The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-23
NEW SERIES-NO. 2lO
W Washington News.


Washington News.
Correspondence Of the Journal of Commerce.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-There was a
rumor, the other day, that Mr.. Douglas had
visited the President, and that personal
relations between them had been restored to
the status quo ante the Lecompton war.
But that is not true. The greatest degree
Of personal hostility prevails between the
Illinois Senator and the President. But
Mr.. Douglas has recently declared that he
will support the Democratic Charleston
nominee.
Mr.. Douglas had intended to pass the
winter in Florida on account OF his health,
and was to have left the city for the South
to day. But his physicians now say that
the change is unnecessary, and that Mr..
Douglas will soon be able to take his seat in
the Senate. He wishes to do this as soon
as he is able to meet all the attacks which
are certainly to be made upon his popular
sovereignty doctrines.
Special dispatch to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-The unanimous
passage of Mr.. Masons resolution in the
Senate was expected. No one dared oppose
it. The debate grew out of an effort to
destroy its effect by adding an unimportant
inquiry as to the seizure of the Liberty
Arsenal in Missouri. The debate, however,
may be productive of good results. The
Senators are now alive to the dangers which
threaten the Union. In reply to a declara.
tion that the Harper's Ferry raid was con.
temptible, Mr.. Mason said it was contempt
ible only because it failed, and that it failed
only because of the loyalty of the Virginia
slaves. The South, he said, would not aim
to dissolve the Union; their purpose would
be to ascertain, if possible, if there were
any means left by which it could be pre-
served.
Tke leading question in the House is how
best to kill time by balloting or speaking, as
neither is likely to lead to any practical
result.
Mr.. Sherman still wants six votes of an
election, four of which can oe had at any
time from the Anti-Lecompton ranks, but
the other two are not forthcoming. The
Democrats expect in a few days, to permit
vote on the plurality rule, and leave the
responsibility with those who support it.
Until this is done there will be no Organiza.
tion.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The Opposition
members of Congress from Pennsylvania
and New Jersey are circulating paper,
requesting the National Republican Com.
mittee to construct the language of their
call for National Convention to nominate
a President in such manner as to emerge
the Peoples party" of Pennsylvania, and
the Opposition Of New Jersey.
The speech of Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, in the
Senate to-day, was considered by the Re-
publican terrible bombshell in the camp
of what they call disunionists, and has
caused his name to be discussed freely by
the Republicans as candidate for the Presi-
dency. Pluck is considered a necessary
qualification for that Office.
The President is yet undecided when he
will send his Message to Congress. He will
decide definitely tomorrow upon the subject.
The dispatches of General Scott in re-
gard to the San Juan affair have made it
necessary for the President to alter that
portion of his Message referring to the sub
ject. 1t appears that General Scott did not
accomplish all that our government sought
for and required. The correspondence,
however, between General Scott and Gov.
Douglas, has resulted in restoring the island
of San Juan to the joint military occupancy
of the two governments. Governor Doug
las proposed that it should be In the joint
occupancy of the civil magistrates. This
was objected to by General Scott, and after
long correspondence military occupancy
was finally agreed upon. 1t consists of
detachments ofnot more than one hundred
men on each side. With the exception of
this number, all our troops have been with
drawn from the island, and peace and good
feeling re-established.
An order was given by General Scott
authorizing General Harney to return to
the command of the Department of the
West, if he thought proper so to do, with
his headquarters at st. Louis. Possibly un.
der this order General Harney may now be
en- route for the Atlantic coast. General
Harney's successor has not yet been ap.
pointed. Captain Casey, who is next in
command, will remain in charge of that de-
partment.