The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-03
Interesting from the Capital..Appre.
tensions Of an Attack Army Res.
ignations--Military Department..
Recognition OF the Southern Con.
federacv.
espondence Of Pioneer and Democrat.

AecOgn1t10n OF the Southern Con.
correspondence of Pioneer and Democrat
WASHINGTON, April %, 1861.
The government is under great appre-
hension, and is using all the means in its
power to strengthen itself in Washington.
Since the resistance Of Maryland to the pas
sage Of troops over her soil, from the north
to the south, and the collision of arms in
consequence and since the determined atti.
tude Of Virginia against the government,
an entirely new phase has been given to our
national difficulties. The administration
did not anticipate such sudden and extra
ordinary movement. There are now in
Washington some seven thousand men un-
der arms, ofall grades, United States troops,
volunteers, militia in service, and troops
from other States.
A large number of designations in the
army and navy have been sent in, princi-
pally from Virginia and the other border
slave states. Ali the officers, except the
commander, at the Norfolk Navy Yard
have resigned All the Lee family, of which
there are many in both branches of the SER
vice, will resign. Col. Bankhead, Magru-
der, and other officers now in Washington,
have resigned. And in the Departments
there will be a general stampede of south
erners, in consequence of the test oath which
is to be administered to all government en-
ployees. They cannot swallow the dose.
Here it is:
WASHINGTON, April 1891.
T., at this present time in the United
that will support. protect and defend the Con.
stitutiOn and Government of the United States
against all enemies, whether domestic or for
eign, and that will bear true faith and loyalty
to the same, as established by the Constitution
full determination and pledge, without any
mental reservation or evasion, to perform in
good faith all the duties which may be legally
required of me. So help me God.
County of Washing ton, District of Columbia.
Sworn and subscribed before me this
day of April, 1861.
1t has been currently reported, several
days, that Washington would be put under
martial law. 1t would not appear neces.
sary the citizens are quiet, and the au-
thority of the President over the District
is full and ample. The Military Depart.
ment of Washington has been extended, as
will be been from the following:
GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 2.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY.
Washington, April l9, 1861.
The Military Department Of Washington is
extended so as to include, in addition to the
District of Columbia and Maryland, the States
of Delaware and Pennsylvania, and will be
commanded by Major General Patterson, be-
longing to the volunteers of the latter State.
The Major General will, as fast as they are
mustered into service, post the volunteers rs! OF
mington, Delaware, to Washington city, in
sufficient numbers and in such proximity as
may give a reasonable protection to the lines
of parallel wires, to the road, its rails, bridges,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
By command
E. D. TOWNSEND, Assist. Adj. Gen.
1t is said on good authority that there is
a growing disposition in the Cabinet to
favor peaceable separation of the States,
as the least of evils, in the face of the horri-
BILE civil war so imminent and of the diff
culties that surround the government. They
begin to look upon the preservation of the
Union as it was as an impossibility, and
are disposed to avoid war. Secretary Chase
said to Major Brown of Baltimore, "that
when independent and powerful States had
gone out of the Union and were determined
not to return, be was for letting them GO IN
PEACE" This is one of the signs of those
extraordinary and revolutionary times. P.
We collate from the Washington Evening
Star of the 22d, and from the Baltimore
papers of the 23d, the following:
All Saturday night last movable barri-
cades were being constructed for the pro-
lection of the lower story of the Treasury
Department, which have since been duly
completed. The material used is four inch
plank. Captain Shiras, U. s. A., is in
command there, and Captain Franklin, U.
S. A., is next in rank. Sand>bags barri-
cades, the best in the world, have been
prepared to be used on the steps of the De-
partment porticos should that be necessary.
At least five hundred troops of regulars and
volunteers bivouac there nightly now, so
stationed as that they can defend it against
a storming party of thousands, the building
being well nigh thorough fertilization in
its strength of construction.
Fort Washington, three miles below
Alexandria, has been put in complete repair.
It was reinforced last week, and is in COM
mand of Major Haskins, United States
Army. Guns have been mounted upon the
summit of the walls, so as to command the
hill on the east, which is as high as the fort,
and which ia Onlv two Or three hundred