The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-29
FROM THE SOUTH.
Morgan's Visit 10 Libby Prison

Morgan', Visit 10 Libby Prison.
While Morgan was in Richmond he
made a visit to Libby Prison, which is thus
described:
Gen. Morgan, on arriving up stairs,
where the prisoners ''mosJ do congregate, -
Has Immediately conducted into the pres
ence of the Author of the Maine Liquor
Law the whilom Brig. Gen. Neal Dow.
An introduction took place, when Morgan
observed, with one OF those inimitable
smiles for which he is so noted, "Gen.
Dow, l am very happy TO see you here;
or, rather, l should say, since you are
here am happy to see you looking 50
well. Dow's natural astuteness and Yam
kee ingenuity came to his aid, and he
quickly replied, without apparent embar-
rassment, Gen Morgan, congratulate
you on your escape: cannot say that
am glad that you did escape, but since you
did, am pleased to see you here" The
conversation then became general between
the two, during the progress OF which Dow
admitted that his views OF the South, its
people and their T. .>at!nent of prisoners Of
Ndi udU SlSR = lIiutCl CllduSO iOI
the better in the at few months.
Gen Morgan also had an interview with
the notorious Col. Straight, who had sew
eral days prevlots 10 his visit been re-
leased from close confinement for attempt
ing to escape from prison, AID restored to
his old place among the other officers. Il
has been coniectured by persons wise in
reading the motives of men by their ac-
tions, that this man hoped, On his entrance
into the prison, by taking the most ultra
position on questions dividing tie North
and South, to become the leader and host
of his feliow-captives. II such was his
de:ire, he has most signally failed, as it is
known that he is by no means popular
among them; ION the contrary, quite the
reverse" Straight is a tall, raw-boned,
broad-chested, sandy haired, ,big-whiskered,
uncouth looking man, with arms swinging
like the wings of a windmill in the dold-
runs. He has acquired considerable guam
tity of di,jointed information on a variety Of
topics, while pasturing in the literary
fields of Yankee land. Knowing little
of everything, and not much Of anything,
has made him free thinker and ready ad-
herent Of all the isms ,'eculiar to his Sec
tons. He does not, it is said, believe in
a God or Devil. which is not at all won-
derful, considering the locality from which
he halls. Gen. Morgan said to Straight, in
his interview with that individual, that it
was his desire to ameliOrate the condition
of al the prisoners in our hands, and he
would do so as far as lay in his power,
despite the fact that some of his own men
had been tied up by their thumbs and
subjected to other cruelties abhorent to
human nature for endeavoring to escape.
The interview between the two seemed to
be mutually satisfactory.
" CONsCRlPT ALL MEN-TAX ALL PROPERTY
SUSPEND THE HABEAs CORPUS"
From the Charleston Mercury
1t is bad sign when, in place of the
steady self-possession and calm exercise
of wisdom displayed by the Roman Sen
ate at the battle of Canine, the recklessness
of alarm and the desperation of demagogue-
ism show their presence in the Congress
OF the Confederate States. Propositions
to trample upon the constitution under
which the Legislative and Executive
branches of the confederate government
hold their seats in Richmond-to violate
the oaths of Office, and under the plea of
necessity, without authority of law. and
against State rights, to place all persons
and all property and all liberty un-
nder the central dictatorship, may be
thought by some to be fraught with
safety and peace. But it becomes the pa
triotic, intelligent and unterri6ed repre- :
sentatives Of States and people to compre-
bend the true causes of our danger, and
tc apply such remedies as the great legis.
lative powers of the country afford. Not
want of power, but failure to employ
the best agents, and to use efficiently the
powers conferred, has brought us into our
present condition of peril.
The mismanagement Of our financial af-
fairs and military resources, with the in
efficient execution of important laws, indi-
cate the source of our weakness and the
direction where the legislative attention is
most needed. Instead of going into wild,
revolutionary talk, like some that has been
uttered, and proposals to accumulate all
power in the same hands. Congress may
bend its efforts to infusing competency
and vigor into the bureaux and depart
ments of the administration, without up
setting our government or overriding laws
under the constitution. Congress has
power enough if it will but use wisdom.
The executive has power enough, if used
with energy and wisdom. Anything else
is madness
DANGER TO THE CONFEDERACY.
r ON the Richmond Examiner.
"The time has come to do this -" the
time has come to do that" Such is the
phrase with which every brandy-brained
demagogue now bullies his brother dema-
gogues into acquiescence in the follies that
may give him temporary consequence. It