Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-30
Our Washington Letter.


week. most Of the time having been spent IN ex-
c,ntiye session. i'm the consideration of the San
Domingo treaty, and OF the elgbllity oil zen.
[ Ames Senator elect from Mississippi Inc cham-
MONS of the treaty, BY the ratification OF which
/ The Island Of San Domingo becomes annexed to
| the United States are Senators Morton aud Conk-
| ling which the opposition is ably represented nf
/ senators Sumner and Schurz On Thursday Mr..
Sumner occupied the entire afternoon IN one Oh
/ his greatest efforts, which was pronounced ny
many Senator's one OF the most powerful ever
made i'm the Sennte During the entire four hours
occupied in its delivery, every Senator remained
ia his seat, aud listened with mpt attention to
| the eloquent and exhaustive argument. lie as
serted that n this treaty was ratified, 1t would ne
but the initiation of % policy OF annexation ana
/ conquest which would result in the ultimate ac-
|quisitiOn of the entire chain VI the West Indies
and which would entail untold expense upon the
government lie deprecated this policy OF extern
sion, aud argued that the immediate possession
Of Sun Domingo was not only unnecessary, but
would be wholly useless to us
/ On Friday Mr.. Sumner resumed the floor and
occupied about an hour In the completion OF his
argument when he was followed by senator
Morton, whoadyocatcd the ratification in aspecch
which occupied the balance Of the session. Mr.
/ Morton gave general history Of the Island, from
/ t. discovery hy Columbus TO the present time,
aud elowingly described its heathlulncs- of eli
mate, it, immense resources the value Of its pro
ducts, and the extent and richness of its mines
/ He claimed that it was of paramount importance
to Us to mtiy the treaty, as bearing upon our
foreign relations as, If we failed, England,
France or some other foreign nation, would OBJ
tain possession, thereby gaming a foothold that
would be dangerous 70 us in the future.
1t was originally understood that the discus
sion was to be confined 10 these two arguments but
the theme is too prolific and the opportunity too
inviting b be thus neglected by the speech max
ers. Accordingly the subject will be resumed
to-day by Mr. Schurz. In opposition % the treaty,
whose speech is expected 10 rank next 70 Mr..
summers in interest and ability on that side
Senator Cole, who has visited San Domingo,
will speak ON Monday and Tuesday, in favor OF
the treaty. As there are several others who have
speeches prepared, it is expected that the debate
will he continued through the greater part OF the
week. The President and Secretary Of State are
greatly iu favor OF the treaty and are M daily
communication with Senators IN regard 30 it.
The vote upon the treaty is likely 10 be close.
Though 10 is pretty certain Co receive majority,
it is mot expected that che necessary tw0-third-
can be consolidated in its favor. The Democrats
will oppose it in body. IL is proposed, how
ever in the event of lbs rejection by the Senate,
90 bring iu JOINT resolution providing for the
purchase and annexation of the Island, the terms
ul which will he similar 10 the resolution by which
Texas was admitted, and which will require only
a majority for It's adoption.
The question of the eligibility of Gen. Ames as
Senator from Mississippi bias excited protmctei
and spirited discussion. The Judiciary Commit
tee, 20 whom his credentials were referred, with
the exception Of senators Stewart nld Rice, re
ported adversely TO his claim 10 the seat upon Oh,
ground that he was not resident Of the State n
the time of his election, within the meaning o.
the Constitution. senators Conkling, Carpenter
Edmunds and Others have spoken against his adj
mission, while his claims have been advocated D.,
Senators Stewart, Morton and others IL is eyi
? dent that Cen Ames chance. have been gaining
ground during the discussion, and there Is nov
little doubt thut be Will be admitted. A dispatcl
} was received q few days ago saying that the Re
publican members Of the Legislature bad held
caucus and unanimously resolved, in case the Sen
ate refused 90 admit him on bis present creden
tials that they would reelect him. and deman
his admission. Con Ames will. IL admitted, b
D tine youngest member OF the Senate, being onl
thirty Five, and looking much Younger
The recent report OF ten. Butler. as presiden
of the National Asylum for Disabled Soldiers
presents at least one rciuaton 20 the charge tina
republics are uugrteiul. lt appears that Their
: are at the present time 3.sO2 disabled soldier
taken care Of 90 the various asylums ne follows
At Central Asylum. DAYTON. Ohio, ,G31 East
ern Branch, Augusta, Ne, G3j North Wcsteri
Branch. Milwaukee, Wis, f2j Philadelphia
Branch, il9; New Jersey soldiers Home New
ARK, 1913 Rochester Branch, y. y, 10 Mary
land Soldiers Home. Baltimore 80 Union Re
lief and State Home y Y, "a, and by out-doo
s relief, ~. The managers announce that they hav
q now ample means and accommodations 10 eiabl
them To provide for every disabled soldier m th
United states who will apply to them, and tina
II Is the fault alone Of the soldier ii hei support
ing himself by begging, or is dependent upo
aims OF charity, or is even supported as a count
q or town pauper. Here are institutions pleasant
~ and henlthiuly located, where home is pre-
: ylded for all hOnumhy discharged soldiers di.
