The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-05
MEETING OF THE REBEL CONGRESS
F. DAvIss MESSAGE.
RETALIATION PROPOSED.
A New Consumption Law
Recommended.
Important BtsSs introduced.


Important BUS introduced.
WARRINGTON, August 23, 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 bypocritical style, and then
alludes to the federal government as rob.
bers, assassins," &C., ad smfnitum. 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
aIludes to the building of rebel vessels at
home and abroad. The message betrays
great signs OF weakness in the rebel govern
ment, 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. l.' 81
After abiding to the suferings of the
people and the gallantry of the troops, be
said:
"The vast army which threatened the
capital OF the contederacy has been defeated
and driven from the lines OF investment, and
the enemy, repeatedly foiIed 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 rapine, wantOn destruction of pri.
vate property, murder of captives, &c., and
speaks of the confscation bill os atrocl0us.
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 10
exciting servile Instruction, 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 says: To inquiries made
Of the commander-in-chiefo 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
enormities but such retaliative justice as it
my be found possible to execute. Retal-
alton in kind Tor many of them is impracti-
cable, and have had occasion to remark,
in former message, that under 10 excess
OF provocation could our noble hearted de-
tenders be driven to wreak vengeance OF
unarmed men, or on women and children.
But stern and exemplary punishment can
and must be melted out to the murderers
and felOns who, disgracing the profession oil
arms, seek to make of public war the oc,
casion for the commission of the most mon
strous crimes. Deeply as we regret the
character of the contest into which we are
about to be forced, We must accept it as an
alternative which recent manifestations give
US little hope can be avoided. The exaspe
ration OF failure has aroused the worst pas.
sioDs of our enemies, and large portion OF
their people, even of their clergymen, are
now engaged in urging an excited populace
to the extreme of ferocity, nd nothing re-
mains but to vindicate our rights and to
maintain our existence by employing against
our foe, every energy and every resource at
out disposal.
Davis recommends further legislation 0
make CONSUMPTION universal; also, the is'
suiLg of additional treasury notes; also,
some legislation for contracting military
transportation. He says the very large in
crease of forces recently called into the field
by the President Of the United States rem
ders it necessary hereafter to extend the
provisions of the conscript law so as to en-
brace persons between the ages OF thirty.
five and forty-6ve years. The vigor and
efficiency OF our present forces and their
condition, and skill and ability which dis
tipguish their leaders, inspire the belief that
no further enrolment will be necessary: bat
a 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 unimportant.
In the rebel House of Representatives,
Foote of Tennessee, offered bill for retail
iatory purposes 1t recites that the enemy
refuse to treat our partisan soldiers as pris
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 10
arms. 1t provides that federal armies Inc
congruously composed of white and 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. s' o'Ei tCsE
He also offered bill to retaliate 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. a1 o. tse
All the bills were referred to the military
committee sl III -i'.3a @Rs fsi5 .
Mr.. Foote offered bill to provide for
raising an additional force of 100000. On
bis own motion it was laid on the table.
Another was introduced providing for an
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