Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-08
applicable tc tbs pensions granted by this
BorNrY LANb.

act.
bounty Land.
The bill giving 100 acres lof land to all
soldiers who served go days has passed the
House by nearly a unanimous vote. 1t is
modification of the homestead law and allows
soldiers to count their term of service as so
much time toward the five years settlement
REQUIRED by the homestead act. Invalid
soldiers are allowed to assign their right to
an actual settler, and actual settlement
of at least two years, on the part of the
soldier or his assignee, is required before
patent for the land will be issued. Ii is
estimated that it will take over 40O, 600 900
of acres to answer the requirements of the
bill. The fate of the bill in the Senate is by
no means certain.
sUNDRY MATTERS.
The House killed Wisconsin land grant
bill by quite decided vote. This seems IN
dicative on the part of the House OF dlspo-
sition not to pass any land grant this session.
r. r. Butler of Tennessee has been ac-
quilted by the District Court on the indict-
ment against him for forgery in connection
with pensions The testimony showed plain
ly that he was not guilty.
The reconstruction of Georgia has been
made little more complete by the admission
as Senator of Mr.. Joshua Hill, who was
elected by the first legislature that convened
in Georgia under the reconstruction acts
Mr. Miller who was elected at the same time
has not vet been admitted, for the reason
suppose, that he cannot take the test oath.
TEMPERANCE.
/ An episode which seemed to afford great
amusement to the Senate, was the rambling,
I incoherent speech Of Senator Salisbury on
/ Tuesday. The Georgia. Senator question had
I Stewart
Of Nevada had shown remarkable tact, I'M
usual even for himself, in spinning out few
arguments in support OF his minority report,
+ into hours of tedious and useless discussion.
A vote Of nearly two to one IN direct oppo-
sitiOn to his views, only served to rouse him
to new exertions, and bring down on the
Senate another deluge OF his - remarks,
At last Mr. Salisbury. with considerable
exertion, rose in his seat and obtained the
! floor. lie was in a - disguised y condition,
not unlrequent with him, and became more
/ playful and wandering in his remarks, than
/ is usual with sober Senators discussing a
subject like reconstruction. lie commenced
sentences as though haranguing the Repre-
sentatives in the other wing, and ended by
mumbling affectionately in the ears OF Mr.
McCreery who sat by his side. lie said II
the Georgia Senators were elected IN com
pliance with the reconstruction acts, he
should vote against them II they were
elected in violation of those acts, he should
decline to vote. Ia his TRADE on the Re
pubicans he was frequently Interrupted by
Mr. Stewart, who desired to make statements
explanations, &c, but in vain. The orator
would not yield except for Il vote, remarklng
that after being victimized for two days by
the Senator from Nevada, he proposed to
give that gentleman a little rest. Mr.. Stew
art silenced he steadied himself and launched
into wild invectiYes against Congress coupled
with euloguims upon traitors and treason.
Seeing Mr.. Conkling over the way laugh
ing, he was drawn from the thread Of hi'
discourse 70 speak Of the " good looks and
curling locks of the Senator from New York,
which the ladies in the galleries so much ad-
mired, acknowledging, with Sigh, that
although the pepper and salt were making
some marks in his own hair, the Senator
from New York still wore'' those curling
and flowing locks. In one Of his more dig
nifed bursts he brandshed his arms, assumed
d ferocity Of expression and exclaimed
e. W no gave you the authority 70 reconstruct
the South are You Cod Are You supre me-
Did Won make Gods universe? Did you sci
in motion the laws which whirl in their
orbits the planets Ii Is a wonder the
Queen of Sheba has not grown FESTIVE IN bel
grave, that she has not come to Washington
70 learn not the wisdom of solomon, but OF
those who are greater than solomon, the
Republican Legislators Of the present day
Mr. Stewart growing nervous attempted q
get the door for a a. few remarks, but Mr.
salisbury said he had listened 10 a great
many few remarks = from his friend on
r multItudin0us occasions. lie assured Mr.
Stewart that - he had nearly finished tn,
a. b. c's. that he should next take up the
b, abs. then the first second and third lessons
and 50 on.
With "eyes in fine frenzy rolling - he
f painted the cl0rics Of Gen. Hancock : ad
ministration. which he predicted would com
mcnce in l~72 lie closed with an carnes
cxhortation to the American people To hanist
from their minds the idea that the rebels Of
f the South were traitors; for said he - they
are not traitors according TO American law
= They are not traitors according 70 the In
stincts Of human nature. They are no
, traitors in God Almighty chaucery-
viii not accuse the members Of the Con
, rressi8nal Temperance Association of laugh
2 ing at the disgracetul exhibition made b.
the Senator from Delaware, they wer,
: probably panied that their efforts had beer
Intellectual IN reforming him,-but man!
senators certainly appeared to enjoy 1t
There Is danger OF the Senatc's becoming
+ remarkably sober body when Messrs. Sauls
z bury and Yates retire, unless some ct tht
incoming members develop dhucE " HeulhE
/ ton influence the same appetite for the at
e dent Frank Blair may do something {
/ make Salisbury less missed, however.
The friends OF temperance here have revive'
f their spirits since learning from the Chairman
d of the Congressional Temperance Committe
d ut the Metropolitan Church that there wer
:, only seventeen drinking saloons on Pennsyl
! wanna Avenue. No one disputes such a state
n ment, of course, when made by senate
+ familiar with investigating committees, bu
the public had generally believed that ther
a were over four hundred such places btweel
), the Capitol and treasury. But Mr.. Morril
{ Of Maine has introduced bill in the House
d making it a criminal oifense for any govern
t. ment employee or officer to buy intoxicating
: liquor, which if passed Will turn the pro
r prietors even of the seventeen saloons a
' beggars into the streets. Then the eloquenc
o of Senators Wilson, Pomeroy, Upton an
t Vice President Colfax will be no longer re
d quired, for the rigor of law will leave n
d field for moral suasion, and leave no saloon
{ for investigating committees to count.
+. ChOTpenning.
s IF &c reIatad thot duriDo the adm iuistra in