The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-28

CONGRESSIONAL

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441 VAC WWAsHNaToN, Feb. Is. 1862.
HoUsE.-The Senate's joint resolution
providing stenographer for the Commit
tee on the Conduct Of the War being read,
Mr. Wicklife, Slaveocrat, said Congress
has, through that. Committee, undertaken
the command of the war. =
Mr.. Lovejoy, Republican, here called him
to order on the ground of irrelevancy.
MIR. WickliE had merely to say that the
Committee were not fit to examine into the
war. He had heard great deal OF the
newspapers saying they had the General.ln.
Chief before them. He did not know what
answer Gen. Mcclellan gave, excepting
from report, and that was, be intended to
conduct the war according to his own no-
lions OF right. Mr.. Wicklife alluded to
Napoleon, who took charge of his army
on condition that the French Chamber of
Deputies would mind their own business.
MIR. VaIlandigham (secesh) reminded the
gentleman that Napoleon drove out the
Deputies, and subverted the Government.
Mr.. Wickiiffe said. for aught he knew,
the Military Committee might be driven
ont.
Mr.. Vallandigham replied not the Com.
mittee, but the House of Congress.
Mr.. Wicklife, resuming, said one of the
most disastrous things was the creating a
distrust in the constitutional conductors of
the war, and incidentally remarked that our
army would have fought better at Bull Run
if Congress mad kept away, Laughter.
Mr.. Blair replied that General Patterson
had telegraphed that General johnson had
thirty or forty thousand men at Winches
ter, when it was known that he had not
halt that number. And in response to
question asked by Mr.. Gooch, said he
knew General Patterson to telegraph either
on Friday or Saturday night before the
battle.
Mr.. Covode asked from whom Mr.. Blair
received the information.
Mr.. Blair--YOu had better summon me
to appear before your secret committee.
Mr.. Blair, in farther explanation, said he
bad never seen man who. would assert that
Patterson had yet put himself in danger, or
ever woud--that General Scott insisted on
an advance on Manassas against the Presi
dent and Secretary of War, be knew to
be.true.
Mr.. Lovejoy (Rep., my made some exc
plantations about Bull Run. At 3 o'clock
he believed our soldiers we're victorious, and
the enemy were on the point of retreat our
soldiers, however, left the field because of
the rebels having been reinforced by John.
ston, contrary to expectation.
MIR. Blair (Rep., No. said Gen. Patter-
son had telegraphed to Washington that
Gen. Johnston had eluded him the night
before, and Johnston, it was known, was
thus enabled to participate in the fight
When this information came to the Presi
dent, Mr.. Lincoln went to Gen. Scott to
protest against naoUeneat on Manassas,
but Gen. Scott insisted ON its being made,
and this aoas with q full knowledge that Gen.
Beauregard had been reinforced by General
Johnston.
Mr.. Covode (Rep., Pa.) denied that Gen.
Patterson had ever telegraphed any such
thing.
Various gentlemen engaged in a lively
running debate about some points concern
ing Bull Run.
Mr.. Covode wanted to set the matter
right but could not obtain an opportunity.
Mr.. Blair remarked that nobody inside
or out of the House, could controvert the
statement he had made.
Mr.. Richardson made an earnest appeal
that Mr.. Covode might be heard.
Mr.. Wickliffe, however, gave the floor to
Mr.. Caravans Union, Ind }, who said there
was no truth in the charge that Members
of Congress who were at Bull Run, of whom
he was one, were responsible for the retreat.
He neither ran nor followed the army. He
remained at Centreville until the next
morning, and with Others attempted to rally
our troops, who fought nobly and we'll.
Mr.. Covode eventually procured hear.
ing. He said he had no controversy with
MIR. Blair about the number of the rebels
at Winchester, but he was astonished to
hear that gentleman say that Gen. Patter-
son sent there dispatch of the character
indicated. Gen. Patterson never sent such
a dispatch, and did not know on Saturday
that Johnston had eluded him.
MIR. Blair replied that the information
was received here.
Bishop McIlvaine Of Ohio.