have
been q reproach to our Government.
There are drinking-saloon 0 Schenck not
in the possible future, not hidden in a noun
tain.gorge of the Sierra Nevadas, but sin
the living present." here, within a stones
throw Of the Capitol. On any day of
the session one may encounter your
brother Congressman on the plank road to
ruin. There are constant relays Of them.
Should you demonstrate with these gentle.
men, IN such questionable proceedings.
and protest against the dissertation Of
these sacred national precincts. they
might answer pertinently or impertinent.
ly, Because thou art virtuous, shall
there be no more cakes and ale 2" These
same Capitol grounds are also made use
of for agricultural purposes. have seen
COWS grazing on the unprotected terraces,
and hogs eating of the refuse and garbage
thrown out from the restaurants, under
the House and Senate, where such things
never should have been, Their estan.
lishmcnt is a dissertation, their continu-
ance is disgrace, They will yet make
that grand building smell like a misera.
bio old tavern, poison its atmosphere,
breed perhaps a National Hotel " pesti.
lence, and carry off some of our philan-
thropic legislators, whose charity begins
and ends very far away from home. In
case of such melancholy visitation, we
must do our best to be reconciled to n
mysterious providence.
1t has seemed to me that there has
been a good deal of rash and random po-
lMitical action since Congress has got into
the rapids OF legislation, preceding the
final plunge Of adjournment, There was
the Bounty bill Of a week or so ago, that
went sailing triumphautly through to a
vote, like a child's toy yacht without
causing a ripple or debate, or striking a
bar of opposition, and yet it is a measure
; which, | am informed by a high Govern
ment official, will take more than $780,.
3 acts OF natlonai generosity ike this, anc
the startling prodigality with which vast
tracts of land are granted to railroad cor.
por%ations-lands which may be packed
with precious ores-are explanations per.
haps, of the parsimony of Congress in the
matter of appropriations for the Nationa'
Capitol, and of the howl for economy sci
up when any proposal is made to raise oil
equalize salaries, or do away with any
form of taxation which bears especial,
upon the poor.