The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-14
FROM WASHINGTON.


FROM WASHINGTON.
. t.. WASHINGTON, December Z.
The New York Times Washington cor.
respondent, says that the clerks of depart.
meDts from South Carolina, decided to all
resign, on the 18th. .
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, was refused
his pay at the treasury yesterday, but on
threatening to have the draft protested, was
paid the whole amount. .........
Secretary Cobb is not to be found.
Parties holding large claims against the
government offer to take pay in government
| stocks or securities, but are refused.
The revenue this week is several hundred
thousand dollars less than last week.
Mr.. Bonham, of South Carolina, declined
to appear on the Committee on Military
Affairs to-day, and will resign his position
on the first of next week, so he declared to-
day.
Mr.. Etberidge, Of Tennessee, declared
that peaceable secession is utterly impossi.
BILE, and out Of the question, which substan-
tiates Senator Hale's position.
The southern Senators will hold a con-
vention some time this week, and Mr..
Crittenden will make, he says, great effort
to save the Union. ..a. .'...
The House special committee seems to
satisfy nearly the whole of the Union men,
and Speaker Pennington is complimented
! for it. g."
Senator Iverson was severely reproved
today by Messrs. Crittenden, Douglas,
Hunter, and Humphrey Marshall for his i'll
advised speech of yesterday. "
The announcement of southern merchants
that they will not repudiate their debts, is
having good financial effect here, and acts
favorably for them.
An intimate friend of Mr.. Lincoln, who
left him within the past week, states that
he was assured that no member of his Cabi-
net had yet been determined on. All spec
ulatiOns sent out from here are inspired by
personal objects.
A rumor is current that Senator Hunter
will resign his position as chairman of the
Finance Committee, owing to the state of
the Treasury. He despalrs of accomplish
ing anything under the circumstances.
Senator Wade will next week make q
speech showing the impossibiiity of peace
able secession. t
A southern caucus of southern Senators
and Representatives is being held this eve
ming. This is the first that has been held.
Its object is to consider what action ought
to be taken in regard to the Committee of
Thirty Three, and whether any of the Cot.
ton States should meet with this committee.
There is strong repugnance among the
Representatives Of the five Cotton States
to meeting at all. No decision, however,
up to late hour has been arrived at. They
have not gone into caucus to select their
usual committees, and it is doubtful whether
they can command majority at present in
the Senate. . .n. t 80 ,...
1t is understood that several members
will refuse to recognize Mr.. Douglas as a
member of the caucus.
The appeal of Mr.. John Cochrane to day,
to Mr.. Hawkins of Fla. not to decline 10
serve on the Committee of Thirty.Three,
produced deep impression. 1t was a
burst of thrilling eloquence, and the applause
in the galleries attested the sincerity with
which the popular heart cherishes the love
of the Union.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. Z.
The President sent to the House to-day
a very large mass of documents in response
to resolution of the former session. From
acursory glance of their contents it is shown
that the cost per annum of the African
squadron from the year 1843 to 1859 was
$384,O0O. The cost for the present year in
estimated at about $500, 900, owing to the
majority of the vessels employed being war
steamers. .. - us. .
In the Instructions to the flag officer of
African squadron, the Secretary of the navy
says the United States does not claim that
the mere hoisting of our flag gives imme-
diately to those who do so the right to carry
it. Such pretense would subject it to
degradation and dishonor, because it would
thus be made cover for piracy and other
crimes of similar atrocity, but her own citi
zens who rightfully display it are entitled
to absolute immunity and protection. You
will therefore be prompt to prevent the
search or detention of vessels of the United
States on the high seas in time of peace by
the armed vessels of any other power; and
should vessel of the United States falsely
assume the flag of any other nation, it would
constitute no protection.
| Among the documents from the state de-
partment is note from Lord John Russell
to Lord Lyons, which the latter, by direc-
tion, read to 50 fetary Cass. 1t is dated
February last. Lord John Russell says
that it is his painful duty to call attention
to the increasing activity and success of the
slave trade carried on on the coasts of Afri.
ca and Cuba, and that it appears that the
number of negroes introduced into Cuba
last year was from $4,000 to 10000 also
that United States capital has been more
and more employed in this traffic, and par
ties sailing under the American flag. He
adds, that the governments of France, the
United States, Portugal and Brazil, have
co-operated with the government of Great
Britain, with view to put an end to this
detestable traffic. The government of Spain
alone has persisted in screening and favoriug