The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-09
FROM WASHINGTON.
Important Official Circulars to
Foreign Ministers.
New Orleans and other Ports
to be Opened.


WASHINGTON, May 4.-The following i'm
portant circulars have been addressed to
the Foreign Ministers announcing the re-.
opening of communication with Southern
cities reconquered from the insurgents:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHINGUoN, May 2, 1921
SIR-I have the honor to state for your
Information that the mails are now allowed
to 60 to and from New Orleans and other
places which, having been heretofore seized
by insurgents, have since been recovered
and are now reoccupied by the land and
naval forces of the United States.
1t is proper however to add that mill
tary surveillance is maintained over such
mails as far as the Government finds it nec-
essary for the public safety.
am, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) VIM. H. SEWARD.
SOUTHERN PORTS TO BE OPENED.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, May 9Th, 1862.
SRI have the honor to state for the ia.
formation of your government, that col.
lector has been appointed by the President,
for New Orleans, and that the necessary
preparations are being made to modify the
blockade so far as to permit limited ship.
ments to be made to and from that and one
or more other ports which will! be made
known by proclamation.
lam, sir, your ob't serv't,
[signeed,l WIN. H. SEWARD.
PANIC IN RICHMOND.
WASHINGTON, May A. 1Tibune's corr
respondent. I'VE have news from Rich
mond via Fredericksburgh of importance,
the people Of the rebel Capitol are panic
stricken. The wealthy citizens are packing
up their furniture and sending it out of the
country.
An apparently intoxicated person thepast
week, passing by the tobacco warehouses
where our soldiers are confined, cried out to
them "cheer up boys, Mcclellan or Nc.
Dowell will be here in few days" The
sentries shot him dead.
MCDOWELL ENTERS FREDERICKSBURG
Our commanding General galloping into
Fredericksburg yesterday afternoon, with
his staff, were received with closed doors.
Not door open of house or store, and not
a face to be seen except now and then that
of curious damsel peering through half.
closed blinds at the cavalcade of Yankees.
OPENING OF PORTS.
WASHINGTON, May At is the inten-
tion of the President to issue a procIama.
tion in few days, opening the ports of
Newbern, Beaufort, Savannah, Fernandina,
and New Orleans to the trade of the world.
This important measure will relieve the ad.
ministration of any internationa! embarrassc
ment, and will largely tend to restore the
entente cordiale between the two sections of
the country.
TAX BILL IN THE SENATE.
The Senate Finance Committee have de-
termined to report the tax bill to morrow
or Tuesday at farthest. They have been
unable to make many important changes
contemplated, and will probably leave
whisky and tobacco unchanged. 1t is
singular fact, worthy of note in Congress,
that no remonstrance from any quarter has
been made against a high tariff upon these
articles, but dealers and manufacturers are
all in favor of placing it at the highest
figure this will probably be done either in
the Senate or by Committee of Confer
ence.
ROAD OPEN TO RICHMOND.
WASHINGTON, May 5.-The Herold's des.
patch says the Administration is fully sat.
isfed that the road to Richmond is opened,
and the rebel army of the East utterly
routed.
WASHINGTON, Nay 81 Times despatch1
General FraDklin's Division, which Gen.
Mcclellan has ordered to West Point at
the head of York river, was on board the
transports when the rebels abandoned
Yorktown
They were kept On board by General Nc
Clellan for The very service they are per-
forming and they will doubtless be able
to intercept the rebel retreat to Richmond
compelling them to give battle or surrender.
The main road of retreat up the Penin-
sula is close on the bank of York river
which will bring the rebel army within
range Of our gunboats, that are conducting
Franklin's transports to their rear.
There are four gunboats in this service.
Mcclellan has transports sufficient to for.
ward twenty thousand additional soldiers
from Yorktown to that point Immediately.
1t will not be surprising if be captures the
bulk of the rebel army and takes Richmond
in week.
FOREIGN POWERS WILL NOT REcoa.
ME THE REBELS.
WASHINGTON, May 81 Times dispatch.
The French Minister went to Richmond
to assure the rebels that the Emperor of
the French does not recognize them as
Power among the nations that England
and France, by recognizing them as bellig-
erents, did all that could be expected on the
part of neutral governments that the
blockade of their ports is effectual that
they are fairly beaten in arms, and their
independence as nation is impossible; that
continuance Of hostilities by the threaten
ed destruction Of the cotton and tobacco
crops of their citizens would only be wan.
ton injury to the commerce of the world,
injuring France and England even worse