Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-01-25
Our Washington Letter.
wAsurNoroy, D. C., Jan. 90, 1871

in Congress against the administration, more
harmonious feeling has prevailed and the danger
III permanent estraugement between the President
and prominent members 1f the pnrty has ceased
/ tn excite apprehension The fairness and god
/ judgement exhibited by the President in the sc
lection Of the commissioners has gone lat o. con-
ciliHte those who were opposed to their nppJnt-
ment, and a. excite confidence that nm unprcjudi-
ced and honest report will be made by the COM
mi>,loncrs upon their return. lt Is evident that
the anncxtlu feeling is rapidly gaining ground
aud it the report Of the commission is favorable,
TIE proposition Tor To nucxatiOn O Dominica VIII
mcct with favor ut the hands OF the next Congress
Since the tcmiya Of this apple Of discard, Com
rre~s has settled down t. the careful consideration
Of the immense amount Of business before them,
with an evident intention Of getting through with
ns much us possible before the expiration ut the
session.
The citizens Of Washington are greatly rci1iced
no the prospect Of at last being provided with
/ system of laws aud government in accordance
with the spirit OF the century, and Analogous to
that Ut other portions OF the United States. In
no civilized community ON cat.h * there such
cong lumerute mas- ui inconsistent and cuntrndlc-
tory laws as are IN force in the District OF Culum-
T bin. Way down. as suhstmta, is u mass of old
colonial laws which were in force when the Dis
uict WAS % position Of Maryland, and Maryland
was "a loyal COLONY of England. Maryland has
long ago swept these uld lussil laws from her
statute book, bat they are occasionally dug up IN
tlc District Courts here ti bother thc judges and
Go confuse the people. Repl>iug upon this an
cieut bed, bat equally out OF place 90 the living
present, Is ma-- OF unrepctled Maryland stat
utc- which were in force when the District was
coded 10 the United States. Then comes
luaer ui-- ol special statutes passed by Congress
daring tNc past seventy wears, each without any
reference o. the other, and which often defy tie
ingenuity Of lawyers, and the wi~dim OF courts 10
their Ell rts o. harw1ui1uSN clu~true. Finally,
there is q sort OF alluyiW deposit Of unknown
depth. composed OF acts oi the city council ul
Washington applicable 90 one portion OF the Dis
tfict similar uct- % the city council OF be rye
tIwn applicable o. am cher, and judgments and
decree, %. the levy Court 100 force outside che ciy
limits. Having population larger than many
of the territories. and larger than some ui the
stute, when first admitted, tie District h1- been
without voice ln or representation bel IRE Con-
gre-s, and consequently bus had % put up with
such crumbs as Congress might ucat-lrNN
sweep towards her Her complaints have at lust
penetrated :ur dull ear Of Congress, and her ap-
peals have excited sentiment OF Justice in the
Congressional heart
Accordingly the Committee ON the District of
Columbia 800 the House, have for nearly year
ieeu perecting plan Of government for the
District, which shall remedy the evils complained
ul, nnd best suieeNe the interests OF the pc Pile
The result is an act providing a territorial
z ivernmeut for the District, which was passed by
the House on Friday last by large majority. Ii
vests the exc, utise power IN the hands ola Cover
nira and Secretary, who ARE 10 be appointed hy tie
President TOR tic term ct Hour Years. The leai>-
htye power is vested 10 Council and House Of
Delegates the former consisting OF eleven mem
bers, who are u be appointed by the President
for the term u Two years, and the House OF Dele
gates consisting ut twenty-five memher-, elected
annually by the people. General powers ui legis
mtun within certain restrictions mentioned In
the act, given to the assembly, aliAc however
bring suhject % repeal by Congress, which retains
It's powers ut legislation over the District, q he
exercised whenever necessity shall demundit. IL
also provides for the election by the people 1l
Delegate 10 the House ol Representatives, of the
United States, o. serve Tor the term Of Two years,
who shall beeuut,ed % the same rights and prvi-
lege- us are eui we'd by the Delegates from the
several Territories ul the United States.
Tins wise aud S,lutIry measure Will relieve
Congress OF the constant necessity of lesl~htirg
Tor the District, un the one hand and un the other
will enable the District 10 speedily reconstruct
ltse, and % 70 On with its great measures of inn
pruyement without waiting T. secure the assent and
appreciation OF Congress at every step.
