The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-01-01
The Pioneer Correspondence.
WASHINGTON LETTERS.

AlttIe UuSlHeSS Is peluS uoEc ia COASAcSo
and little done until =aftef-th
Christmas holidays. Our own affairs here
are not so much the topic of conversation
as the progress and ultimate conclusion Of
the Eastern war. Indeed the latter ex-
cfudes almost every other one. The news
of the last steamer is to the effect that the
difficulties Of the allies were each day in
crcasing. Besides watchful, well-disci-
plined, numerous and enthusiastic enemy,
they have to contend against the severe
winter of the Crimea and Black Sea, with
its accompanying fierce tempests. 1t has
just commenced and we have already Off
cial information of the total destruction of
some twenty men-of-war and transports Of
their navies Alma and Inkcrman and the
dreaded cholera cut frightful gaps in their
ranks OF the gallant army that in Sep
TENDER last set down before Sebastopol,
one half has been put hors d~ combat. Re
Inducements, so loudly called for and so
much needed, were arriving at the rate Of
one thousand the day. But the harbors o.
Cronstadt and Odessa are now closed by
ice and Austria refuses to be committed to
open war against Russia while holding the
principalities in possession by armed neu-
trality-thus securing the Cars dominions
against invasion from those quarters and
enabling him to concentrate immense mas
ses of troops for the defence of the besieged
city. The allies are ON their mettle and
will use every means in their power to Sc
cure success in their present undertaking,
Success may crown their banners, but not
in my judgment during the second and their
winter campaign. The Russians fight we'll
The English and French press speak highly
of their bravery and determination. The
ground between the trenches and the walls
of the city is redeemed with the blood
spilled in repeated and protracted encoun-
tiers. The city will be defended to the last
and when takcn-I have my doubts of its
being taken its ruins will look down on
the graves of the allies best soldiers-their
corps Gcs:te and they cannot be easily re-
placed. ..,. .a.... :r...
The English papers are not so naughty
as they were wont to be- The Thunderer,
The London Times, when the premature
report reached England that Sebastopoi
was taken, talked boldly of the allies, at
the termination of the war, which it be-
lievcd then near at hand, turning their at
ten.ion to our affairs, and putting a stop to
what it said was our arrogance and dishon-
est acquisition of territory. Its language
was bitter and insulting, and found in
paper Of such worldwide celebrity and re-
puted to be the organ Of its government, it
was republishcd in our papers Of every sec
ton, and went far to create the existing al
most universal American sympathy with the
Gar. Nine tcnths of the people here are
in feeling opposed to The Allies. In San
Francisco, we learn by the papers, jol!i6-
cation was had over the comparative defeat
of the allies in the Russian American Pos
sessions. ........ .' '-
Instead of foreseeing an end to the war,
we are at present in expectation of the en-
gagement in it of other powers, and its be-
coming general throughout Europe. Ger
many may yet be the battle ground. II
In my last spoke of the mediation of
the United States government for the adj
justment of the quarrel. MIR. Clingmans
resolution was introduced for that purpose,
but was voted down by large majority.
1 was prepared for opposition, but l am
frank to confess, that did not think when
1 wrote, the feeling here was so strong and
general against England. However, what
l have suggested may yet take place.
-Four Of the general appropriation bills
have been reported and committed in the
House-amongs them the civil and diplo-
matte appropriation bill. The Invalid Pen
sion Appropriation has passed the House,
and gone to the Senate. The Indian appro.
priation Bill is now under consideration in
Committee of the Whole. Action on it
will not take place until after the holidays
because of the most of this week being set
apart for the consideration of the District
of Columbia business. Fl
A bill for the creation of Board of
Claims is now before the Senate. It has
been pressed for passage time and time ag.ip