Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-05-03
Notes aud Comments.

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amounting on paper to more than s2'5OO,OOO.
The legal tender act ba. just been de-.
clared constitutional by q full bench Of the
United States Supreme Court. Last year it
was decided unconstitutional by part Of the
Court. This it is understood will be formally
announced in court next Monday, the opinions
for there will be two the majority, and mi
nority will be given next December
The Maine Farmer predicts a wet sea-.
son this year we look for a wet season
the coming spring aud summer One extreme
Of atmospheric condition in the passing years,
usually succeeds another We have, during
the winter OF lS70-7l, experienced an unu-
sun drouth-thc approaching season we shall,
in all probability have a far greater amount
Of rainfall than in the past growing season. -
The extra session of the Senate will not
last over two weeks, and there are hopes that
one week or ten days will answer A major.
IT'S Of the Senate desire very brief session,
and will not allow general debate 10 open
session, aud there is little temptation to much
speech making in secret session. when the
G2o5, cannot scatter the debate over the
country
China {. taking the back track in respect
to occilentali,ipg h rselr The government
ha. resolved to put stop to the work Of the
Christian missionaries and to prevent all
teaching that is opposed to the doctrines of
Confucius 1t is especially hard upon female
missouaric, and It viii pay no compensation
for the ma.saoros Of Christians porpeiratol
last year. There will be bull in that China
shop soon. aud his name win be Christian
cannon
William Cullen Bryant in giving an
account Of bis habit. of life says that he fol-
lows closely simplicity in diet is strictly tenn
perate, rise. carly exercises Systematically
every day Of his life and battles from head
to foot Mr. Bryant has reached pretty
advanced period of life without the usual in.
Grmties Of old age and with his strength,
activity and bodily faculties in a good state
Of preservation. Among other things he dis
cards tea and coffee prefers walking to rid.
ing goes to bed early and takes but two
meals day. Bryanis habit. suggest les
son of great value to thousands of young
men who live fast.
"A despatch Thursday announced the
death of Schamyl, the noted Crcassiau chief.
lie was the leader Of frequent attacks against
the Russians, aud Wa, regarded by his follow.
ers with venoratiou amounting almost to
worship From 1894 to 1859 he was con-
slant thorn in the side Of Russia, and was
particularly annoying during the Crimean
war At last he was captured and taken to
ST. Petersburgh where he has been since held
in captivity, but allowed to live in the enjoy
mont of comfort aud even luxury. Recently
he was permitted to 60 on a pilgrimage to the
holy place. of the Mohammedan faith. and
died during the journey, 10 hi. seyenty-third
year
There is II curious election contest from
Dakota Territory lts triangular contest.
NJ. X. Armstrong has the seat by 9G majority,
and Burleigh claims that he can prove 100
illegal votes Sphinx, the third candidate,
says that Burleigh is right lie takes no
evidence on that point but insists that Bur
lesgh has made out a case as far as Armstrong
is concerned and asks the committee on cleo
tons to say SO. At this point he steps in
himself and says that he can prove that
enough fraudulent votes were cast for Bur
leigh to give the scat to himself All three
candidates are hard at work taking more
testimony and it looks very much as if Their,
had been some pretty hard practice all round
The President has a good opportunit,
now to prove the sincerity of his advocacy oil
civil service reform, for Congress not only
voted him authority to establish it, but ap,
propriated $4,000 for organizing the machin
/, cry to carry out any plan which he nigh
suggest The authority granted is very full
and carries with it the unmistakable purtos
Of Congress that the reform should be homes
and thorough The words in which it is givei
were drawn by Mr. Jenckcs, the Representativ
, from Rhode Island, who, more than any othe
, man, i the father Of this reform and it wa
carried through the Senate under the specia
urgency of Senator Trumbull The latte
, now remains in Washington to press the sub
ject upon Gen. Grant, who, we trust, vii
e respond both heartily and radically
We are at loss to account for the 81
lence Of those journals which called on tn
civilized world to interfere aud prevent tn
+ bombardment Of Paris during the German in
u vcstment The French are now cutting cacl
others threats and destroying the city at
u rate which the worst Of the German yandal
y never contemplated. Shells have been, for
e week past, rained down upon the building
c from the outside while the mob on the insid
c is saoking the public buildings aud churchC
Il and destroying works Of art The despatchC
y just now give Us a picture Of Paris whie
o is anything but consistent with her claim I
e be the centre Of civilization and art. Ami
e the carnage, murder, arrests, and assaults upo
1t whatever is sacred, the populace are out
% the streets in holiday attire, giving themselyC
d to the enjoyment Of whatever offers, from
D. Punch and Judy exhibition to murder.
Control Of the Suez Canal is likely
r. pass from France to England or Russia Franc
is 50 utterly used up, as a consequence of he
4 utter imbeciity in the German wars
completely atthe bottom Of the basket tina
there seems nothing unreasonable in the al
l. sumption that she must abandon her postio
,. with regard to the canal. OF the other pow
p. ers, Russia and England alone are so situated
through their interests and from their pos
tons or purposes in the East, and their mean
;, of offence, to take the place of France. Ne
II .. H.. Al IL