The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-25
Thirty-seventh Congress.
FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, April Is. 1862

nesota, praying Congress to call on all the
citizens Of the United States, bond and free,
to aid in the suppression of the rebellion,
and assuring them of the protection of the
flag thereof.
Mr.. McDougal Of Cal. called up the res.
0lution calling on the Secretary OF War for
information as to the causes of the delay in
the trial of Gen. Stone, and if the latter had
not applied for speedy trial, &c.
Mr.. Fessenden suggested that the reSolu-
ton should call on the President instead of
the Secretary of War.
Mr.. McDougal said he especially pre-
ferred it as it stood. He alluded to the fact
that it was now fifty days since Gen. Stone
had been arrested and closely confined in a
| dark fort without being able to learn why
he was arrested, nor by whom, nor had be
learned whether his arrest was ordered by
the President and Secretary of War or the
Commanding General. The manner of his
arrest and confinement seemed to be more
the result of Venitian Council of Ten
than that of officials in free republic. He
| briefly reviewed the circumstances prior to
| Stones arrest.
Mr.. Wade defended the committee on the
Conduct of the War, and believed Stones
arrest justifabe.
Mr.. Wilson offered substitute for the
resolution calling on the President for all
information not Incompatible with the pub
lie interest relative to the arrest OF General
| Stone.
HoUsE.-Mr. Trowbridge of Michigan,
called up the motion heretofore made by
him to reconsider the vote by which, on the
Oath of March, the House adopted resolu
tions requesting the Secretary of War to
inform them OF the cause, if any, for the
protracted delay in exchanging Colonel
C0rcoran, who has been prisoner at the
South since July, and directing him to stop
all exchanges until Colonel Corcoran shall
be released. Mr.. Trowbridge wished dis i.
tinctly to say that it was no part of his de.
sire to place an impeachment in the way OF
the release Of Colonel Corcoran, but he
protested and asked the House to join him
in preventing the release of the other pri.
soners to be made subordinate to Colonel
COrcoran He had no doubt that every
gentleman had some friend whom he desired
should be released, though of lower rank
than Colonel Corcoran. He mentioned the
name of Colonel Wilcox in this connection
as man ofsignal bravery and gallantry.
Mr.. Mallory said he met Colonel Wood
ruff the other day and heard him tell the
President and Secretary of State, that
though our prisoners at Richmond are ex.
ceedingly anxious to be released, they are
willing, if the Government should require
it, to remain there as prisoners and serve
their country in that way as any other.
Mr.. Ancona, who offered the resolution,
said he was not aware till now that Colonel
Corcoran was still prisoner, and his only
desire was to call attention to the fact that
worthy and gallant soldiers are still prison.
ers, and to ascertain the cause of this delay
in making exchanges.
After further conversation the resolution
was amended so as to request the Secretary
of War to inform the House of the cause,
if any, which has prevented the exchange
of Colonies Corcoran and Wilcox and the
other prisoners of war held since July last.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, April 16.
SENATE-McDougall, of California, an.
imadverted on the course of the Committee
on the conduct of the War.
The confiscation bill came up.
Mr.. Powell, OF Kentucky, opposed it at
length.
After Powell concluded, the bill was
postponed till Friday.
The message of the President was re.
ceived giving his reasons for approving the
bill abolishing Slavery in the District of
Columbia.
The death of Representative Cooper was
announced, the customary resolutions were
adopted, and the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE-Ihe bill organizing the signal
corps in the army for the present war, was
passed.
The following resolution was adopted
from the judiciary Committee
| Resolved, That the Government should not
| interfere with the free transmission of ntelli
gence by telegraph when the same will not
| aid the enemy or give information concerning
| the military or naval operations on the part of
| this government, except it may become nec-
essary, under authority of Congress, to assume
the exclusive use of the telegraph for its own
| legitimate purposes, or to assert the right of
| priority III the transmission of its own dis
| patches.
Fourteen bills, with joint resolution
| relative to forfeiting the property of rebels
and penalty ofense for the army and navy
to return fugitive slaves, and including kna
dred subjects, reported on the Goth Of March,
with the recommendation from the Judicial
ry Committee that they ought not to pass,
came up today; the question be>
ing on laying them severally on the
table. But the proceedings were suspended
by report from Mr.. Morrill,, of the Com.
mittee of Ways and Means, of bill ap-
propriating $50, 100000 to pay volunteers;
also 100000 for pay of bounty and pen.
sions of soldiers of the Western Depart.
ment. The bill passed.
A message was received from the Presi-
dent saying that he had signed the bill
aboIlshing Slavery in the District of Co
lumbia.
1.-THE message will be found in another
column
The death of Mr.. Cooper, of Pennsyl-
vania, was announced, and eulogies were
pronounced and the customary resolutions
| adopted.
CAIRO, April l8th.-Steamers Mime.