] Daring the past scar the hand OF improvement
has been busy IN Washington in every direction
/ Fine business blocks have been erected in the
centre OF the city, and thousands OF dwelling
houses--nut cheap, wooden affairs, but fine brick
structures that add 10 the permanent growth of
the city-haye arisen upon it, vacant lots. Its
| wide streets and broad avenues are last being
parked and paved. It, squares enclosed and beau
tilied, and It's waste places planted with shade
trees. There are lew places IN the United States,
even among the young, growing cities OF the
West, that have made such advancement in the
ast ten years, not only in population, but in
growth IN size and Increase IA value, a. wash
3 mgton Til, is not due to the generous enclur-
tgcinent of the government, but 70 the llberulty
and enterprise Ut IT. private citizens. Ten year.
more Vt similar prosperity will render the Nj
b tlIual CAPITAL one OF the mJst beautiful and in-
terestug cities Of the world. A. evidence
that those best informed have No faith in the
b crazy scheme Of Capital removal 1t may he mem
tllned that even W esteru senator's and Members
lul Congress nave invested largely IN real estate
here. Siuce 81. Louis commenced the agitation
vt tie subject, property has advance trln fifty
h 60 one hundred per cent. all over the city, AND
immense sums are being expended 10 dredging
. the canal, erectlng a new mAgket house, ami IL
i, adding other permanent Improvements.
TIE visit Of Red Cloud and his btud OF Suhir
Iinate Chiefs and their conferences with the Pres
: identand the Indian Department ldst spring wal
be well remembered by your readers IL VIII ais
be lecUllccled that since their return, all the Va
% rl1us tribes vi tie great Sioux nation have beer
peaceuhle aud friendly, and the general ludiat
o var which Wa, then 50 strongly threatened, wa,
. tycrted. This peaceahle policy on the part oil
.he Indians Is said 10 be wholly owing to the per-
= >0mal nIueuce and power of Red Cloud, vino Of
d more than one occasion during the summer hu
fought tribes of his own people, u enforce com
iliauce with his peace policy. Certain IL is tina
/. ntre peace has prevalleialJng the northwestern
frontier, and the government has been saved tn
= expenditure Of millions OF dollars which an In
It dian war would have cost. Intelligence has jus
heen received at the War Department from Col
Chambers, in command mt Fort Fettermnn, tina
L. Red Cloud with tive hundred lJdge, Of Sioux ar
;ncamp,d near there, ~ an extremely de>titut
condition, aud unless provisions are issued t
nf flar 10, Lot
II Ter Of Col. Chambers was referred to the Indian
u bureau with AN endorsement 10 the elect tina
IL the War Department possessed no authority /
make the issue. Meanwhile, while this appeal o
- COl. Chambers Is following the devious ways d
IT red-tnpe, and j. being referred from bureau t
=, bureau aud from desk to desk, Red Cloud and hi
' band are starving and before the key can b
t. found 70 unlock the abundant supplies stored i
., Forts fetternan and Laramie, starvation will HAY
)" rendered their issue unnecessary.
l. II experience has taught Us anything in rell
;, ton To the question OF our Indian Policy, it
Lhe simple truth that it is cheaper to feed III
eu Indians than to fight them. Whether they ca
4 ayer he taught 10 care for herds Of their owl
- the buffalo and other natural game fail,
IL is questionable bat they can he Concentrate
/. Upon comparatively small areas, where the
wants for iI1i and blankets can be supplied wit
nc a small proportion Of the value Of the land thu
bc vacated, and where they be fed the year roun
necessary, u sleepy surleiting, infinitely cheap
~ er than they can he fought for q month
Whatever may bethe future tate Of the Indian
let Red Cloud and his starving families he II
NJ LEVIED NJ once, il only for the good faith wit
n. which he has kept the treaties Of last spring.
TnoNls.
It, Tho London conference has at last met
Il. Neither jules Fayre nor any representativ
Of France was present at the initial meeting
a. II it is true, as reported, that Russia will nc
y consent to any discussion Of her action in de
h claring the naturalization of the Black Sea a
Nd an end, and that Prussia will not permit an
n interference between her and France, we IA
ST to see any practical good which can com
n from the conference.
- Edward c. Deeyln, one Of the earle.
IS advocates Of temperance in the country, die
III Schenectady on the 18th inst, aged 7
g. years. Many years ago he built tho wei
ne Nuown hotel bearing his name, in Alban
~ designating it as temperance house but