The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-08

|
,la THURSDAY, June %.
| GRANT has had no general engagement with
the rebels since last dates, but considerable
cannonading, severe assaults and skirmishing
have taken place. 1t is said GRANTS main OBJ
ject now Is to obtain complete possession OF
! the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, while
the rebels are making mysterious move
| ments, doubtless with view of defeating
| this object. The HerSd reports that Mr..
DANA, Assistant Secretary of War, says
General LEE is not more than two-thirds as
strong as GRANT, and that the latter has his
hand on LEES throat and will not let go until
he is strangled to death. We guess it is the
Herald reporter, and not Mr. DANA, who says
this.
"A Lyrchburg paper says that HUNTER is
at Selma and that he has cut the Danville rail-
road.
Gen. SHERrDAN's fight with the rebels on
the Peninsula was a severe affair. in which he
lost 800 men, among whom are four colonies.
He effected his retreat, however, across the
James River, without losing his train.
Gold closed yesterday at 81 4s@2.51, the
highest figures yet attained. The effect on
the produce market was not marked by cor
responding advance The quotations of some
articles are lower. We learn that there was
considerable advance yesterda in imported
goods, particularly in sugars and teas, which
must be paid for in gold. Cotton goods also
advanced but this Is owing more to the scar
city and high price of the raw material than to
the paper depreciation.
These is statement that Secretary CHASE
has made arrangements for home loan of
800, DOC. 900, and is in negotiation with for
eign bankers for considerable amount. But
on the heels of this it is positively asserted
that Mr.. CHASE has resigned and Gov. ToD, of
Ohio, has been appointed his successor. The
reason assigned for Mr.. CHAsE's resignation is
the refusal of Congress to grant him power to
collect revenue sufficient to carry on the gov
eminent. We put but little faith in the re-
ported resignation of M. CHASE and expect to
have contradiction tomorrow.
1t is stated that GRANTS losses previous to
crossing James river were 1900 and $500
since-(the telegraph says rs, 900, but this must
be an error.) The rebel losses on the Chicka-
hominy and since the crossing of James river,
are put down at IA, 12O. 1t is also said that We
have II, 600 prisoners new in our hands from
the operations of this campaign.
SATURDAY, July 2.
Gold was up to 270 yesterday, but declined
to 21O-the closing rate. Wheat fell in Mil
waukee full 20 cents. closing at 81 per bushel,
and it is reasonable superstition that other
articles were similarly affected In the absence
of other intelligence, it is difficult to assign a
cause for the great decline in gold, unless it is
the appointment of Senator FEssENDEN as sue
cessor to CHASE, and perhaps of his accep-
lance, of which we are not yet informed, al
though he was unanimously confirmed by the
Senate. 1t is we'll known that Wall street,
and we may say, the first fnanciers of the
country, have had little confidence in Mr..
CHASE, and were unwilling to sanction his
financial measures, or cooperate with him to
any great extent.
The public reasons given for Mr.. CHAsE's
resignation are undoubtedly correct as far as
they 60. The appointment of FRANK BLAIR
to Major Generalship, after his bitter attacks
on Mr. CHASE, was q severe cut on the amour
propre of the great Secretary, that could not
readily be forgiven, while the refusal of Con-
gress levy revenue, afforded an excellent
pretense for the resignation. There are other
| reasons for Mr.. CHAsE's retirement which
could not be publicly stated. Mr.. CHASE is a
man of high moral character and pnre mind,
and it is well known that OLD ABE's smutty
jokes and ribaldry disguised him beyon meas
| ure. We heard it stated long ago by friend
! of Mr.. CHASE that he had resolved
to hold no other than official COM
munication with the second WASHING
| TOM" as FAwNEY terms him, for fear that his
morals would become corrupted. CHASE
never was "emutty" joker, and couldn't ap-
preciate the humor of our second WASHING
| roN"-which was all the worse for him as well
| as-WAsHINGroN.
Now that q break has been made in "the
happy family, =" as Mrs. LINCOLN terms the Cab
net, why couldn't ABRAHAMus the First graf
| ify the country by setting adrift old Father
WELIEs and Secretary STANTON, and filing
their places with good men.
SUNDAY, July 8.
Gold opened at 223 and closed at 226. The
telegraph pu;s it at 1876, which is the premium,
and is the best way of putting it. 1t sounds
better, at any rate.
Senator FhssENDRN has not yet accepted his
appointment, although urged to do SO by tele-
grams from Northern cities and by his friends
in Washington. A late dispatch says it is con-
sidered certain that he will accept.
Secretary CHAsE's exhibit of our financial
condition to the Committee of Ways and Means
is the clearest of anything on the subject that
has been laid before the public, and will COM
mand general attention. 1t shows just what
Is needed to save the government from bank
ruptcy, but we fear the cowardly demagogues
in Congress will not face the music.
The new militia bill abolishes the commu-
tation principle; allows recruiting in Southern
States; and provides for fifty days. notice be
fore drafting.
The military news does not amount to
much. There are some particulars of a caval-
nv raid on the Danville road, which appear to
have been very successful. There are ndica-
lions that Gen. FOSTER, who is on the North
side of James River, may be attacked.