The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-24
SAINT PAUL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY a. 1860
Washington News.
Special Dispatch to the N. Y. Times.

Special Dispatch to the N. Y Times.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II.
The Democratic Senators were in caucus
yesterday. Six hours were spent in the
effort to establish, in advance, Territorial
platform for the Charleston Convention
The discussion on the resolutions of Sena.
tors Brown and Davis became very spirited
They were the same as those introduced into
the Senate some days ago. The object OIL
Gov. Brown in introducing his resolution
in the Senate, was mainly to expose the
hypocrisy of Fitch and others who pretend
ed to take ground against Mr.. Douglas. A
vote on these resolutions will show that Mr..
Fitch stands on the Douglas Platform. Gen
Davis, suspecting that his colleague was
getting on rather fast, followed suit with
six resolutions, to all of which, with slight
notifications, Mr.. Douglas himself will
heartily subscribe.
Mr.. Douglas speech in caucus yesterday
was highly conciliatory, and gave great sat
isfaction to Southern Senators. He said
he would support the Charleston nomina-
ton, whoever might be the nominee, or
whatever might be the platform adopted.
Senators Fitzpatrick, Chestnut and 9th.
ers expressed their qualifications at his re-
marks. Mr.. Bright made violent harangue
and argued the necessity of purging the
party of unsound Northern Democrats
Other Senators thought purging was hardly
the proper treatment at this particular crisis
if the Democracy hoped to win in Novem-
Der.
Gen. Davis made an able but violent dem
onstration against Squatter Sovereignty
but without harmonizing in the slightest de.
gree the conflicting views of Senators.
Mr.. Toombs said he doubted not plat
form could be constructed, even on the
Territorial policy, on which all could stand
without doing violence to individual opin-
ions, and a Committee Of five Senators was
appointed, to which were referred all the
resolutions, with instructions to prepare and
report new series for which all Democrats
can vote The Committee will be appointed
by Mr.. Bright, who officiated as Chairman
of the caucus, and it may be that the plat
form of the Charleston Convention will be
settled in advance, and to the satisfaction Of
the entire party. Such seems to be the i'm
preston tonight, and that Mr.. Douglas will
be the nominee.
The silly story about the Douglas mer
being here with sixty thousand dollars to in
fuence the Charleston nomination, is ma
licious fabrication.
New YORK, Feb. 13.--The New York
Ir'bunes Washinton correspondence says
The official orders have not yet been issued
but it is decided to withdraw all our troops
from Utah, with the exception of one regi-
ment, and scatter them principally over n eW
Mexico and Arizona, in the range OF posts
from Ell Paso to Fort Yuma. If this policy
be carried out, the transportation to Utah
will be reduced from 100000 pounds annu-
ally to 100000.
Senator Douglas has almost entirely re.
covered from his late attack.
The correspondent of the New York
Herald says that proposition is now be-
fore the Senate post Office committee, and a
bill will be reported to morrow, authorizing
the contract with Zenas Barnum, Hiram
Sibley, Il. R. Walker, j. H. BerryhilI, j
D. Cation, G. M. Stebbins, Norman Green
and F. A. Bee, for the use by government
of line of telegraph from Missouri to San
Francisco, for period of ten years, at an
annual compensation of fifty thousand dol
lars from the time the line is completed.
The line is to be finished in two years, at
an estimated cost of one million of dollars
Although the compensation is regarded as
small, it is believed that the great amount
OF telegraph interest now held by the parties
named in the bill will secure the building o.
the line.
The committee on agriculture have in
structed Mr.. Grow to report homestead
bill. The new bill covers all land subject
to pre- emption, and extends the right to all
who are now settled, as we'll as to those
who may hereafter settle.
The proposition of the British govern
mont for the settlement of the San Juar
question has not yet been laid before oul
government. 1t is not at all probable thai
the proposal will be accepted, as the presi.
dent has repeatedly stated that he would
not back down from the position be hac
assumed in the matter.
The committee on elections took up the
contested election case of the third con-
gressional district of New York.
The case was then postponed till Tuesday
next, when the committee will ask for the
appointment of a commission to take testi
mony, so that the case may be decided or
its merits
Two hundred aud fifty six bills and reso
lutions, merely for the purpose of reference
were introduced into tie House to-day
larger number than were ever before intro
duced in single day. There were forty
SIX yesterday under the call of the severa
States.
Augustus Wattles, formerly one of tn
editors OF the Herald of Freedom, and al
old friend OF John Brown, arrived hore to
day, and will, during the week, give hi
testimony before the Harper's Ferry inves-
| tipatinr committee