The Sun. — London, England, 1867-09-17 00:00:00

THE RITUAL COMMISSION-. The following are extracts from the evidence of the Rev. W. J. E. Bennett, of Frome Selwood : The 'Archbishop of Canterbury—Do you use the surplice ?—We use the surplice always in the matins and evensong, at all times, except during the Holy Communion. What else do you use at other times ?—At the Holy Communion we use the vestments. Will you describe them ?—The chasuble, dal matic, and tunicle. • Do you use those vestments at any other time, or any portion of them ?—No, we never use them except at that time. _ . How do you justify using the vestments ?—That would take a long time to answer. I do not want you to go through the whole argu ment?—How I justify it, would take a long time. It might be a very short answer, I should think ? —I will make it as short as I can. I justify it upon the Catholic usage of the Church throughout the world, interpreted by our canons and Prayer book. You have heard that there is very great differ ence of opinion among lawyers as to the legality of these vestments ?—Yes, I have heard that. You think you are competent to decide that when learned lawyers differ ?—Yes, until it is pro hibited by some act of the Church. Then you act upon the principle that every clergyman is at liberty, in things which the Church has not forbidden, to exercise his own discretion as to the usage which each in his own opinion believes to be according to Catholic usage ?—Not any usage ; but those usages which are very plain to him and to his congregation. Plain ; in what sense ?—Not forbidden by the law, and desired by the people. I consider that the consent of the congregation and parishioners is of very great consequence. You do not act at all in conformity with the opinion of your bishop ?—My bishop has never said a word to me on the subject. Do you use incense ?—Yes. Do you incense persons and things ?—We incense the altar and the Holy Gospel. You hold that to be legal—to swing the censer ? —Yes ; if I thought it illegal I should not do it. What is your practice in respect to lights ?—We always burn lights at the Sacrament. How many lights have you ?—Two. You never have more than two, have you ? Never more than two upon the altar; there are lights surrounding, the usual lights, but they have nothing to do with the altar. WA respect to the mixed chalice, do you use pure - wine or wine and water ?—We pour the wine first, and then add a little water in the chalice for consecration. And that you justify on the same principle do you, of usage ?—Yes ; the same principle as the vestments and the lights. Do you introduce any singing in the celebration of the Holy Communion ?—Yes ; we sing a hymn at the offertory. We sing the Kyrie Eleison and the usual parts, the Gloria, and the Creed. What is not in the Prayer-book is a hymn which we use at the offertory. That is to say during the sentences being read ? —After one or two of the sentences have been read, we sing a Eucharistic hymn. You have no authority for that in the rubric, have you ?—We have no authority in the rubric to direct us; but there is no authority to direct other hymns which are sung at matins and even song in every Church throughout England. What do you infer from that ?—I consider that I have a right to use the same liberty which other Churches use. But then the liberty which others use is in most instances between two services, not in the middle of one service. There is some distinction there ? I have heard hymns sung as the preacher is going up into the pulpit, which is in the middle of the service, being after the Nicene Creed. Archbishop of Armagh—You said you used the vestments, by which I understand the chasuble, cope, and dalmatic ?—Not the cope. I should use the cope if I were wealthy enough to have one, but I am not; the chasuble, dalmatic, and tunicle are all that I use. You said you were authorized to do so by the Catholic usage of the Church interpreted by our canons ?—And Prayer-book. _ _ Where do you find in the canons the chasuble mentioned, or any authority to use it ?—I said that it was a difficult question to answer off hand, but I could produce the answer if I had time and the references, because the canons are involved in very great obscurity. I say the canons of the Church, not only the canons of the English Church, but the canons of the Universal Church, which are not forbidden by the canons of the English Church. It would require a great deal of time to answer that question. I beg particularly to remark that, and also that I can only answer off-hand in the shortest possible way. Do you not think that we are bound by our own canons, by the canons of our own Church, with respect to the vestments we use in divine service, and that we should not go round the world for the canons ?—No ; by the canons interpreted by the various injunctions and other authoritative decrees that have passed throughout the history of the English Church and have been pro and con at all times. Have any of the congregation objected at any time to the use of the vestments ?