The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-31

every teacher, and it is the duty of the super.
intendent of every district to see that the law
is enforced. In no other way can parents be
saved the expense incident to a constant
attained. E. D. NELL,
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
What they are Doing at the South.
From the Charleston Mercury.
RICHMOND, Saturday, Maya.
We are doubtless on the eve of great
military and political events, but there is
little to crafty the curiosity or interest of
mere spectators. Troops at the rate of
from five hundred to one thousand per day
are arriving from North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and
even Kentucky, at available points some
at Richmond, some at Norfolk, and some
at Lynchburg, Harper's Ferry, Petersburg,
and even Weldon, North Carolina, but, so
far, no line of action has been indicated by
either party. The Government at WASH
iDgton asseverate their purpose to hold that
city, and deplete the North of troops to &C.
complish that object. The Government at
Montgomery asseverate their purpose to
resist invasion, and deplete the South to
that object and this, the greatest military
movement ever made upon the continent, is
as yet without an issue.
Neither party makes a traverse, and in
consstence with the record of the present
proceeding, there is no reason why both
may not be successful without the slightest
damage to each other. 1t is true the gov.
eminent at Washington expresses the ulti-
mate purpose to repossess the property and
places taken by the seeding States, and to
enforce the laws of the government within
the seeding States, but that it is not the
immediate object OF the present concentra-
tion of forces; and, for the present, there
fore, there would seem to be no necessary
point of contact, and no cause, therefore, to
apprehend immediate collision.
But of course it must come. The North,
tired of defending Washington, must start
upon some other feature of their military
programme. They must move upon Nor
folk, or Harpers Ferry, or some other
point, to meet the expectations of their ex-
cited people, where the South, not ready
for attack, will be ready for resistance. Or
the South, when their forces shall be or.
gained, will be wearied of constant ex-
pectation, and will hereafter precipitate the
collision. At present they are not in con-
ditiOn for aggressive movement. There are
soldiers here in any number they are
equipped and drilled enough for any ordin-
ry measures of resistance, but they have not
as yet the unity and form of aggressive &C
ton. The troops have not yet been mus
tered into the Confederate Army. Generals
Lee, of Virginia, and Bonham, of South
Carolina, yet hold their Offices under the
authority Of their respective States; and
until the troops are mustered in, and the
officers accept the positions assigned them
by the Confederate Government, it is not
to be expected, of course, that they will do
more than sustain their present position and
preserve unbroken the line of the Potomac.
A week ago it was expected they would
cross and sustain Maryland in her position
of resistance to the passage of Federal
troops to Washington; but there is at pre-
sent no nucleus of resistance to Military
organization in Maryland. The State
seems now to acquiesce in its helpless con.
dition. While our forces would sustain that
State, they will not assume to lead or force
that State to an attitude of opposition, and
so, for the present, at least, Maryland would
seem to be out of view, and our efforts are
simply lent to the object of sustaining the
present position of Virginia.
In the meantime, every department of the
service is in the utmost possible activity.
Men are abundant. Virginia herself has
an army, and munitions are sufficient, when
properly applied, and to bring men and arms
together, to get them into working order,
and to hold them within striking distance of
assailable points, is the great work in which,
with many difficulties, there is the prospect
and promise of the most perfect possible
success. Norfolk and Harper's Ferry are
already in possession of large forces, with
reserves in easy distance to sustain them.
Alexandria is not occupied, but if it should
be taken by the enemy, there will be forces
ready to invest it; and so, in the matter of
defenses and in preparations for defense, the
work goes as bravely on as any reasonable
person could expect.
Generals Bonham, Lee and johnson, are
here, and General Gwynn is at Norfolk
Colonies Gregg and Kershaw are both in
camp, one at the old fair ground and
the other at the reservoir, and they and the
gallant officers and soldiers under them are
objects of exceeding interest.
There is the assurance that President
Davis will soon be on. The military power
will soon be organized to full and efficient
action we strike for liberty, they for do:
minion; and in such cause and with such
power and such leadership, it can scarcely
happen that we will not give them work
enough to do upon the line of the Potomac ;;
and there is the assurance, therefore, that
this will be the important and final theatre
of war.
= Three of the much talked of big guns
arrived at Cairo Wednesday night, and five
more are on the wav from Pittsburc and