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

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News from WashingtOn.
TREASURY NOTE BILL In THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O.-After the Sen
ate's executive session to-day, the Treasury
Note Bill was received from the House,
{ with amendments.
On motion of Mr.. Fessenden, the Senate
disagreed to them, and Committee of
Conference was ordered. 5000 srsae
MEXICAN AFFAIRS.
| The Senate has had under consideration
yesterday and to.day, in executive session,
a message from the President, embracing
an important communication from our Min.
lister 10 Mexico, Mr.. Corwin. The propo-
sition to pay the public debt OF Mexico
was particularly under discussion.
PUNISHMENT OF TRAITORS.
| COL Richardson, from the House Military
Committee, is preparing a bill for the in.
generation OF and refusal to exchange all
persons who have taken the oath to support
the Cons titution of the United States, az
Senators, Members of Congress, Foreign
| Ministers, and all who have been in the
regular army or navy, and who have &C
| cepted Offices, either civil or military, under
| the so called Southern Confederacy. In
| short, to punish the leaders 10 the rebellion,
and under no pretext to let them escape.
GENERAL WILLIAMS.
Brigadier General Williams has been re-
leased from duty in the department of
North Carolina, and ordered to report to
| General Butler.
SENATOR SUMNER ON MEXICAN AT.
FAIRS.
The executive session of the Senate was
chiefly occupied today with the considera-
| tiCn of our relations with Mexico. Without
| coming to any conclusion the subject was
postponed till Tuesday.
The report of Senator Sumner, chairman
of the committee on foreign relations, on
the exiating Mexican imbroglio and the
duty of our own Government, is said to be
an extremely clear and conc usive exposi.
ton OF the whole position. 1t is believed
that the recommendations of this report
will be adopted by the Senate.
DEATH IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
The Presidents son William died today,
aged eleven years.
The Senate in extra session confirmed
large number of army appointments.
On Tuesday eighteen vessels bound up
ran the blockade of the Potomac.
REBELS FALLING BACK FROM CENTRE.
1t is reported that the rebels are falling
back from Centreville. 1t is supposed they
are Influenced by military necessity, fearing
that their supplies will be cut off.
General Mcclellan for the first time 10
two months, visited troops on the Virginia
side.
Colonel Washburne, of the I'd Wiscon.
sin Cavalry, has been given leave to serve
on General Grants staff.
sKIRMIsH AT OCCOQUAN CREEK.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.-The steamer
Stepping stone arrived at the Navy Yard
this morning from the upper fotilla. Yes
terday morning this steamer with a launch
and boats crew from the Yankee went on
a reconnaissance up Occoquan Creek some
ing Master Lawrence with the launch, who
visited the north aud south shores of the
creek, penetrating short distance into the
interior but without finding any signs of
the rebels. Just as the launch was leaving
the south side of the Greek brisk fire was
opened on them by the rebels from five or
six field pieces posted in clump of woods.
Some forty shells were thrown by the ene-
my all of which few uncomfortably near
the Stepping Stone but doing no damage
save slightly tearing the flag. The fire
was returned by the Stepping Stone and
howitzer in launch plunging shower of
rifle shots into the cover of the rebels which
undoubtedly damaged them as the fire
slackened.
SURRENDER OF NASHVILLE.
1t is believed that no information has
been received here other than that brought
by the Norfolk steamer, in IT lation to the
proposed surrender of Nashville.
COL. D'UTASSY ARRESTED.
The Posts special says that the Commit.
tee of Conference on the Treasury Note Bill
cannot report until Monday.
Col. D'Utassy, of the Garibaldi Guards.
has been arrested by General Blenker, for
publishing articles 10 the New York Dem.
ocrat, on the decentralization of the German
division of the army of the Potomac.
ILLNESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
President Lincoln is ill to. day, having
become exhausted from watching by the
bedside of bis son Willie.
GENERAL SHIELDS CONFIRMED.
New York specials state that General
Shields has been confirmed today by the
Senate as Brigadier General, also Colonel
Garfield.
PERMITS TO TRADE AT CAPTURED
POINTS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O.-Numerous ap-
plications continue to be made for commits
sion to trade at the several captured points
on the Southern coast. None of them
have been granted. s.- t"t
Information is received that the iron-clad
gunboat on the Ericsson plan is thus far
satisfactory.
THE COOLIE TRADE.
L. l.