Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-01
Our Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, u. C., February 2eih 1876.
Mssrs Editors As there has been nothing cx-
citing in Congress, the chief interest Of the week
has been conferred on the acquittal Of Gen. Dab
cock, at st. Louis. The interest has been quite
naturally very great here throughout the trial,
and the news Of the acquittal WIS received here
with genuine rejoicing, The President, 1t Is said
was the only person around the executive mansion
who had believed all along that the jury would
acquit Babcock, and this view the President was
quite free TO express. The prisoner had host OF
friends here and in fact, all over the country
Vermont being his native state has good reason
for being glad Of his release. There is q sort OF
magnetism about Gen Babcock that makes him
friends, and with which his position or the people
abou, him have nothing to do. Ills great unset
fshness Of character has much to do with this
while his easy, of hand way Of making acquain-
tances is very refreshing in official life 1heres
good deal Of high-soundng talk about immediate
changes at the treasury, now that Babcocls IL
found to be not guilty and the more foolish of the
talkers claim that the officials who were instru-
mental in procuring his indictment-such men ~
Secretary Brstow, Bluiord Wilson and others-are
to he asked for their designations This however,
is not generally believed, for Gen. Bristow Is too
strong q man, and has secured too firm hold in
the estimation Of the people to be treated lightly
There are those who assert boldly that this
whiskcy prosecution has all been concoctcd by
Bristow for political effect and that he expects TO
ride safely and smoothly into the executive chair
on the strength Of these seizures indictments and
convictions. II this be true, his plans have been
well laid and in the main proved successful
It is rumored now that the medical advisers Of
Speaker Kerr have ordered him to resign and go
South, for If he would live he must avoid all
mental excitement This report has set the friends
Of sam Randall and Sunset Cox by the ears, and
neither win leave OF pulling until their anxiety
is appeased and the great question is decided
"Who shall be Speaker after Kerr % Since his
return from his vacation Mr. Kerr has occupied
the chair but very little, but looks somewhat i'm
proved in health A look ut Cox In the Speakers
chair is enough Of itself to provoke a laugh--ho
looks so out Of place, and is certainly very much
ont of his element The House committees have
as yet reported nothing Of Importance, but pretend
to be very busy in preparations for retrcnchmcnt
and reform Mr. Morrison has decided to spring
his bugbcaT Of a tariff bill upon the House next
Tuesday, aud insist ON is consideration from day
10 day until disposed or The ways aud means
committee are much opposed 10 any such sweep
ing revision Of the tariff, and will probably XIII IL
In It's infancy
The statue Of General Ethan Allen. the first Of
vermonts contributions to the Hall Of statuary
in the National Capitol and the work Of lardn
G. Mead, arrived here to-day. and was immedi-
atey removed from the case and given a position
in the old hall alongside the figures Of Washing
ton and Lafayette, jefferson and General Greene
all alike famous as is Allen, either as founders
or defenders Of our nation The statute Of Judge
Jacob Collamer will complete Vermont contrbu-
ticn to this interesting collection
Senator Sharon, Of Nevada, has arrived ut last
and will take the oath on Monday lie is small
spare, white-headed man, with shrewd but re-
Elective look on his somewhat worn aud haggard
features Being the richest man in the senate
the possessor OF untold millions and unmar-
red, he may be said to be great catch" lie
has the advantage Of being considerably younger
than Senator Christancy, WHO'S criterion iorall
maniageablc young lady clerks 10 keep 10 mind
Ills colleague, senator Jones j. not as rich rs
sharon, and still Is called a millionaire he rents
Gen. Buffers new granite mansion for $1,000 a
year, and dresses his wife in lots of gold and sol
tsire diamonds lie Is withN qutea speaker, and
has a thorough knowledge OF finances ON the Pa
ciGc coast
The persistency Of the counsel for Ottman, Hal
leck and Brown, the alleged treasury robbers has
at last succeeded in forcing the prosecution to fix
the time for trial Ottmans case, it Is under
stood will begin on the 9Th Of March, and the
cases Of llalleck and Brown will follow consccu-
lively. The prisoners have complained that they
have been denied the privileges Of speedy trial
and District Attorney Wells has been hard hit by
certain circulars in relation to the case, distributed
about town. These and other things show that
there is considerable sympathy felt here for the
prisoners but it is Of a character which will no,
aid them when they come 10 trial Their conyic-
tion is about as certain anything in the future,
as their guilt has been already pretty clearly
proved.
Congressman Joyce introduced on Monday, a
bill TO equalize bounties 10 soldiers Of the United
States army, during the late rebellion, which was
duly referred to the committee on military affairs