—I thought that this would form the most important part of the proceedings, therefore I have brought a letter in which I was invited to do this very thing. I al ways told the people that I thought that was the orrect usage of the Church of England, and I never interfered nor did I attempt io do so till I was publicly invited to do it by the document presented to me officially by the churchwardens and the communicants of the congregation. Then I thought it was my bounden duty to follow what they desired, considering it to be the law of the Church. If you wish to have this in evidence, here is the document. Earl Stanhope—What is the date of it ?—No vember 15, 1865. Archbishop of Canterbury—By whom is it signed ?—By the churchwardens officially, and a number of the communicants in the name of the rest. [Here follows the document.] Archbishop of Armagh—Was that document signed by all the parishioners ?—By a great num ber of the communicants; not by all the parishioners. Those who were not communicants would have nothing to do with it. Did any dissent from that ?—I never heard of any. Earl of Harrowby—Do you mean the whole body of the communicants ?—No ; a certain num ber representing others. How is it stated there ?—There are signatures of twenty-one men and thirty-five women, and the two churchwardens. Archbishop of Armagh—What is the population of your parish ?—Our parish is divided into the old parish church and two new district churches. Those that remain connected with the old parish church are about 5,000. . You made this great change at the solicitation of fifty people oat of a population of 5,000 ?—I wish 1 had to deal with the 5,000 ; but at least 3,000 of them are Dissenters. I have not any doubt that if I had to deal with them they would be most glad to accede to what has been done. Did you consider that these vestments would make an additional bar to the Dissenters return ing to our communion ?—No; certainly not. If I bad thought so I should not have done what I did, but I thought it an additional reason to bring them into the Church, because I thought that the more distinctive the Church is from dissent the better for the Church. Archbishop of Armagh—At what time do you use the chasuble ?--At all times of the celebration of the Holy Communion. Is there any mysterious signification in the chasuble or in wearing it ?—That is a question which involves doctrine. If I am to be launched into doctrine, of course that again will involve an immensely long discussion. I think it does not require a very tong answer, to say whether there is any doctrine involved in your using the chasuble ?—I think there is. What is that doctrine ?—The doctrine of the Sacrifice. Do you consider yourself a sacrificing priest?— Yes. In fact, sacei-clos, a sacrificing priest ?—Dis tinctly so. What authority have you in the Prayer-book for that ?—That again would involve a long answer. It has been so interpreted by our divines, the divines of our Church from the time of the Re formation downwards. Then you think you offer a propitiatory sacrifice? —Yes, I think I do offer a propitiatory sacrifice. Do you use confession ?—Yes. On what occasions?—On all occasions. You do not, then, confine confession to the two occasions mentioned in the Prayer-book, that of persons wishing to attend the sacrament and in the visitation of the sick ?—I do not confine it to that, but it virtually is that, because the Communion being every day, persons coming to that may, of course, require important spiritual advice any day. Do you use any form of absolution ?—Yos. What form ?—The form provided in the Prayer book in the visitation of the sick. You know at one time that was allowed, but that in the second book of Edward VI. the permission was withdrawn, does not that amount to a prohibi tion ; does it not, by implication, prohibit the use of it ?—I cannot answer that off-hand, because there may be some other succeeding alterations in the rubric which I am not aware of at the present moment. But when we are told to give absolution we must give it in some form, and, seeing that we have no other form provided but that, it seems natural to recur to that. Where are you told to give a form of absolution? —We are to give absolution. Where ?—ln the address to the people in the service of the Holy Communion. They are invited to " receive the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly council and advice." Is it not said " by the ministry of God's Holy Word ?"—We give a form of absolution in matins and evensong which is involved in words. By parity of reasoning we should give a form of abso lution to those that are penitent. _ There is none provided by the Church. There was one provided, but it was withdrawn, and the very wording was changed at the same time. " Let him come to me that by the ministry of God's Holy Word he may receive the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly council and advice." Is not there a dis tinct meaning in absolution by the ministry of God's Holy Word ?