The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-24

Information has been received from
New Orleans that Mr.. james F. Otis, one
of the editors of the New Orleans Picaywae
had been placed under arrest for utteripg
seditious language. Mr.. Otis 10 native of
Newburyport, Massachusetts, and was con-
nected with the press of Philadelphia many
years before going South. The PScayune,
it will be remembered, resisted the secession
heresy even after the secession ordinance
had passed, and only gave in its adhesion
when it could no longer successfully resist
the pressure OF external circumstances. The
arrest Of Mr.. Otis now would seem to show
that there is little of the old leaven still
left in the establishment.
Miss Sarah F. Wilson, seventeen years
OF age, employed in the Manchester Mills,
committed suicide by drowning herself on
the 9th inst. The death of young soldier
belonging to the New Hampshire Fourth
regiment was the cause.
The Chicago Tribune thus speaks of
the new Secretary of War:
Whatever are the motives of the removal of
Cameron, it is certain that Stanton, his success.
s0r, is sound on the slavery question. He is
an intimate personal friend of Chase and Sum.
ner, ID known to be in favor of vigorous
prosecution OF the war, and of striking the
rebels in their tenderest spot. His position is
entirely satisfactory to Cameron. Stanton's
personal integrity, ability and vigor of cha r.
acter are unquestioned. He is accounted one
OF the best lawyers in the country. His nature
is that OF bull dog and he is man of war
throughout.
General Halleck has written letter
reproving an officer for delivering up nee
gro claimed as fugitive slave. He states
that such was not the intent of" Order No.
B." 1t was not designed to aid either me-
gro catchers or stealers, but by excluding
the persons, to exclude the question. 1t was
not designed that the relation between
slave and master should be determined by
any military officer, but merely to keep out
negroes avowing themselves fugitives, nor
does the order prohibit acts of humanity to
such persons, such as furnishing them with
food and articles of clothing.
General Halleck issued an order on the
18th instant, abolishing the passport system
at st. Louis. 1t has served its purpose
and can now be spared, greatly to the re-
lief of the citizens of St. Louis and all visit.
ing that city.
Judge Peckham of the Supreme Court
has decided that Mr.. Lewis is the State
Treasurer of New York, and has issued a
peremptory order to Mr. Dorsheimer to de-
liver up the books and papers of the Office
forthwith.
Quite brilliant circle of nobility came
as officers of the first battalion of the Rife
Brigade, which arrived at Halifax in the
Australasian, last week. The battalion is
under the command of Lord Alexander Rus
sell, brother of Earl Russell, and among the
aficers of the corps are Major the Hon. J.
Stuart, whose brother is already with Lord
Lyons at Washington, as one of his At
taches Captain Lord A. Clinton, brother
Of the Duke of Newcastle; Lieut.. Lord
Edward Cavendish, son of the Duke of Dew
onshire; Lieut.. the Hon. F. Somerville,
Lieut.. the Hon. A. Pennington and Ensign
Lord Albert Cecil. a-I...
In the dispatch announcing the arrival
of the Vanderbilt at New York with cotton
from Port Royal, some of the papers had
the cargo rated variously at $500 bales,
5000 pounds, and $4,000 pounds. The
New York Commercial says
The cotton will be ginned and baled at the
Atlantic docks. 1t is thought that there W ill
be about $500 bales in all, of an average
weight of four hundred and fifty pounds.
"A letter from Washington says the
President bears up remarkably we'll under
the weight of responsibility bearing upon
him. He is not cheerful as he used to be,
is little more grave in his demeanor, and
is somewhat worn, but he shows no signs
of physical or mental decay.
1t is estimated that there are some
fourteen millions of persons of African de-
scent On this continent. In the United
States they number 100000; Brazil,
4,l50,O0O; Cuba, 100000; South and
Central American Republic, 100000;
Hayti, 100000; British Possession, $780,.
600; French, 100000; Dutch, Danish ard
Mexican, 100000.
"A livery stable keeper, named Spur,
would never let horse go without request.
ing the lesees not to drive fast. One day
young man called to get a horse to attend
funeral. Certainly" said Spur, "but,"
he added. forgetting the solemn purpose for
which the young man wanted the horse,
g 1on't drive fast" "Whv iust lool,