The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-01
A SCENE in THE REBEL CON.
r- t GRESS. fa-
Foote'S Denunciation Of yeG. Davis.


Proceedings of the Rebel Congress on Wednesday,
Dec. 9-Richmond Enquirer's report.
Mr. Foote offered resolution instructing the APP
propriate committee to provide Tor the increase of
pay of soldiers
the matter not only of grave import, but it was
patriotic duty
He further urged the question at some length as
summing that no action in regard to the currency
would fully restore it to nominal value, and that,
therefore, injustice was done the sold er in refusing
him an eQuable conversation
He commended that the PRECEDENT was opposed to
the increase of soldiers pay from the fact that he
stated In his message that the suggested action upon
the currency would Obvate its necessity, by apprOci-
mating the nominal value of the money. He wanted
the whole value secured.
Mr. CARTEL, of Ga, indicated the President from
the imputatiOn, and argued at some length to show
that the increase of the pay of the soldier was one
of the Presidents most eager wishes.
The resolution was lost.
MIR. Foote then offered an amendment instructng
the appropriate committee MILITARY to inquire into
the causes OF the late disaster near Chattanooga and
ascertain and report whether 1t owing to want
of valOr in the troops stated in the Presidents
Message, or to other causes
Mr.. FOote said he would now defy the most devot-
ed champions of the President to take issue with him
here. Whoever charged that army with want of
valor, he negatived; who's ever undertook t. throw
the responsibility of that disaster upon that army or
upon any portion OF it. he would take issue with
him. A more valiant body of soldiers, the world
never saw. He would undertake to say that the
President himself was responsible for that defeat
and he was prepared to prove it; and furthermore
ne wouia Snow t1as ne NAG endeavored to skulk the
resPVnblDiiy ana throw IL upon the Drave men who
hau Dareu ihelr breasts 10 tne Date NO man should
denounce those true men as wanting in valOr, with
lmpunity IL was an accusation dishonorable to tn
author and discredltaDle TO ALL which would tend to
| the decentralization of OR troops and may be pro-
ductive of still disasters After that unfortu-
nate campaign III kentucky IL was urged upon the
| President to remove from the command OF the army
General Bragg who had proven himself already in
competent !Of MS pOstlon IL was known now he
permitted the INFERIOR ana partly cemorallzed army
OF the enemy TO pass MIN ana secure communica ion
| WIN LOUISVILLE, from Wncn tney received heavy re-
Inducements and supplies; and further on, for he
mad the proofs he mad proposed to divide his army
INTO alilerent detachments ana would nave carried
| out MS plans but that he was outnumbered by the
opposite opinions OF his council, who told him that
| the plan was un-NapOleonic and that he would be
overwhelmed if he attempted it. The President was
called upon then to remove him as incompetent and
even dangerous When he came out of Kentucky,
from what proved to have been only jeans expedi-
ton and perfect failure as military affair, he tMr
Footel took part with his colleagues and again urged
his removal. They waited upon the President; ii
would be out of order tt say what occurred But the
| result is known-EragG was not removed. That
man Bragg has been most Odious to both the army
and people for more than year. and the President
must have known it. But he visited the army and
said there was no cause for the complaints
also visited the army continued Mr.. Foote and
| / mingled with the men, and addressed nearly every
brigade in it-not however upon Bragg, because
would not for the world have sown any discomfort
But found the whole army distrustful of him. One
thing is certain he has driven AWAY every one OF
his best Generals He has driven aWav the skillfu
| and gallant Polk; he has forced the nobe-hearted
Buckner to leave him he has illuminated Breckin.
| ridge and victmized MCGOWAN EVERYBODY knows
| he is on bad terms with Hardee He is SO consti-
tuted that he cannot agree with any of his COM
manders. What is more, one Of my colleagues has
| received a letter from Bragg himself in which he
said-Only five weeks agO-thaI he could net com.
mand that army effectively unless he was clear of
| unless there were cashiered-twelve Rrigader Gen
erals and whole regiment of field officers Presi-
dent Davis was appealed to by nearly every officer
there for his removal But he stood up for Bragg
he had committed himself to the country; he had
| fitness for the command and 3etermined to
risk the safety of the country upon it. For the
| reason and under the same circumstances, Pember-
ton WIS retained. That vas the sole reason of the
| 1all OF N1cksburg 70 show the pertinacty of the
President, the Military Court diiec'ed to look 10 the
| conduct Of PembertOn, was di-nissed in two days
| after it met by order Of the President When this
| man had surrendered ishOnOrahly surrendered
MS command to the enemy the President made him
| his companion, carried him with him to Braggs
army and, if the truth is told, many soldier: as
they rode along the line, said there goes the traitor
| VINO delvered us over at Nicks6urg" Even then
the PRESIDENT had the temerty and unblushing dis
regard OF public sentiment, in his own State and
elsewhere to offer to that same PembertOn the COM
| mand OF Folks corps: and if he had undertaken
ne liz VI Or even pslo[e oa.te by inc nands
The President con FIRED With Rraoc nd tIat or