—I should think that was the meaning, that the priest pronounced it by the authority of God's Word. Whately, I think, says there is no form provided, but that God's Word is to be applied according to the case of the penitent. You mix water, I believe, with the wine ?—Yes. I pour in a small quantity of water, two or three drops. On what canon or what authority do you do so ? Have you any authority in the Prayer-book for doing so ?—There is no authority in the Prayer book. It is done by the authority of the Catholic Church ; and the Prayer-book does not forbid that which is the usual custom of the Church. Are you not aware that that is violating the custom of our Church of England for nearly three hundred years ?—No ; I am not 'ware of that. For what purpose do you use the lights—as sym bolical, or to give light ? —As symbolical. Earl Stanhope—Who is your diocesan ?—The Bishop of Bath and Wells. I understood you to say that you had not re ceived any objection on the part of your diocesan? —I have not received any objection. Do you apply that to the former bishop as well as to the present bishop ?—The former bishop died within a few months after I came ; therefore he had no opportunity of objecting. Our present bishop has been bishop from within a few months after I went there. So far as you know have any families that were in the habit of attending your church before these alterations ceased to attend subsequently to them ? —When I first came to the parish a great many left the church, but that was before I opened my mouth. Since that time Ido not remember any leaving ; perhaps there may have been one family, but I do not remember more than one. Have any of those who left the church returned to it since, and do they now attend it ?—Not only have a great many returned, but a great many Dissenters have been brought into the Church . . There is hardly a month but I receive in some way members of Dissenting families into the Church. I think you stated that out of 5,000 people in your district, as many as 3,000 probably belong to the Dissenters ?—I am afraid they are either Dis senters or of no religion at all. With regard to the subject of confession : in re ceiving oral confessions you conceive you are only fulfilling the words which the Church puts into your mouth in the exhortation in the holy Com munion ?—Decidedly. . Nothing more and nothing less ?—Nothing more and nothing less. The result of your experience is that the use of the vestments tends not merely to a higher style of service, but to practical result in the edification of the congregation ?—Yes ; I think that the pro gress we have made in the tone of the devotion of the services, and in the general character of the people, and their constant attendance at prayers and services of every kind, is attributable to the increased care we have bestowed on the ritual observance. Bishop of Gloucester—You mentioned your use of vestments. I should be glad to know whether you regard these vestments as representing a doc trine, or simply worn honoris causii ?—I should say, both. The honoris causci would involve a doctrine. Mr. Hubbard.—You stated that you lifted up the elements after consecration ; to what extent do you lift them up ?—lt may not be to the same ex tent every time ; nor can each celebrating priest elevate them to the same height ; there is no rule about it ; it is simply a gentle elevation. Some elevation is inevitable ?—Yes. You must raise the cup and the paten from the Communion table in order to perform the act of consecration ?—Yes ; one elevation takes place before the consecration, and there is another elevation after the consecration. There are two elevations. The priest cannot take up the cup without an elevation. That is not for the purpose of adoration. In either case do you elevate the paten or the cup with the view of presenting them to the ado ration of the people ?—Yes, distinctly, in the latter case. It signifies to the people that the act of consecration has taken place. That, in truth, is the fact which you wish to express to them by raising it up and presenting it to their notice ?—Yes. In the case of the consecrating prayer, do you pronounce it as a whole, or do you make a pause after the consecration of the bread in order to make any prostration ?—We never use any pros tration, only kneeling. Do you, after the consecration of the bread, make a pause in the consecration prayer for the purpose of making a kneeling ?—There is no pause ; it is a simultaneous act. It is not an absolute kneeling, but an inclination only ?—Yes ; what is called a genuflexion. Does a genuflexion mean touching the ground ? —Touching the ground with one knee. Dean of Ely—l think you stated that you had vestments, incense, and lights ?—Yes. In what order did the introduction of those things follow each other ; were they introduced simultaneously, or one after the other? The lights were first introduced. For how long were they used ?