Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-02
Notes and Comments.


set free by the act Of emancipation just
passed by the Spanish Government is about
City thousand 1t does not compare with
our four millions Of freedmen but it is
only the beginning of emancipation in
Cuba and throughout the Spanish colonies
The treasury department has issued
circular requiring all assessors to complete
their work and transfer all their books and
papers to the collectors before the Goth Of
May, in accordance with the act Of Decom.
Der -, 1862, after which the Office of as.
SCISSOR is abolished aud all internal revenue
taxes will be paid by stamps.
Tho"Independent" journals have been
making great hue aud cry because Fred
Grant, the Presidents son, had been ap-
pointed lieutenant colonel and "mado mill.
tary secretary Of Gen. Sheridan, headquar-
tiers at Chicago displacing Lieut.. Col.
james w. Forsythe, a veteran officer still
suffering from wounds received in the ser.
vice" The simple fact is, as appears from
the official order, that young Grant has
been made aid.le.camp to Gen Sheridan,
and tlat he displaces nobody. SO there
is another charge against the President
disposed Of
"A proof that evil communications cor
rupt good manners comes from Berlin
The Deputies have just voted themselves
an extra two thalers, 81 60, day, so that
now they are renunerated at the rate Of
SO IS per diem. An amendment on the
part Of Conservative member to continue
the pay at three thalers, was defeated by
2O6 to ll6. The bill awaits tho consent
Of the Peers. The conduct of these De-
puties in not making their additional pay
Retrospective, whea they had the example Of
Transatlantic patriots before them, is in.
decd inezpicable,
The Massachusetts Senate, like the
House, has refused to rescnd the resolution
Of Ger sure upon Senator Sumner for bis
propo ,ition to strike the names Of the Union
battles from the army aags and register.
If there was any haste or severity in the
original act, there has been good deal of
mawkish sentimentality in the effort to re-
trace it. Even without regard to its merits
the proposition Of Mr. Sumner was i'll
timed, and seemed to be flung out like a
challenge. 1t has gone over for future
consideration, and it is well that all action
on the subject, both in and out Of the
Senate, should go with it.
The last business the Senate did on
Wednesday was to pass a vote Of thanks
to its presiding officer, Vice President vii
son, and then it adjourned till the first
Monday Of December, aud Washington is
left to the bats, owls, mosquitoes and depart
ment clerks that make up the bulk Of its
population during the summer Except
the debate on the Caldwell case, the extra
session has been quite tame and barren Of
interest, and nothing of any Importance
has been done except TO confirm the ap-
pointments Of the President. These, we
may add, have been confirmed much more
promptly and unanimously than usual
Respecting the argument Of the Sena.
tor Of Nevada, that additional pay to Con-
gressmcn was necessary in order that they
might live deceutly, Washington newspa-
per explains as follows The most SUI
perb furniture in Washington is said to be
that in the house Of Senator Stewart, Sc.
lected by Mrs. Stewart during her five
years sojourn in Europe, and valued at two
hundred thousand dollars. There is a table
composed Of gilt stand, supporting a
slab Of the 6ucs. black marble, inlaid with
flowers and fruits of FIorentine mosaic, and
a cabinet Of ebony and Florentine mosaic,
which is said by connoisseurs to be equaed
only by oue in the Pitt Palace.
An important case to drinking men
who hold policies Of life insurance was de.
cided in Baltimore on Wednesday last
The administrative of Christian Gillerman.
deceased, brought suit in the Supreme
Court against the Knickerbocker Life In.
surauce Company to recover $4,000 for a
life insurance policy issued to the deceased
husband Of the plaintiff Judge Dobbin
in passing upon the prayers which had been
offered on both sides, said that the contracts
OF insurance companies were to be con.
struc'ed in the same spirit as other con.
tracts. lie said that there could be nc
reasons why the condition which awarded
the policy 10 the event that the insured did
not die of delirium tremens, should not be
awful, and that it was consistent with pub.
: lie policy and as the proof showed thai
Gillerman died of delirium tremens. the
policy was void,
The Senate kindly permitted Senator
Patterson to print his defence with the re-
port OF the investigating committee, anc
so the public will have both sides of a mos
painful and disagreeable story. So far a,
the explanation Of his connection with Tho
Credit Mobiier business is concerned, W,
can well believe that he invested in il hon
estly, as others have done without ,us
picion Of being bribed, or that it differed
from any other honorable business transac
ton. And but for the moral cowardic,
which led him to deny the transaction, h,
might now stand before the country acouit
ted OF any wrong. Just here, where hi
character most needs vindicatiop, is tn,
weak part Of his defense, and we fear 4
must ever remain SO. Excessive anxiet,
to clear himself Of what was regarded a,
wrong by his constituents, aud likely to in
jure his political prospects, betrayed hin
into real wrong which it will be hard I,
! wash out, and the less said of it the bette,
for his reputation.