The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-03

| BRAsHEAR CITY, LA, March z, 1868.
THE REBELS AND vALLAND1GHAM.
Almost every day l get hold of rebel
newspapers filled with praise of Vallandig-
him. The following, which I clipped from
the Planters Banner of the 18th ult.,
published at the Rebel General Monitor s
headquarters, at Franklin, La, is a fair
specimen
"Vallandighams great speech will be
issued from the Banner Office in few
days, in the form of an extra, at fifty cents
each. Those at distance can obtain it
by forwarding the price by mail. 1t is a
tremendous thunderbolt thrown into Lin
coins camp. 1t was delivered in the low
er House of the United States Congress,
last month, and is by far the greatest
speech of the war. 1t has put the whole
Northwest in blaze, and has electrified
the South. 1t is lengthy, there being
enough of it to fill the Banner full, and
two columns besides. Copies Of it can be
obtained at this Office any time after next
Wednesday,"
DESERTIONS
1t cannot be denied, we have lost SOL
diers by desertion. Not any considerable
number, to be sure, but enough to make
| the loss felt in some regiments. In our
brigade we have lost fifteen, quite recent
ly. 1t is mystery where they have gone
They could not get transportation North,
and none but an idiot, however great q
traitor he might be at heart, would go
| 10 h., = III -,
known rank starvation is staring their
whole army, in tits part of the country,
in the face lin large army like ours,
there will, of course, be some assertions,
but here We ought to have fewer than any
where else, for soldiers were never better
fed, clothed, or cared for, than in this de-
partment
TROUBLE WITH NEGROES.
In this immediate vicinity we are having
considerable trouble with the negroes,
owing to Gen. Banks order putting them
to work on the plantations. 1t is true the
negroes are rot compelled to work OH the
plantations, and under the order they can
choose between field labor and Govern
ment service; still, when we remember
Government has nothing for them to do,
and that there are about $4,000 Of them
lying idle, who never have done any thing
but work on plantations, it will readily be
seen in which direction they are expected!
to go. AS the negroes have an idea that
they are free, and that freedom means edo
as YOU please it is pretty hard to con-
vince them they are expected to do all
that is required of slaves.
UNEXPECTEDLY HUNG.
The following queer case was brought
to my notice by seeing the principal party
concerned hanging st the end of rope.
Several weeks since a negro in LafOurche
district was convicted, by a military COM
mission, of an offence against little white
girl. The negro was sentenced and sent
to Jail, to await the approval by the Presi-
dent OF the warrant for his execution.
BY some mistake he was released with
several negroes who had been committed
for slight offences, and, thinking all was
right. hired as Il cook for soldiers mess.
The Presidents approval arrived, but the
negro was gone. Last week he applied
to the Provost Marshal for pass to go to
one Of the plantations He was recog-
nized and arrested, and on Friday expi-
ated his crime on u gallows at Thibo-
deauX.
TIE REBEI. CONSUMPTION ACT.
There is rebellion within rebellion in
the southwestern districts Of this State.
The rebel Conscrption Act is meeting
with violent opposition from every quarter
where jeff. Davis has attempted to en-.
force it. None are exempt between the
| onI tsffx hn
thOrities who are to enforce the law. The
result of this wholesale driving of the
people into the ranks Of the rebel army
if it can be carri.l out, will be g. com
plete depopulation of this part of the
country. n refugee who lately came into
camp, reports that there are five hundred
Union men who have never before taken {
decided stand in open defiance of the
rebel Government, now between Culcis
hue Swamp and Alexander, who are res
cuing conscripts from jeff. Davis author
tiles. The Union men are armed an(
able, it is said, to fully sustain themselves
COTTON RAISING.
The planters in this vicinity who have
concluded to work their land under thu
present order of General Banks have de
, termined most of them, to plant nothing
but cotton this year. Cotton they say il
more sure crop than cane and require
much less labor to cultivate it. They ais
believe when the season for picking come
, plenty of negroes can be found to do tina
work who could not be depended upon il
the cane-feld. Cotton is very much les
liable to injury from neglect than cane, 70
cane, as soon as it is ripe enough to cut
, must be gathered Immediately, and the la
Dor is incessant until the sugar is packe
in the hogsheads. Cotton can stand som
| time without damage, and can be pickle
, by women and children if no other kind 9
= labor can be had. For the above reason
: we need not be surprised to find Louisian
| a cotton growing State, and not suga
5 plantation on her soil, in less than flv
I years.
Among the prevalent Partisan scan
dals is story that NJ. Jecker, for the pay