—I should say for ten years. The next was the introduction of the vestments according to that invitation ; and the next was the incense. The incense was asked for as well as the vest ments ?—Yes, but not publicly. How long ago was that ; was it some consider able period after the introduction of the vestments ? —Three or four months afterwards; it seemed to follow in natural order. Were vessels presented for the purpose of using the incense?—Yes. I understand you to say that you incensed the Holy Gospel?—Yes. Will you explain what you meant by that?— The Gospeller, who is the deacon, takes the Book of the Holy Gospel in his hand, the sub-deacon takes the censer and incenses it. Incenses the book ?—lncenses the book. Dean of Ely—With regard to the general at tendances on Sunday at the great morning services at which the Eucharistic vestments are used, is the church generally tolerably full ?—Yes, from 80 to 100 persons communicate, and perhaps 150 per sons are present. That is not the whole congregation, is it ?—We never have a late celebration ; it is generally at eight o'clock in the morning; never later than nine, if choral. Your communion on Sunday does not follow the matins as is the case in most churches ?—No ; we scrupulously avoid it, except on the first Sunday in the month, and then it is separate. A fresh bell rings, and it is quite a separate service alto gether. Therefore there is no opportunity of telling what the effect of the vestments is on the general congregation, because the general congregation, as a rule, are not there ?—They are not there. Did I understand you to use this phrase— that the elevation of the elements took place for the purpose of adoration ?—Yes ; I consider the first elevation for the purpose of consecration to be totally distinct. After the consecration both the elements are elevated for the purpose of people knowing that the consecration has taken place, and that they may have the opportunity of adoring and praying. Would you bold that the phrase "the adoration of the elements" was a proper orthodox phrase ? It is the adoration not of the elements, but of that which is hidden under them. Sir Joseph Napier—ls it a rule of the Catholic Church that the minister, with the consent of the congregation, may select the ceremonial ?—lf by the Catholic Church you mean the Roman and the Greek Churches, and the Church throughout the world, the ceremonial is so distinctly laid down in their rules that they cannot deviate. I understood you before to say that you thought it most important to get the consent of the people ? —ln teaching people up to the point that I think right, of course it is wise and prudent to teach them the doctrine, a they would naturally follow nd, therefore, teaching t f h n em u w to as I did the practice. Do you think it part of the Church arrangement that the ceremonial should be suitable to the doc trine ?--Exactly. If there was any change made by the Church in the doctrine, there would naturally be a change in the ceremonial ?—Exactly, or the ceremonial would have no more meaning. The Earl of Harrowby—What is your guide in the selection of ceremonies and vestments not ac tually prescribed by the Prayer-book ? Those which aro in use by the Catholic Church through out Christendom. Your rule is everything which is prescribed by the Catholic Church anywhere that is not abso lutely prohibited ?—ln the English Church. Where do you get the authority for what is pre scribed as the general use of the Catholic Church ? —By studying the books of that Church. Our own Sarum missal for instance. Is there any one acknowledged standard amongst the clergy by which they can tell to what they ought to work up ?—No ; except the Sarum missal. You believe that every English clergyman ought to work up to the Sarum missal if he can, excep t in points absolutely prohibited ?—Yes. And that is the standard ?—That is the standard. That is the standard which you would acknow ledge ? —Yes. You feel now that you have satisfied yourself that yours is the type which the English Church ought to work up to ?—No, I have not. I should like the chrism to be used, and I should like the bishops to anoint in confirmation, and to use the sign of the cross, and I should like a great deal more if you ask me my likings. There are no other points that you are working up to now, within what you consider the permitted usages ?—I have nothing in my intention at the present moment beyond what I have described. Your theory is that every clergyman is to get for himself the best information he can as to the usages of the Catholic Church generally, and, if possible, being an English:man, the use of Sarum, and to work up to that as fast as he can get the approba tion of his congregation ?—As fast as he can get the people to join with him. I understand if any usage is positively condemned by authority you at once acquiesce ?