The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-15
The News.

AAO IsS''S'
The news from Washington this week
is of the highest importance. 1t is
said the administration has, or will order
the evacuation of Forts Sumpter and
Pickens. We presume the question has
now to be met, whether the forts will be
evacuated or reinforced. Peace or war is
before the administration, and a speedy de-
cision is demanded, for Major ANDERSON
reports but few days provisions on hand.
We do not think, therefore, the statement
to be at all improbable. If true, it indicates
Mr.. LINCOLN has adopted the peace policy.
Senator DOUGLAS said the other day, that
Fort Sumpter could not be reinforced with
out q sea and land force of 10000 men.
Mr.. LINCOLN has no such army at his COM
mand, and Congress refused, by defeating
the force bill, to give him authority to
raise it. TO our mind, he has no
other alternative than to order the aban.
donment of these posts and in doing so,
he will act wisely and periodically. The
dispatches state that the news created a
profound sensation in the secession ranks,
and leading men on that side, declared in
Washington, upon the announcement OF the
news, that secession is dead, and ecery
leader IN the movement ruined" fit is true,
we believe thirty days will not elapse be-
fore we hear of Union movements in the
Cotton States, which will crush out seces-
sion by that most potent Of all Yankee
projectiles yet invented-the ballot box!
The Republicans in the Senate, appear
to have got themselves in bad box, by
proposing to expel the cratic W1oFALL,
from that body, for justifying secession.
MASON, CLINGMAN, & Co., boldly place
themselves along side of the Texan, and
invite the honors of martyrdom. This Sc
cession is bad business, in whatever aspect
it is viewed.
--Congress, at its last session, provided
for the carriage of letter and newspaper
mail, six times per week, over the Central
Overland route, vid Denver and Salt Lake
City, to California. The bill annuls the
Butterfeld contract, but that company is
authorized to carry the daily mail over the
new route, for which they receive 100000
per annum. The entire letter mail is to be
carried through daily in twenty days, and
the residue in thirty-fve days, with the
privilege of sending the latter by steamer in
twenty-five days, at contractors expense.
They agree to carry 600 pounds of mail
matter per trip, which will take all the daily
papers besides the letters.
The Constitutional Union and Demo-
cratic Conventions in Rhode Island, have
re-nominated Gov. SPRAGUE, for Governor !;
Sc. ARNOLD, for Lieut.. Governor; and
the rest of the present State Officers. The
Democrats have nominated GEO. w. BROWN
for Congress in the Western District. The
election takes place early in April.
The reaction still goes on. The election
in Galena, on the 4th, for mayor and city
officers. resulted in the success of the Demo-
cratic ticket. The vote polled was large
one. ROBERT BRAND was elected mayor
by 1886 majority his majority last year was
l26. In Rock Island, the election resulted
in the choice of the entire Democratic
ticket. Mr.. DAVENPORT, the Democratic
candidate, had 196 majority. The Repub.
lican majority last year was 2lO. The
aggregate vote was six greater than last
year.
The Democratic State Convention of
Michigan, on the 9TH, nominated CHARLES
). WALKER of Detroit, for Supreme Judge.
The flag Of the Confederated States of
America has at last been agreed upon. 1t
will consist of three stripes, red, white and
blue; red Union, blue field. 1t will have
seven stars.