Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-20
Our Washington Letter.

Editor Rutland Herald Practically
speaking, the campaign of 1872 has COM
menced, nay, it commenced long ago, but
is now from day to day becoming more
and more manifest in its operations, and
more intensified in spirit, too plainly fore
telling the nature of the contest which is
soon to shake the land from center to cir
oumference.
THE NEW TERRITORY OF COLUMBIA,
like New Hampshire and sConneoticut,
msnifests the premonitory symptoms of
the coming contest, in the present canvass
for territorial officers Under the new
form of government, the appointment of
Governor, Secretary, Board of Public
Works. and other minor officers, being
vested in the President, this territory will
be apt to be largely in sympathy with the
Administration, whatever NAV be the adj
ministrative policy. The Democrats are
making vigorous fight. The main con-
test among the people is for Delegates to
Congress, and members of the House of
Delegates. Gen. N. P. Chapman, the Re-
publican nominee, will be remembered az
Judge Advocate in the famous trial of the
infamous Wirz. Richard T. Merrick, the
Democratic nominee, also acting as coun-
sell for Wirz in the same trial. This cir
cumstance is used by the opposition to
prejudice the German element-20,0 900,
more or less-against Chapman. But the
facts of the case are that Wirz was q
Swiss instead of German, and besides
the inhumanity of his course toward
Union prisoners was felt and appreciated
by Germans and Americans alike, and as
the former are noted for their law abiding
loyalty, this act of merited justice will
hardly have much weight with them.
The election, which comes off on the Goth
inst, will doubtless be a Republican
triumph.
CONGRESS
has found its limited order of business no
barrier against prolonged session. The
session which rumor adjourned weeks ago
still continues. The usual rush and hur-
nv incident to close of session when the
time of adjournment is fixed in the future,
and night and day employed to see how
much legislation can be poorly done, has
been averted and the little work done, if
not we'll done, has been done deliberately.
Certainly a sensible course for men to
take who are paid by the year for their
services. The House has done a sensible
thing in passing Mr.. Hale's amnesty BILL
A peculiar interest attaches itself to this
bill, as being the frst1 measure of the
kind to pass the House after having been
so thoroughly canvassed and often tried
by that great body. New York papers
have commented upon the fac; that while
Butler, who saw the probable passage of
such bill! and was willing to take the
praise of doing it, was in his room prepar-
ing a bill for the same purpose, Mr.. Hale
managed to get the rules suspended and
his bill put through. OF course Buffers
bill then was was worth its weight in
waste paper, but not just the thing he
wanted. The papers might have carried
the joke further and told how Hale not
only stole the march on Butler, but also,
mcbody's else thunder in framing his
bill, or in other words perhaps bor-
rowed his ideas from the Poland
amendment to Mr.. Beok's bill, which
amendment was adopted by a sweeping
majority, but the bill, for other reasons,
failed to pass the House, "a statement OF
which was given in my letter to the HER
AID few weeks since.) The bill, as it
passed the House, is substantially the
same as this amendment. There is some
doubts Of it's being taken up by the Senate
during this session-to do SO would neces.
state change of the established order of
business, which, with tariff and various
other things knocking at the door, might
be dangerous thing to do. The best
minds in Congress and out are in favor OF
trying the effect of amnesty in the South,
and there can be no doubt of the propriety
and justice Of the measure. 1t should be.
come law before Congress adjourns, but
probably will not. The Senate has spent
the most Of the week in the consideration
of the Ku Klux bill. Debate has been
sharp, and partisan at timee, at Others,
sound and erudite. The short life Of the
bill lie its own commentary, implying that
it is Of doubtful utility, or only required
to meet . present emergency. The de-