—I gave one instance, a special instance, of the reservation. You believe that nothing you now practise has been legally condemned?— At the time of the cholera, when I was at St. Barnabas, I did carry the Blessed Sacrament from street to street and from house to house, and administered it. I was rebuked for that by the then Bishop of London. It was a work of necessity. Such times of necessity do not happen very often. MJI?SIIALL VERSUS TILE BISHOP OF EXETER. The recent case in the House of Lords, " Marshall v. the Bishop of Exeter," deserves a moment's consideration as illustrative of the relations between Church and State in England. Our readers will recollect that in that case the plaintiff brought an action of quare impedit in the temporal courts against the bishop for refusing to institute the clerk whom he had presented to a living in his gift. The Bishop pleaded that, in conformity with the provisions of canon law, the presentee being a stranger in his diocese, he had demanded testimo nials from his former diocesan, that no satisfactory testimonials were forthcoming, and that he then lawfully refused to grant institution. The plaintiff demurred to this that it was no answer in law. The courts of law held that this was so, and on a th p a p t ea i l lo to use th th e fisermof the judgment. g th m e judges ent advised that Tandedsiesd cussion turned on the degree of authority ascribed to the canons by the common law of England—that is, by the ancient law prevailing in Catholic times. It is admitted on all hands that the canons were never held to be binding proprio vigore, as is illustrated by the famous reply of the barons at the Parliament of Merton, when solicited to amend the law of legitimacy by making it conform to the canon law—" Nolumus legis Anglia© mutare." (We won't change the laws of England.) By virtue of which answer we are at this day the only people of Christendom who deny that the subsequent marriage of the parents may in any case legiti mate the children born before the marriage. Canons, however, and laws ecclesiastical were necessarily introduced when Christianity was in troduced and established, when the Church was established ; and consequently all such canons as may be shown to have been used and received at the time when our laws were being shaped into form—the period before legal memory begins— are part and parcel of the common law, and un distinguishable therefrom ; as, for instance, the authority of the bishops to administer the law ecclesiastical in their consistorial courts. But what is the authority of such portions of the ancient canon law, as we cannot prole to have been always in use in England, and of such later canons as were enacted subsequent to the time of legal memory, that is, the coronation of King Richard I. `1 lt is recorded that in the reign of Edward IV. one of the justices of the King's Bench, in the course of an argument, made the remark that the canons bind the clergy, but do not bind the laity, who have..no hand in making them. This was repeated in a subsequent reign by another of the justices, and so it; passed from mouth to mouth, found its way into the text books, and became a received maxim ; one authority alone, Chief Jus tice Vaughan, in the time of Charles 1., seeming to hold that " lawful" canons, provided they meddled with Church matters only, were univer sally binding. Before the end of the 17th century, however, it was formally adjudged that they did not bind the laity ; but what as to the clergy ? THE SUN_ LONInCO4. TUESOAY EVENING SEPTEMBER 17, 1867. Does the old maxim as to them belong to what Lord Denman once called, " That very extensive branch of the law—law taken for granted." Such, indeed, now seems to be the case. Some doubt may exist as to the effect of a statute of Henry VIII. confirming the laws ecclesiastical then in judges in the g m e n a r e s r h a a l l il y , v t the .the Bishop of p u r se es ; en b t ut c , a s e p e ea o k f ing „ Exeter," repudiate the opinion that the canons bind the clergy in the sense in which Acts of Parliament do subjects of the Queen generally ; and they inti mate that probably their scope would be bounded by the visitorial power of the Crown. Now, as it is the essence of the power of a visitor to enforce existing laws, and not to legis late, it follows that no truly legislative authority can be admitted to exist in the Church, even over the clergy. Such jurisdiction will be simply in conscience or voluntary. One singular result of this principle would seem to follow. The Parlia mentary obligation to subscribe the articles of religion, imposed on the Anglican clergy generally by the 13th Elizabeth, is confined to such articles as touch the faith, and, consequently, does not include the greater part of the Articles, and some of the most anti - Catholic ones. If, then, clergy the in 1603, a canonical lon c obligation, insufficient, the Judicial imposed upon the Committee of the Privy Council would not enforce the observance of them, and the Anglican clergy generally would find themselves freed from another of the shackles that were of old believed to restrain them.