uIIpl the lime 0f tlufy ttt
p ed, and clothing and medical attendance furnish
I ed all ut which is extended, not a. q charifl
r which 20 would be humliuting 10 receive but d
ungW, 10 which these crippled veterans are entitled
aud which is furnished as in part payment for th
r sacrifices which they have made for the countr,
Another gratifying evidence that republi
sometimes remembers its beneact0rs, is the M
= nouneemcnt that the subscriptions for the benef
OF the family OF the late TX Secretary Stanton a
q ready amount T. $50 OOO,-which is now in tn
hands OF the trustees, % De invested Tor the ben,
tit OF his widow and children. OF this sum, $50
i 600 was contributed hy New York, $50 900 b
G pennsylvania, So. 900 by Boston, and SIS 90
81 by persons 100 Washington. In addition ~ this
Congress recently voted 90 pay bis widow on
{ year salary amounting 90 S6,OOO-as AssOciat
Justice ol the supreme Court, 70 which he va
appointed few days previous % his death. Dur
] my the years Of his service Secretary of WaI
he had SO entirely neglected his private affair.
that upon his death, il was found that he had lei
no property, except the house that he lived in -
. MS little iumily would therefore have soon le
the heavy hand Of poverty, IL il had not been 70
= this prompt and generous action Of his friends.
ten. Logan bill for the reduction of the arm,
' which passed the House some time since, an
q which Is now before the Senate Military Commit
tee, has called out terribly severe and scathin
letter from Gen. sherman. In order. doubles.
e 70 give him an opportunity of going through 10
gan bill as he did through the COniederacy
Senator Wilson wrote HIM letter, requesting hi
/, views thereon These he proceeds to give, in
style that proves that in his hand " the pen
mghtier than the sword. ~ lie handles languap
] as skiliuly as he does armies, and hurls sente1
ces with the force and directness Of shot from
Parrot. bill which recently passed Congress
prohibits retired army officers from being nssfgne
TO active duty, 50 as 10 receive more than the hal
pay upon which they are retired One provsio
= OF lOgan's bill makes these retired officers incl
glble to any civil office, This Gen Sherman CON
ments upon as follows
Now that these veteran soldiers are barred in an
direction il is proposed 10 cut them OF In another m
senate has Just confirmed as minister to Spain Generi
r. seklcs WHO Is crippled and retired officer By Ia
bill he viii be ousted and oil these officers will be d,
.areu nom increasing their small pensions by earnin
he ices o. cvl Offices for which they may be omiuentl
fitted and whose salaries would II may be- enable the
70 support their families While the cry goes forth G,
races and all kinds Of men Il Is proposed 10 deny the
70 the very soldiers who sacrificed their limbs and the
s when recall that in 1869 National governmer
was paying $500 bounty for soldiers and some of ot
states counties and towns swelling il 10 0ll and on
countfymen were shouting aloud the praise Of our Officer
and mcni little dreamed that to such a. had the mi
fortune 10 be manned and crippled would be- denied Nh
poor privilege Of enjoying the salaries OF civil officer
10 addition To- such limited pensions the goyernmei
= could afordn
Another provision Of the bill abolishes Ia
grade OF General and Lieutenant General upon III
] death or resignation of the present ncumbents
and reduces the number Of Major and Brigade
Generals, and also reduces the pay Of all Gener,
5 officers IRON thirty to fifty per cent. This latte
q proposition General sherman notices as follows
Personally occupy the same dwelling which Gel
nrant did before me which kind friends In Ne
ofk ana Boston bought and presented me, aud has
spent every cent and more too Of the pay allowed
by law IN keeping IL up have endenvOred to enterta
u my friends, come from what quarter they might an
nave gwen some dinners, and some receptions and hOI
70 40 so again at my own expense, not the peoples.
my pay Is reduced may not be able To do t to the san
extent hereafter but mover will receive the o0urtes
or Inequalities Of others unless can recprocae then
luKldlOus hive been mazda bei,