Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-12-20
Notes and Comments.
The Congressional recess will ex tend
from December II to January 8

OF inc States that nave sent rellcI 10 NulcagO
Frederick Douglas has pronounced in
favor Of the reelection Of President Grant
a bill to prevent marriages between
white persons and colorcd persons has been
brought before Congress.
The cost Of taking the last census was
s3,2S7 600, or not dime head for the
lot. Cheap for the money.
1t is said that Gen sickles will not re.
urn to Spain. lie has been relieved Of his
diplomatic duties at his own request
-- Mr.. Piuchbcck has been chosen Pres.
dent Of the Louisiana Senate which makes
/ him observation-disclosures Of that State lie
is colored man.
There Is surely good time commng,
and perhaps it is at hand. For several days
in succession last week, gold has fallen below
no. This is the lowest figure since 500
The amount Of grain wurohouscd in Chi
cago on Saturday, the ID instant was ISIS
40 bushels, against 2,793,OGs bushels the
previous Saturday, and 3,3i4,4lS the cores
ponding date in 1870.
-Mormondom is somewhat disquietcd by
the Presidents message. \ delegation Of
prominent men is on the way to Washington,
but can accomplish nothing, and would have
done much better in staying at home
- Two conventions were held in New
Hampshire last week prohibitory, and labor
reform The former nominated Rev. d. c.
Babcock Of Nashua, and the latter Lcmucl
Cooper of Croydon, for Governor.
A democratic journal saws that nobody
expects Grant to employ language with the
fitness and precision of Webster" Just so
and nobody ever expected that Mr. Web
ster should lead an army
The American and British commission,
under the Treaty Of Washington, began to sit
on Wednesday. 1t has made one decision, t.
wit, that the United States cannot be held
liable for injuries caused by action of rebels
in the late war.
During the present year there have been
twenty-five State elections. Fifteen Of the
total number have gave Republican maioritics,
and at the next Presidential election the
electoral vote of these fifteen States alone
would be sufficient to elect President.
The soldiers Of the District of Columbia
are indorsing the petition of the New York
comrades that pensions be voted by Congress
to those heroic and charitable women who,
during the war rendered valuable services as
nurses in hospitals and camps, often to the in.
jury Of their health.
The territory including the diamond
fields has been formally annexed to the Brit
ish possessions in South Africa. The fields |
extend on the Orange River and its iributa-
ries hundreds of miles north of the former
British colonies, and form valuable ac1usi- |
ton.
The Tribune startles the Gothamites by
stating that New York city has almost ceased
to grow, and that its commerce is rapidly be-
ing absorbed by Boston, Philadelphia, B4ti-
more, and other cities. The gross misgoyern.
ment of the city is thought to be the
cause.
Secretary Boutwell, gives notice that on
and after the eth of March, 1872 the priuci-
pal and accrued interest on fve-twenty cou-
pons and registered bonds known as the Sec
oud series of the act Of February %, 1862,
will be paid at the Treasury department. The
amount Of these bonds not converted and thus
called in is twenty millions
Official Investigations at the Pension
Office show that in the Revolutionary War
27S,02l soldiers served, Of whom 1923
were pensioned. In the Mexican War, 49,
260 soldiers served, of whom IL ,30S were
pensioned and in the war for the suppression
Of the Rebellion, 2,6ss,523 soldiers served Of
whom lO3,7Sl were pensioned,
Our democratic friends in New IIamp.
shire have opened their campaign by rc-nom-
mating Governor Weston, and putting up
Henry Colony of Keene for railroad commits.
sioner. They proclaimed undying devotion
to tme-honored democracy, but the chairman
of the convention expressed willingness
to go for almost anybody or anything to beat
Grant
The news from Cuba gives reason to be.
ieve that the long and bloody rebellion is
practically at an end. The surrender Of sew
eral prominent insurgents, the restoration of
teegraphir communication with all parts OF
the island, and the fact of the arrival OF
large Spanish re.inforcements, seem to ind
cate that more quiet times are at hand for
the unfortunate island
The old Manassas battle field was sold a
few days since for eight dollars an acre.
When the war commenced it was under
high state Of improvement, and the dwelling.
house upon it was one of the finest in that
section of the State; but that scourge devas.
tated it, and the open fields and young pines,
aud shattered mansion-all now bear evidence
to the bloody conflicts of which it was the
scene.
The national Board of Trade at St. Louis
last week considered the question of the Mis-
sissippi levees, the Western members favornr
some legislation by the general government
to aid in their construction and maintenance
and the Eastern members taking the ground
that the enterprise is not proper for the
government to undertake, A committee is
to consider if some compromise cannot be eff
ccted.
Mr.. Sargent, who has Just been elected
Senator from California, is a member Of the
present Congress, but will not take his seat
in the Senate until March, 1873, when the
term of Mr.. Cole, the present Senator. ex.