The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-06
News from Warrington.
THE PRESIDENT ON THE MAsoN.sLIDELL
m AFFAIR. T3

WAsHINaroN, Dec. mo fear need be
felt respecting the position Of the Executive
on the seizure Of Mason and Slidell. He
will take, as the public will learn to NOR
row, officially, the same ground as that
upon which the nation has settled, holding
that Captain Wilkes only error was in rot
seizing the Trent also.
Mr.. Ely OF New York, the Clerk of the
House, received letter from Mr.. Ely of
New York, now prisoner at Richmond,
desiring his name put on the list, az he
should be here to occupy his seat this ses-
sion.
A Union spy who left here some three
weeks ago for Richmond arrived to-day
He left the latter place Wednesday last.
He brings important intelligence which be
Immediately communicated to our Govern
ment. He says the greatest excitement
prevailed in Richmond and throughout the
South respecting the naval and military ex>
petitions along the entire southern coast.
The troops from the States most exposed
have signi6ed their determination to return
home and large numbers had already start
ed. In Richmond few days before he left,
much difficulty was experienced in quelling
rebellious spirit among several regiments
from Georgia, South Carolina and Louis.
lana. They were restrained only by positive
promises from JEFF Davis and the Secretary
of War, that o sufficient number of troops
should be despatched from these States to
protect not only the States but to drive the
Yankees from Southern soil. The Virgin
ians however were indignant and were
threatening divers things against their Con-
gress. There seemed to be, he says, very
general feeling among the Southern people
to abandon Virginia entirely and allow her
to fall into the hands of the Federal Gov,
ernment. They regarded it as too expen-
sive to keep an army on her soil. The reb-
els hope now is merely to keep our army
from advancing into the interior from their
coast landings.
STATE PRISONERS DISCHARGED.
Upon the renewed and urgent applica
ton of George d. Prentice of the Louisville
Journal, Secretary Seward yerterday or
dered the release of his brother-in>law, Cal
houn Benham and also ex-senator Gwin,
from Fort Lafayette.
SECRETARY OF TIE NAVY ON THE MA
SON.SLIDkLL AFFAIR.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
after mentioning the capture of Messrs. Sill
dell and Mason says that the prompt and
decisive action of Captain Wilkes, on this
occasion, merited and received the emphat-
ic approval of this department, and if too
generous forbearance was exhibited by him
in not capturing the vessel which had these
rebel emissaries on board, it may, in view of
the special circumstances of its patriotic
motives be excused, but it must by no
means be permitted to constitute prece
dent hereafter for the treatment of any case
OF similar iniraction of neutral obligations
by foreign vessels engaged in commerce or
the carrying trade.
THE DISLOYAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Jesse d. Bright, of Indiana, is here and
intends to take his seat in the Senate tomor-
row, Notwithstanding his reasonable letter
to his excellency, JEFF. Davis, President OF
the Confederate States, recommending to
that rebel functionary the adoption of an
improved fire arm to be employed against
the armies of the Union.
Senator Powell, of Kentucky, also arri-
we'd this morning, and it is said intends
taking his seat. In the case OF Breckenridge
and Burnett, OF Kentucky, their seats will
probably be declared vacant, and it is
thought by some that Senator Powell will
be called upon for explanations.
Ser ator Polk, OF Missouri, is in the city
and will take his seat.
In reference to the dislOyal members, it is
proposed by many members of Congress to
appoint Joint Committee of Investigation
to ascertain what have been the acts of the
suspected parties, and whenever the investi-
cation shows overt acts of treason, the re-
port will favor the expulsion of the parties
from their seats.
Mr.. Vallandingham arrived today, and
will probably have the assurance to take
bis seat tOmOrrrw.
Senator Bayard is here, but it remains to
be seen whether he will carry out his pledge
to resign in case that he found that his dis
satisfaction to the Union cause was not sus-
tanned by the people of Delaware, now
that the State has shown its loyalty to be
so unquestionable.
1t has been ascertained tonight that there
are not sufficient members OF either house, in
the city, to constitute quorum; but the
deficiency will probably be made up by
trains arriving tomorrow.
ABSENT SENATOR'S.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2-1'he following are
those who did not appear IN the Senate
Chamber Breckenridge, Howe, johnson,
of Tennessee, johnson, of Missouri, Ken.
nedy, Pierce, Polk, Sherman, Wiley, VIII
mot, Mason, Baker and Bengleam.
SPAIN AND MEXICO.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Madrid Cor
respomdemzo Despantetro recently received
here contains the following paragraph,
which shows the friendliness of feeling be.
tween the Spanish Government and the
Church party of Mexico.
Yesterday took place the long expected
visit to her majesty, the Queen, by General
Miamon, Ex-President of Mexico. Our
august couusin received him with her usual
amiability, as did also the King, her huss
band, who was seated at her side. Con-
versation lasted for more than quarter of