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


sent into the Senate before the ship was lost.
Though most Of these officers lie at the bot
tom ofthe sea, the Senate very properly grant
ed the promotion.
Judge Poland, of the 2ud District, gives
public notice Of a competitive examination to
fin cadetships at West Point and Annapolis
to be held at White River Junction on the
first Tuesday in May next. Hon. b. IT,
steele, Gen. Phelps, Coils Farnham and Pin
gree arc to constitute the examining board.
One Of the British Channel fleet, the
Warrior, which was ordered to cruise in
search of the City Of Boston, has arrived at
Lisbon, but brings no tidings Of the missing
steamer. London dispatch says that UNI
dcrwritcrs now decline all risks on her. She
appears to be definitely given up for lost.
The Salt Lake Ncics comments dedanty
upon the CulIom onti-polygamy bill that pass
ed the House Of Representatives on Wcdncs-
day. Il says to the Senate " Pass the Gull
lom bin, and if it fails raise armic, and at
tempt to Gsht drive, aud cxtermiuate, and
then watch the results # men wish to push
Normonism ahead, let them prosecute"
Captain Eyre, Of the Bombay, claims an
excuse. The testimony in his favor is to the
effect that no one on board of the Bombay
wa. aware of the condition Of the Oneida at
,hc time of the collision, and that the alarm
ON the Bombay was so great that the officers
doomed it necessary to make for shoal water
with all speed.
1t is stated that the Vermont Central
Railroad Company have leased the st. Law
renee and Ottawa Railway, which runs from
Prescott to Ottawa By this arrangement o
through freight connection from Ottawa to
Boston, and rice rersa, will be formed, which
can but prove of great convenience to the
public. and especially the lumber interest Of
that section
Mr. Poland Of Vermont, has offered a res
oIution directing the Committee on Rules to
consider the propriety ofrcportiug new rule,
that previous questions shall not be called
until after two hours debate on the pending
questions, unless threc-iourths Of the mem.
bers second the demand for the previous ques.
ton. The effect of such a rule would be tc
prevent much hasty legislation.
President Grant sent message to tn,
House of Representatives Thursday upon tn,
subject of the decline Of American commerce
He declared it to be national humiliation
that this country is now compelled to pay
from S2O,o0o0O0 to S3O,OOO,OO0 year, ex
elusive Of passage money for freight which
should be shared by American citizens will
the people Of other nations, and urging al
carly consideration of the subject.
The Cuban question has at last assume
positive shape in Congress. The House
Committee on Foreign Affairs have agreed
by vote Of eight to one, to report in favor
of authorizing and instructing the President t,
maintain neutrality ain the contest now exist
ing between the people of Cuba and the gov
eminent Of the Kingdom Of Spain This i
virtually recognizing the belligcrency of tn,
Cuban insurgents.
The House OF Representatives the othc
day adopted Mr.. Holman's resolution tina
the policy of granting subsidies in publi
lands to railroads and other corporation
should be discontinued and that public land
should be held for the exclusive purpose o
securing investments to actual settlers undo
NE Homestead aud presumption laws, subjec
TO reasonable appropriations Of such lands 70
purposes Of education.
The income tax is held in very high es
teen by our able Secretary of the Treasury
We are told that he is not only opposed to it
repeal, but even to its reduction, believing !
to be the most just and equitable Of all tn
systems of taxation. He says that out o
100000 Of people there are only abou
100000 who are affected by this tax. A re
ducton of the tax to three per cent woul,
amount to about 100000 but he hopes i
win not be done
We bad the news several days ago, tina
/ Capt Eyre Of the Bombay had been suspend
Ell from command Of his ship for six months
There was not much in this to encourage
hope that justice would be done in the mat
ter, but we were hardly prepared for til,
statement, now made public, that Eyre ha
been allowed to escape criminal prosecution
and to return in triumph to England. Gu
/ Government cannot ,allow the matter to enc
here aud as soon as the reports of Ministe
belong and our naval officers are received
prompt and proper action should be taken.
By the arrival of the steamer Merri
mac from Rio de Jaueiro we have some in
formation about the dreadful condition 0
Paraguay. The country is one vast ruin
Towns are depopulated and the people ar
literally starving. There are thousands livinl
on roots and whatever fruit they find. Twcnt,
thousand widowed women are hanging abou
Asuncion yainly striving to procure passag
to Bneuos Ayres, or Monteyideo Lopez i
safe in the mountains, suecored by the In
dams, but the Brazilians hold possession o
the whole country with that exception.
Prince Pierre Bouaparte has been &C
Quilted. The jury were out only one hour
The Procureur-General made a strong appea
for a verdict of guilty with extenuating cir
cumstances" But it was of no avail. A
soon as the verdict was announced the Prime
was re-arrested on civil suit for 500
damages, instituted by the family of Veto
Noir The dispatches from Paris say tina
the people are astonishod, aud that the yer
diet is the universal topic of conversation
He was sentenced subsequently to pay So ,0Ol