The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-20
Mr.. Russell's Last Letter to the LOndO,
Times.

This letter bears date Washington, Aug.
10, and is published in the Times of the
oath. We quote:
PRINCE NAPOLEON.
The heat has been so oppressive that
even if the armies were ready for action
they could not fight. Prince Napoleon on
his last excursion to Mount Vernon, en-
Wednesday last, lost two horses by sun
stroke, or at least the United States Gov
ernment did so, but, nothirg daunted, he
went across the river yesterday with special
passes and an escort, and attended by Gen
Mcdowell to the Confederate outposts,
whence be went over to visit General Beau
regard, and probably to Richmond. Mr..
Seward did not offer any objections, of
course but this step on the Princes part
has displeased some of the friends of the
government.
MISUNDERSTANDING.
In my last letter | referred to the mis-.
representations respecting the visits of the
Confederates to Mount Vernon, which had
so far influenced General Scott that he
wrote general order, rather remarkable
10 its phraseology, warning the federal troops
against the commission of any acts of van.
dalism should they be in that vicinity.
Similar misapprehensions on the part OF
Gen. Beauregard led to his sending flag
of truce to inquire whether the federaists
had been hanging prisoners taken in battle
The explanation is that some gymnastics OF
a regiment were exhibiting their feats for
the amusement of their comrades, and had
been taken by the spectators as the victims
of capital punishment.
The special session of the Thirty>seventh
Congress which adjourned yesterday to the
4th of December, passed during its brief
sitting OF month number of acts more
important in character, and introducing
changes of greater consequence in the con-
stitution of the United States than any
since the Declaration of Independence.
Mr.. Russell then gives list of the acts
of Congress, and brief summary of their
recent movements in several of the border
States.
At the present moment it is calculated
that the United States expenditure exceeds
Sl,O0O,000 day. Mr.. Secretary Chase, in
his report to Congress, stated that the sums
already voted amounted to $3I8, 5l9,5Sl, of
which sum be proposed to raise $24O, OOO,-
900 by loans, and $80,000,00O by increased
customs and taxation. A direct tax of
$20,000,000, an income tax of 3 per cent.
upon all incomes above $500, raised to 5
per cent. in case of absentees, with large
additions to the Morrill, tariff, are the means
proposed.
With all the efforts that man can make
to keep down his expenses, the mighty spas
modic efforts of the North to create and
maintain great military establishment are
attended by great waste; but populations,
which have been of late extensive and ac-
i've, putting DEVILS dust and shoddy into
cloth, brown paper into shoe soles, and in
dulging in similar practices, whereby patri.
otto citizens make fortunes by their coun.
try's losses, have not so much to do with
the extravaganza as the ignorance of those
charged with the distribution of the public
money. have seen it stated in an Amer.
can paper that volunteer costs five times
as much as regular soldier, and / have
been assured by an officer of the regular
army that volunteer costs certainly three
times as much as an enlisted private. 1t is
generally declared that every soldier main
tanned by the United States costs 5000 per
annum. The last act of Congress was to
raise the pay of the soldier to $l3 month,
and this paid to him with little or no de-