Washington City
Jan. 19 1859
William,
I have recd. yours of the 4th inst. 
As to the pension bill I must Sustain it 
as I cannot divert the old soldiers, of whom 
my state contains such numbers but 
there is no probability of its passage in the 
Senate, in my opinion. 
I think the tariff may receive some 
modification even this Session, but of the 
adoption of specific duties, so much needed 
by our manufacturers, I believe there is 
no prospect.
The Pacific Rail Road which the Senate 
is still travelling, will yet occupy much
time but no bill will pass. The majority 
of the Senate cannot agree on a plan and 
a place.


There are before us two or three topics 
which will elicit a debate of feeling. One 
is the subject of the African Slave Trade. 
Another & kindred subject, the bill to 
pay for the Amistad negroes, which I opposed 
thirteen years ago. An old worn out topic 
but all the young members must exhibit 
their fidelity & zeal upon it. 
I told your Uncle George a year
since that I believed the offer & land by 
Montpelier would fix the building of the 
State House on them. That, although the 
people would not vote on them yet when 
it could be said "it was their own offer", it  
would furnish a ground for selfishness to 
profit, by & for demagogues to ride upon. 
It is all wrong for the State & its people to
avail itself of the fears of Montpelier thus
to buy a forced contribution for a 
State House.


We have had a Christmas vacation 
but it rained almost the whole time & 
was out but little, so I had time to get 
off all the Documents I had here for distribu-
tion. I have just recd. a large box of garden 
seeds &c. which I must get off as soon as I 
am able as I expect more documents as 
well as seeds soon. Little leisure.
I had hoped that after
the
abolishing 
reviews Judge Redfield would be able to 
command the Docket & keep it clean or 
very near it & I regret to hear otherwise. 
It creates public dissatisfaction & is an injury 
to the legal profession, though they may 
view it otherwise.
On consultation
with me
Mr. Foot introduced a 
Joint Resolution to give construction to the .  
bounty land law as to Plattsburgh Volunteers, 
agreeable to the Resolutions of our Legislature 
at its last Session. The Committee to which 
it was referred have been reported against 
it. I know not as we can do more.


Nothing has thus far been said or done
 on the Bankrupt Bill.
I presume the temporary rise on wool
 is in part owing to the belief that some
thing is to be done with the tariff. It 
will however remain up until near the 
next shearing time. It is a rise among
 the wool dealers for no benefit, to farmers 
whose wool is almost entirely sold. 
Burrows of Vernon, who was on here 
with Kellogg last summer, as I told you, 
with a revolving cannon, writes me he 
is coming here this month with one on 
a large scale, that is, with a 24 pounder. 
Very few here from Vermont this winter.
 I have not seen Judge Rockwell this 
winter, though I think he is in the city. 
The decisions of the court of claims seem 
to hardly help the claims along much 
in Congress. They are passed very slow.  
My love to all at home.
Affectionately
Your Father
I return you my Proxy
for Judge Porter