The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-05-17
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY. MAY IT, 1861
Washington News not Telegraphed.

Washington News not Telegraphed.
Howell Cobb, during the recess of the
Southern Congress, amused himself by max
ing stump speeches, in which he congratu
lated the citizens of the cotton States that
the theatre of war had been removed from
their section, and would now be carried on
along the borders of the Ohio river and in
Virginia. The poor old Dominion is now
the catspaw of the Southern Confederacy.
Negroes of all classes are deprecated al.
most through the entire South from thirty
to fifty per cent. Property has also fallen
in similar degree.
Wigfall. in letter to friend in Wash.
lngton, says in great confidence, that the
Confederate army will capture Washington,
Lincoln and the Cabinet, unless they leave
before the middle of June He says they
have nearly 100000 we'll armed troops, and
in less than two weeks will be on their way
to Washington, and expect to winter in
Philadelphia.
The camp of the Seventh regiment con.
tinues to attract crowds of curious Spec
tators daily. Most of the tents are now
provided with mattresses, floors, tables and
chairs, and the men live like fighting cocks.
A jollier set of fellows cannot be found.
Every street, and almost every tent in the
camp, has been given some droll name, con.
spicuously inscribed, to the great amuse.
ment of visitors.
The gentlemen composing the brigade of
volunteers raised in Kentucky, sent a dele
cation here to invite Major Anderson to
command them as Brigadier General. He
promptly responded that he would do so
with the consent of the President. The
President as quickly said he would com~
mission Major Anderson, and detail him to
that command, If there was any law author.
izing him tosdo so, and would not throw
the Major out of the regular service in the
event that the volunteers were disbanded in
a short time. This point was not made
clear to the President, and to-day Major
Anderson was promoted by the Secretary
OF War to the position of Colonel in the
Army, anu the President signed the COM
mission, but with the distinct understanding
that If it should subsequently be ascertained
that authority existed to promote the Ma
Jor still higher, and give him command of
the Kentucky brigade, or if Major Ander,
son desired the promotion, at the risk of
leaving the regular army, it should be done.
This is the precise state of the case now.
Gen. Butler, in special brigade order
from the Relay House to day, makes the
following allusiOn to the arrest of Mr.. Spen.
Ger: "The General takes this opportunity
publicly, as he has privately, to thank
Lleutenants Fox and Shelley of the 9th
Regiment for their GOODNESS, promptitude
and zeal in arresting one Spencer, who was
utterlng in the presence of the troops at the
Relay House, the atrocious sentiment that
we (meaning himself and brother rebels)
acted rightly towards the Massachusetts
troops three weeks ago Friday, aid saying
that the murderous mob who killed our
friends there were right in action, and that
the same men were preparing to give us
warm reception on our return. For these
treasonable speeches, substantially admitted
by him IN bis written examination, Spencer
has been arrested and sent to Annapolis,
where he will be properly dealt with.
Another matter, to which the General
desires to call the attention of the troops,
is this: "Wishing TO establish the most
friendly relations between you and the
nelghborhood, the General invited all VEN
ders of supplies to visit our camp and re
plenlsh our somewhat scanty commissariat,
but to his disgust and horror be finds well
authenticated evidence that private in the
9th regiment has been poisoned by means
of strychnine administered in food and
brought into the camp by one of these
pedlars. am very happy to be informed
that the man is now out of danger. This
act, OF course, will, render it necessary for
me to cut of all purchases from unauthorized
persons. Are our few insane enemies among
the loyal men of Maryland prepared to wage
war upon US in this manner Do they know
the terrible lesson Of warfare they are teach
ing us? Can it be that they realize the fact
that we can put an agent with sword into
every household, armed with this terrible
weapon? In view of the terrible consequences
OF this mode of warfareG Gfadopted by US from
their teaching), with every sentiment of
devotional prayer may we not exclain ::
"Father, forgive them they know not what
they do" Certain it is that any other such
attempt, reasonably authenticated as to the
person committing it, will be followed by
the swlftest, surest, and most condlgn pun
ishment.
Mrs. JEFF. Davis writes to friend here
that the statement ascribing to her the in
tenton of receiving company at the White
House, on the first OF June, is erroneous and
unjust. She has no such expectation. It
understood, however, that secretary Walker,
OF the Confederate States, still stands by
his determination to be in this City with
his Goverment, as heretofore announced, on
the first of May, instant.
considerable cotton has accumulated at
Old Point Comfort, which has been taken