The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-13

Congress will be misled into action that will
seriously damage the national cause. The
haste to introduce the various questions con-
nected with slavery on the first day of the SEES.
sion, and before the business had been regu-
larly and properly introduced by the Message
of the President and the reports of the heads
of departments, argues badly for the temper
of a portion at least of the members.
The Milwaukee Sentinel thinks the story
in the Tribune, of the interview between
the President and Secretary of War, mainly
imaginary, and continues
The modification has Mr.. Cameron's sig.
nature to it, and must therefore have been
made by his consent. The President would
not be apt to interpolate the document, as
represented. We presume the discussion on
the question was harmonious, and the result
if not satisfactory to the Secretary, at least
cheerfully cencurred in. The action of the
President indicates that he has policy"
and means to abide by it himself, and have his
subordinates abide by it also.
1t is expected that bill will be intro.
duced in Congress, to the effect that no
person can claim reimbursement from the
Government for damages occasioned by
federal troops in occupation of land or 9TH
erwise, except such as earnestly assist the
Government in putting down the rebellion.
Many persons who have done all they could
for the confederate cause, now that the
Union is triumphing again, are coming for
ward with heavy claims for damages. Some
we'll known rebels are trying to dispose of
their property clandestine'y, to avoid its
con6scation.
1t has been said that one bad general is bet.
ter than two good ones and the saying is true,
| if taken to mean no more than that an army is
better directed by single mind, though infe-
rior. than by two superior ones at varience or
cross purposes. And the same is true in all
| joint operations wherein those engaged can
| have none but common end in view and can
| differ only as to the choice OF means. In
storm at sea no one can wish the ship to sink,
and yet not unfrequently all go down together
because too many will direct and no single
mind can be allowed to control.-President's
| Message.
The New York World, semi official
organ OF the Administration, in printing
the above, says:
A weighty thought well expressed. We are
| authorized to infer from its timely introduc-
ton into the Message that all questions of
military necessity"-a phrase perpetually in
the mouths of abolitonists-will be decided by
| Gen. Mcclellan. The commander of the army
will be the sole Judge when, where, and to
what extent military necessity" requires the
| emancipation, employment, or arming of the
slaves. The necessity will be no fiction invent
ed by political zealots as preteXt to cloak
their abOltionism. Being military question,
! it will be decided on military grounds--nOt by
! cnlnnplS W iG
| TO orders. but by the general in command Of
the army. The Presidents homely shp.storm
comparison embodies the pith of the whole
matter. Messrs. C0ngressmen questions of
military necessity" are for Gen. Mcclellan.
Hands Oft the helm while the storm RACES
The New York Eveaiag Post, is not we'll
satisfied with the message of President LIN
COLIN, although a portion of it is damned
with faint praise" 1t says on the question
of the general policy of the Government in
the further conduct of the war, the Presi-
dent "a does not meet the necessities of the
case with sufficient determination" 1t
concludes as follows:
The country will admire the moderation of
Mr.. Lincoln's tone, and rest assured that he
will do nothing without a sincere conviction
| of its safety and justice. But, at the same
| time it Will demand decided course. In
times of war the worst policy is no policy.
| Nothing in this message, as in former MESA.
ges. speaks to the popular heart; nothing in it
seems up to the spirit of the times; no sensa-
tious utterances of great truths are there to
stir up the public mind in the midst of trial
and calamites; and the reference of all diff.
culties to Congress, though it may be modest
and wise, is scarcely what the people loUk for
from their Chief Magistrate. Our Washingtons,
JeffersOns, MadisOns and Jacksons, as pro.
| foundry Observant as men could be of the re.
quirements of the Constitution, were yet ac-
customed to lead the minds of their contem.
poraries by the preparation of grand meas.
/ ures and the expression of lofty truths. We
! heartily thank Mr.. Lincoln for his prudence,
consciousness and honesty, because we
are assured by these qualities that he will in
the end adopt the wisest methods
Col. FoRNEy writes from Washington to
the Philadelphia Press, as follows
A single days observation and into ourse
among the members of Congress hasVled to
the conclusion that, with two or three insig.
nifcant exceptions, the senators and repre-
sentatives agree in utter detestation of the
whole rebellion, and in the uncompromising
spirit of putting it down at whatever cost
Among those most urgent and resolute in TAX
ing these positions are democrats. There is,
indeed, good deal of difference as to the
means or manner of giving effect to this poll
cy. Some are for declaration of emancipa,
ton of the slaves of the insurgents others
for the confiscaton of slave property; and
another class for levying tax upon the slave.
holders, SO that they may by such q process
| feel the heaviest burdens of the war. But ON
all sides, as well on the part of Thaddeus Ste
vens in the House, and Lyman Trumbull in
the Senate, as well among the ultra Republi-
cans as among the ultra democrats, there is
an open expression that the property of the
loyal shareholders shall be protected or paid
| for.
| Three Very Mean Paragraphs.
| By unanimous vote of the Senate, the trai.
tor RrSck inridpe was eXnalled from his GO