Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-22
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
THIRD SESSION

Stewards life had 5000 voted TO him A bin
was introduced to make competitive examination,
necessary for candidates for the military and naval
academies. The steamship subsidy bill was taken
up, discussed modified materially and finally
passed by small majority The bill as passed
does not subsidi1c any particular line Of steam
ors, but requires the Postmaster General to nd.
yertiso for and contract with responsible partie,
who will do the work the best and cheapest.
In the House, something decidedly funny oc
cured on Tuesday A report was presented and
a resolution offered, on which the mover had pre-.
pared a speech. Bat to his surprise the House
took kindly TO the report and resolution, and ac.
cepted and adopted both without word of dis
cusson Whorcupon the mover, not to be cheated
out Of HE speech, moved reconsideration, and
proceeded to deliver his speech, and contrivod to
consume two hours Of precious time By the de.
bate he invoked Most OF the day was taken up
with that interminabe Yves, Point trouble
WEDNESDAY,, Feb TO-
The Senate made long day, being in session
until ~ In the evening The great interest Of The
day conferred around the discussion of the action
OF The Indiana Legislature in Withdrawing their
assent % the 10th amendment Of tho constitution.
lt was mainly partisan debate Of the most pro.
nounccd character. Mr. Morton and Mr.. Bla,
were the chief actors in the scene The Leqis
ntyo Appropriation bin was then discussed and
the Senate agreed ON the salaries to be paid b.
the United States judges
In the House, there was a long and violent
party debate on the proposed bin to enforce the
rights Of voters under the 10Th amendment 1t
was denounced MS the browning act Of oentraliAa-
ton m our government and it ~ns defended a
necessary TO reuder effective the fifteenth amend
ment Aiicr a bitter 6ght, The hin was passed
by "a strict party vote
GuuR.pAY. Feb Ia
A variety of matters were brought before the
senate, but Che amount of business Of any inpor
mnca which was done, was small indeed Bill,
were reported 90 repeal the iron clad oath to al.
low the Atlantic d Pacific Railroad Company to
mortgage their road for the recovery Of damages
or the destruction % the L. $. ship Oneida to
prevent cruelty to animals in transit and reso-
luton Of inquiry as 20 the right Of the Secretary
Of the Treasury to withhold from the Pacific Rail
road, money earned Of the nited States, and APP
ply it 30 the interest of bonds issued in is aid
An unsuccessful attempt was made to get before
The Senate the ilouse bin for the centennial cele.
bration of American Independence in Philadelphia
in 1870 The Senate agreed on the salaries Of the
United States judge.
The proposition Of the Finance Committee, to
Increase the difficulties in the way Of private
claimants against the government, was promptly
rejected Mr.. Hamlin said, that the embarass-
ment- and annoyance now ia the way were 30
many and great, TINT he would never undertake
90 collect claim from the government, no matter
how just. a most memorable admission.
The House were principally occupied with the
West Point troubles The language of many Of
the Representatives was severe, aud even bitter
against the officers Of tie Academy, and dispo-
-iton manifested to oycrturn the whole establish
mont. The House finally agreed in directing
court OF inquiry t. be held, into the conduct Of
the officers Of the\Acadcmy and that the leaders
and instigatois of the trouble, in the first cas.
be- dismissed from the Academy and the others TO
be court-mar,iullcl
Fanny, Feb. Il.
The Senate devoted most OF the time to ramb
ling debate about the rights Of rebel, and the doe
thine of the y Y. Itims on the right Of a State
20 sccele from the Union. The debate clustered
around the proposition to repeal the provision in
serted in last years Legislative Appropriation
bill, prohibiting the exhibition, as evidence in
court Of claims, the Presidential pardon. Aftera
long debate this proposition was rejected - 10
10. But it was again brought up, somewhat al
tered, and amended ami passed. after further de-
hate, by the casting vote Of the Vice President.
Ia the House there was a grand quarrel and
free fight over the Army Appropriation bill in
tic course Of which the army as now handled.
was denounced ia bitter terms. as mere political
machine 10 enforo elections agreeable to the Pres
ident while it was replied, that even IL this
were true, ii was something which the Democrat,
had inaugumtei. The bills prlgidiny a terrific.
rial government for the District Of Columbia.
uniform system of education, anl gooi temper
ance bil, were an passed.
SATURDAY, Fob Is
The Senate hnl blta short session. Mr.. How
ard introduced a resolution, setting forth the de
smbcuc-s, Con Che peace Of both nations. that the
High Commission, about 20 discuss the differences
between Great Britain and the United States.
should urge the ces-ion 10 the United States Of SO
much az least Of British territory as lies to the
westward of lIujs1ns Bay, and the main chan
uels connecting it with the Arctic Ocean and the
outlet % Lake Superior, with the right to free
navigation through nayigablo waters to the At
hntic a1i Arctic oceans. Nh Cameron Directing
70 the immediate consideration Of the resolution,
!; went over.
In the House, the Arlington Cemetery question
was discussed, and the absolute right of the gov
eminent % that tract Of land was asserted very
distinctly There was some debate on bin t,
authorize o commission, and an appropriation of
100000, to run the boundary line between the
United States and the British Possessions between
the Lake Of the Woods and the Rocky Mountains.
Mr. Dawes warned the House against the enor-
nous appropriations which they were asked 10
make-twelyo millions more than last session.
The Army Appropriation bill was then taken up
and passed.
MoNDAY, Feb Goth.
The election law which passed the House the
other day was reported layoably by the judiciary
Committee in the Senate. A long debate occurred
on the Legislative Appropriation bill in the course
Of which the necessity for amnesty and the posi-
ton If certain influential organs Of opinion in the
North on the eve Of the rebellion were freely can
wssed
In the House an appropriation was made for
running The boundary between Canada and the
United States. The House finally passed the
JOINT resolution in relation to the McGarrahan
claim, which orders patent to issue from the
General Land Office in his favor, in place Of the
one issued by President Lincoln, which was after
wards mutilated
The New England BOSTON, and Ameri-
can New York; lecture bureau have been
consolidated, and are making arrangements
to import some Of the best talent of the old
world