The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-10
Excitement at st. Louls..People Arm.
ing. Secession Unanimity Through
out tho State. ~~fsssneY
of Pioneer and Democrat.

Oe~e s~~S ~~~s~s r~ffatatN&
Correspondence of Pioneer and Democrat
aer ST.. LOUIS, April 20. 1861.
Affairs in this city still remain in statu
quo. No public outbreak has yet occurred
to disturb its quiet, and to outward appear
ance we, in st. Louis, are model people,
and worthy of all praise and imitation. But
candor compels the admission that even here
appearances are delusive, and that our peace
and quiet are liable to come to an abrupt
termination at any hour, and be substituted
by anarchy and bloodshed OF the worst de.
scription. 1t is boding silence-a fearful
still that now rests over the city. 1t is the
gathering Of strength for the coming strug-
gle-the sequence of the impending crisis"
which has been forced upon the country
whilst our streets during the day preserved
this quiet-whilst friend meets friend as
formerly-they are at heart at enmity, and
are taking every advantage of the remain
ing days of peace to arm for deadly con-
fict. Not gun, nor pistol, can be
bought in the city. They have all been
purchased days since, and left our gun stores
bare of all deadly weapons. Companies
are forming, on both sides, and it is mod
crate calculation to say that every night
there are five thousand men under arms,
collected in the different halls and armories
throughout the city, ready at the first tap
of the drum, or toll of the signal bell, to
march forth and do battle for the cause
which enlists their sympathy. Our new
Police Commissioners are also arming and
equipping about two thousand men, to pre-.
serve the peace, and act independent of all
party organizations, when occasions shall
require. They have also two pieces of can
non, at their headquarters on Chestnut
street, ready for immediate service. The
Arsenal, couple of miles below the city,
is putting itself in state of perfect defence,
and keeps within its halls about fifteen hun-
dred men, ready to defend it against any
attack which mag be made upon it by the
State authorities whilst the houses in the
vicinity are being barricaded by troops,
under the command of federal officers, and
put in defensible condition against assailants.
l have understood, also, that volunteer
troops, across the river, in Illinois, are
throwing up large breastworks, for what
With cannon planted and pointing towards
st. Louis, the question admits of but one
solution, should Missouri take stand an.
tagonistic to Government, (which 1 have no
doubt she will do during the present sum-
mer, and concentrate her forces at this point
to prevent the landing upon her soil Of the
Federal crowd in this vicinity by the Gov
eminent at Washington. In view of all
these preparations, you will see that our
present peace is very precarious, and that
the question of States Rights for Missouri
is liable to bloody solution at almost any
time.
The State authorities are shipping pow.
der from jefferson city. The steamer Isa-
bella took up yesterday evening, several
thousand kegs, purchased from Loffler &
Co., of this city, guard of two companies
of State troops accompanied the boat. A
powder house in the upper portion of the
city, belonging, l believe, to Government,
was taken possession of by the States
Rights men few nights since, and large
amount of powder seized. 1t was probably
q portion OF this that was forwarded to the
State capital. A rumor that the steamer
City of Alton, which has been pressed into
Government service, had met and endeavor-
ing to capture the Isabel, had been sunk by
a cannon upon the latter boat, created quite
sensation throughout the city. Further
advices from the Isabel contradict the re-,
port.
The stopping of the boats at Cairo by
Government, and the instructions received
by the Collector Of this port, to grant no
clearances to boats going South, has done
much to embltter our merchants and bulS-
ness men, and in fact all classes against the
Washington Administration, and will do
more to hasten the secession of the State,
and inaugurate war in our midst than any
other act that could have been done by Mr.
Lincoln. Some of the steamboat Captains
swear an awful oath that they will only
come to it at the bottom of the river, and
that they will return the fire from the Cairo
batteries. Nous verrons.
Our Legislature meets on Thursday next,
in extra session, called for the purpose of
arming the State, and to take such perma-
nent action upon the questions ofthe day as
the interests of the commonwealth may de-
mapd. 1t is the initiatory step to secession.
In haste, yours. A.
REMOVAL OF AN OLD LAND MARK.-We