The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-11
INTERESTING FROM LOUISIANA.
REBEL VIEWS OF THE SITUATION.
A Rebel Legislature Astray.
A Savage Governors Message.

New ORLEANS, February 20.
l had the fortune the other day to meet
at the house of friend gentleman who
had just come in over the very pathway
which Sherman took to Jackson. He had
been all over the parts of Alabama and
Georgia which are contiguous to or are
themselves the seat of war, and his rela-
ton of what he saw and heard was very
interesting. He was not an intelligent
contraband," nor "Union refugee" nor
a rebel who had just heard of the tam
nesty;" but he was simply merchant,
inclined, indeed, strongly in favor of the
Confederate cause, but quite liberal in his
estimates of the personal character and
conduct Of Federal officers. | lam inclined
to give his statements much credit.
In the matter of supplies he expressed
great confidence in the Confederacy being
secure against any possible want for years
to come. In Georgia and Alabama there
was the greatest abundance of corn at one
dollar and fifty cents per bushel in Con-
tederate money. There was enough now
on land for two years to come. The
government receives One-tenth of all the
crops, and this fully supplies it. Govern
ment could get corn at one dollar bushel,
but did not buy. Gould they be starved
out as long as they could get corn bread A?
1t was true that, near the armory, meal
was three dollars and fifty cents per bushel;
but that was owing to want of transporta.
ton. People in the cities and towns
sometimes complained of high prices. If
they were prottably employed there, and
would 60 into the country, they could
make it and buy it at low enough rates.
Meat was much more scarce than corn
in fact it was not plentiful, but would be-
come so after while Bacon was fifty
cents pound, and the army got the most
of it at that price. Other homemade
articles of general use were not DEAR
Things formerly in general use coming
from abroad were too dear for ordinary
consumption, and people were learning
to do without them. Indeed, blockade
runners and importers in general were be-
ginning to be looked upon with aversion
as tempting people to spend money for
things which could be dispensed with
Was there not, in addition to the de-
sertions of which he spoke, disposition
quite prevalent to abandon the cause of
secession and return to the Unien?" On
the contrary, he thought the conviction
was growing stronger every day that re-
union was impossible. Quiet and mod
crate people thought that the North would
see this after while and agree to terms
of separation; and the more enthusiastic
thought they could conquer peace. All
agreed in one thing, and that was that a
peace without separation would only serve
as an arlnistice, patching up differences
for the present to break out with renewed
virulence after brief season OF repose.
My informant seemed to have consid-
cradle information as to the strength,
prospects and intentions of the Oonfed-
crate generals. Whether he had better
means of knowing them than are furnished
by an observant mind / do not know.
They have the most unbounded confidence
! in Lees army. It is everything that is