The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-10
News from Washington.

THE PRESIDENTS POLICY SUSTAINED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-Herald's Despatch.
1t is not probable that there will be fa-
vorabe report from the Committee on Mr..
Gurley's con6scation and emancipation bill.
The views of the Committee are generally
adverse to it, and instead of it bill pre-.
pared by the Committee and predicated
upon the suggestions of the Presidents
message in regard to this subject, will be
soon reported.
This Committee is also in favor of re-
moving the restriction limiting the President
to call for only $4,000 volunteers, and
propose to authorize him to bring into the
service whatever number of troops the War
Department and Commanding General
shall require.
THE RIGHTS OF NKUTRALS AND PRIVATE
PROPERTY ON THE OCEAN.
7Ti5une's dispatch. 1T is doubtful
whether all our correspondence between this
and European governments touching the
rights of neutrals and belligerents on the
ocean, called for by Senator Summers reso-
luton, will be communicated to the Senate.
Enough will be made public, however, to
show that Russia, Spain, and the smaller
maritime powers are almost ready to ac-
cede to H. MercierIs doctrine, by which
private property is guaranteed the same
immunity on the ocean as on land; that
France is not far behind them, and that
Great Britain alone, despite her recent
championship of neutral rights, stands by
her old precedents. The publication will,
without doubt, contribute to the success of
movement in the right direction already
on foot in England. The earliest letters
date back to 1856, soon after the Congress
of Paris adjourned. Some of the ablest
in the collection are from Mr.. Mason, the
predecessor of Mr.. Faulkner.
Mr.. Pickens' dispatches from st. Peters
burgh are full of interesting conversations
on the subject of international rights, be.
tween himself and Gortschakof, which are
perhaps too free and easy to be made public.
The whole subject will probably be dis
cussed when the resolution is answered.
NEW TAX AND TARIFF BILL.
The sub. Committee of Ways and Means
are engaged in preparing general tax bill,
which will berthe basis of national cur.
rency. The committees idea is to raise
money enough to sustain the credit of the
Government, though the tax may for the
time being be morsthan heavy.
The committee is also maturing tariff
bill, the provisions of which will largely
increase the duties on many articles of gen.
eral consumption.
HEALTH OF THE GRARD ARMY.
Official information received at the Med.
ical Department of the army of the Poto-
mac states that the mortality is less in pro.
portion to the number than in any Ameri-
can city. The Department has the official
list of $4,000 soldiers, and the health of
this large body of men, Notwithstanding
their exposure, is better than among an
equal number of men any where in the
United States.
THE REBEL ARMY ADVANCING.
Times Dispatch. Rebel scouts came
yesterday some eighty rods this side Of
Fairfax Court House on Little river turn.
pike and on the Falls, Church road. They
came within, mile of our pickets ard
watched them closely. Squads Of their
cavalry occupy the bills surrounding Fair.
fax. A large force is two miles beyond and
eight regiments are at Flint Hill.
NEW YEAR IN WASHINGTON.
A quorum was not present in either
House today. ,.l,.gar.,.a !. ..,.ss4a,s
New Years was marked BY especial COR
diality on the, part Of diplomatic corps. All
foreign legations were present at the White
House ct the official reception, and called
subsequently on the Secretary Of State.