The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-14
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Trial OF JEFF. Davis-Assertedl In.
nOcence OF Mrs. Surratt-Condition
OF the Freedmen-Society at the
South.

New YORK, July 1.-THE Worlds Washing
ton special says 1t Is now regarded as quite Ger.
tain that special military commission will be
instituted In o short time for the trial of JEFF
ferson Davis, on charge Of completely in the
assassination of President Lincoln. The dis
covery of additional evidence involving Davis
is said to be the cause of the transfer of his
case from o civil to military tribunal
In this connection 1t may be added that Pro-
fessor cCullough. the rebel inventor of pro-
cess for overcoming certain difficulties sup
posed to refer to rebel plots to burn cities,
alluded to in the evidence of the late conspira-
cy, was brought here today and placed in
prison.
The confessor of Mrs. Surratt, Rev. Mr.. WAL
tiers says, not revealing the confessional, that
as God lives, Mrs. Surratt was innocent of
the murder of President Lincoln or of any con-
spiracy.
port has been received at the Bureau of Refu.
gees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, on the
subject of outrages committed upon negroes
The report states that prior to the dissemina-
ton Of our troops through the interior of the
South, many slaves were hunted, shot down.
and left in the woods, while eudeavoring to
reach our linee. This accounts for their bodies
being found there. But since the cessation of
hostilities this business has stopped. There
are. however, still instances of cruelty, but the
the authority of the United States.
w. P. Dole, Commissioner Of Indian Affairs,
has resigned, and Judge D. Cooley, of Iowa,
has been appointed to the position.
The Ismes' special says: The muster out of
Gen. Wrights Provisional Corps extinguishes
the Army of the Potomac as an organization.
The Ir6une's special says that the freedmens
bureau have refused to restore to former rebels
connscated and abandoned lands set apart by
the Government tor the use of freedmen and
refugees. and has finally concluded to leave the
whole subject to the decision of courts Cases
of inhumanity are constantly reported to Gen.
Howard occurring In the interior of the South
ern States. Planters have been known to ad.
minister from 100 to 800 lashes to their former
slaves of both sexes.
The Heralds correspondent from South Vir.
gnia says society and industrial affairs ia that
region as still in very crude condition conse-
quent to considerable extent on the planters
and freedmen not yet fully understanding their
altered relations, or at least not recognizing
them. Some annoyance is thereby caused to
the military authorities in efforts to adjust the
to punish several of the negroes. Numbers
of the latter do not realize that freedom does
not mean idleness and are disposed to desert
plantations. With regard to the loyalty to the
national government of white Virginians gen.
orally, our correspondent expresses the
opinion that It is not Of the genuine type. The
people admit that they have been overpowered
and forced to yield, but don't express regret
for their rebelliOus course. They still cling to
their old ideas of chivalry, regarding labor as
dishonorable and cannot yet understand that q
new order of things is established, under which
he who would prosper must work.
Troops are being mustered out In the Viz
ginia department in large numbers.
Several vessels lately attached to the East
Gulf Squadron, we're sold at Key West on the
18th of June, among them the notorious yacht
Wanderer. The squadron is being rapidly re-
Cuced to O small compliment