The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-05
MEETING OF THE REBEL CONGRESS
JEFF. DAVIS,S MESSAGE.
r ETA LIATION PROPOSED.
"A New CONSUMPTION Law
Recon- amended.
Important bills Introduced.

WASHINGTON, August %, 1862.
The rebel Congress met in Richmond on
the 18th inst, on which occasion JEFF. Davis
submitted bis annual message. He leads off
in his usual bypocrtical style, and then
aludes to the federal government as " rob-
beers, assassins,' &c, ad infaitum. He
speaks of and recommends retaliatory meas
ures to meet the laws recently passed by the
federal government; recommends the issue
of more rebel treasury shinplasters +; and
aIudes to the building OF rebel vessels at
home and abroad. The message betrays
great signs OF weakness in the rebel govern.
meDt, for no nation that has power in its
hands ever puts forth such arguments as to
acquiesce in murder, rApine, &C., under the
name of retaliation.
people and the gallantry of the troops, he
said:
"The vast army which threatened the
capital OF the con!ederacy has been defeated
and driven from the lines OF investment, and
the enemy, repeatedly foied in its efforts
for its capture, is now seeking to raise new
armies on scale such as modern history
does not record to effect that subjugation OF
the South so often proclaimed as on the eve
of accomplishment" Davis then charges
US with raplne, wautOn destruction OF pri.
vate property, murder OF captiyes, &C., and
speaks OF the contiscation bin oo atroclOua.
While the monied obligations of the confed-
crate government are forged by the citizens
OF the United States, and at least two gen.
erals OF the United States are engaged in
exciting servile insurrection, another has
been found Of instincts so brutal as to invite
the violence of his soldiery against the wo-
men Of captured cities.
He mentions General Butler subsequent
ly. Davis then seys: To inquiries made
OF the comfnander~in- chief of the armies of
the United States, whether the atrocious
conduct of some OF their military command
ants meets the sanction OF the government,
answers had been evaded on the pretext
that the inquiry was insulting, and no
method remains for the suppression OF these
enormi,ies but such retaliative Justice as ii
N y be found possible to execute. Retail
alton in kind Tor many OF them is impracti~
cable, and | have had occasion TO remark,
10 former message, that uader 10 excess
OF provocation could cur noble hearted de-
lenders be driven to wreak vengeance or
unarmed men, or on woman and children.
But stern and exemplary punishment can
and must be melted cut TO the murderers
and ieion8 who, disgracing the profession oil
arms, seek 20 make oil pub.ic war the oc
casi0n Tor the commi sion OF the most mon
sirous crimes. Deeply as we regret the
charact + Of the contest into which we are
about to be forced, We must accept it as az
alternative which recent manifestations give
Us Little nope can be avoided. The eyaspe
ration OF failure has aroused the worst pas.
si0Ds OF our enemies, and large portion OF
their people, even OF their clergymen, are
now engaged in urging an excited populaco
to the extreme OF terocity, No nothing re-
MANS but TO vIndIcate our rights aid TO
maintain our existence by employin against
our foe, every energy and every resource At
out dispo.al.
Davis recommends further legislation 10
make CONSUMPTION universal; also, TIE Is
satg OF additional treasury notes; also,
some legislation for contracting military
transportation. He says the very large in
creaee CT forces recently called into the fed
by the President Of the United States rem
ders it necessary hereafter to extend the
provisions of the conscript law so as to em-
brace persons between the ages OF thirty.
five and forty five years. The v'gor and
efficiency of our present forces end Their
condition, and skill and ability which dis
tipguish their leaders, inspire the belief that
no further enrolment will be necessary: but
wise foresight requires that If necessity
should be suddenly developed, during the
recess Of Congress, requiring increased for
ces for our defence, means Should exist for
calling such forces into the field without
awaiting the assembling OF the legislative
department of the government.
The rest OF the message IS unlmportant.
In the rebel House OF Representatives,
Foote of Tennessee, offered bill for retail
iatory purposes. 1t reciles that the enemy
refuse to treat our partisan soldiers as pFis
oners, and have also punished Innocent pri
vate citizens for their acts. 1t provides
that an officer who may have ordered such
atrocities be put to death if captured. An
equal number of prisoners, officers to be
preferred. taken from the enemy, to suffer
The fate inflicted on our captured soldiers or
citizens. Also bill to punish negroes il
arms. Il provides that federal armies IN
coneruously composed OF white ond black
shall not be held to the privileges Of war,
or to be taken prisoners. OF such as may
be captured the negroes shall be returned
to their masters or publicly sold, and their
commanders hung or shot as may be most
convenient
He also offered bill to retalate for the
seizure of citizens by the enemy. 1t provides
that, OF the prisoners held By US, number,
equal to that of the citizens seized, shall be
held as hostages for their safety. and sub.
jected to like treatment. Any officer, civil
or military, concerned in their seizure, shall
be imprisoned during the war.
All the bills were referred to the military
committee
MIR. Foote offered bill to provide for
raising an additional force of 100000 On
his own motion it was laid on the table.
Another was introduced providing for 40
export duty of twenty per cent. on cotton
| ., &o III -: Io,,c,