— Westminster Gazette. Miscellaneous Foreign News. There appears to have been a dispute between General Grant and Mr. Johnson on the removal of the district commanders. By the recent Act of Con grems the power of supersedin g these officers was taken from the President. In his veto message of July 19 Mr. Johnson strongly urged the impolicy of depriving him of his constitutional powers in such matters, declaring that it would lead to official in subordination. He then wrote :—" It is to be feared that these military officers, looking to the authority given by these laws, rather than to the letter of the Constitution, will recognise no authority but the commander of the district and the general of the army." It was because he thus interpreted the law that General Grant held in abeyance the President's orders for the removals, and protested against the course taken by the President, maintaining that he alone, under the Reconstr'ic tion Act, had power to remove the district com manders. A long interview with the President seems to have had an influence on the General, in ducing him to give way. Grant wrote strongly urging the President not to persist in carrying out the order. This letter was published and gave satis faction to the country, though the General's argu ments did not prevail. Th e N e w York Herald says :—" General Grant has requested to be relieved of participation in the Cabinet Councils, except when military matters are considered, on the grounds that it is improper for a military officer to participate officially i n political discussions." After the splendid re cept i on o f Admiral Farragut at Cronstadt, the United St a tes squadron proceeded to Stockholm, where they were treated with great distinction by the King of Sweden. His Majesty, as well as the Minister of M ar ine, and the Russian Envoy, entertained the officers of the fleet at dinner during their stay in Stockholm. The squadron has left for Copenhagen. It was anticipated when the Scotia left New York on the 4th inst. that President Johnson would shortly issue a Proclamation, largely extending the amnesty to the Southern rebels. The subject had been discussed at a Cabinet meeting held on the 3d inst. The cable had, however, telegraphed the news from New York on the morning of the 9th September that the Proclamation bad been issued granting a only high general amnesty, excepting rebel officials and persons implicated in the assassina tion of President Lincoln, or who maltreated Federal prisoners during the war. The concluding words of the telegraph message above alluded to had much significance—Gold, 143. Two days later, Sept. 11th, 6 p.m., under the head of commercial intelligence at New York, gold was quoted at 1451, and yesterday at 146. It is well known that the specie export from New York had almost ceased, while the returns from California and the other mining States gave promise of a large increase. Indeed, the single item of intelligence that the steamer Guidon, from Fort Benton, Montana, on the 10th inst., had arrived a t Omaha wit h $ 500 , 0 00 in treasure, is significant of t he fact that N ew 'York is becoming he receptacle of finany chann e l s th rough wh i ch the find their way. A s we cannot, there the rise by an inc rease d d eman d , i t there fore, o r eprecious accountmetals e tals f r is evident that the action of the President has had this unfavourable influenceon the market. Mr. Johnson seems to have set discretion aside, and given way to the strong feelings of hostility which the proceedings of Co n g re ss have tended so much to intensify. Gen eral Gran t has endeavoured, on the one hand, to c heck the h eadlong career of the President, wrath of on the oth er t o soothe down the rising of the nation. B u t M r. J o h nson ' s unruly temper is too strong for Grant's opposition, and it cannot be denied that affairs in the United States are assuming a serious aspect, of which the rise in the price of gold is a sure index. The removal of General oela m S a i t e i on of th Sickles hasbe President.eenfollowe followed In by t a h n is rtantdeclaresproclamation that the C ons tit ut i on h av i ng made him Comman der-in- Chief of the army and r navy, and bound him under a solemn oath to pre serve and defend the Constitution, which vests the national judicial power in the Supreme Court and subordinate Courts ; and whereas i mpe di ments h ave recently been imposed in North and South Carolina, obstructing the action of the said co ur t s , an d w hi c h unlawful proceedings will probably ba attempted elsewhere, the President, therefore, warns all civil and military officers to yield obedience to the laws, and National Couits in exercising powers. The Acting Attorney-General, Mr. Brinckley, f urn i s h e d an official opinion justifying the re mova l o f G enera l assistt h ei and n Constitutional onstit sustain ution the al Sickles by President Johnson, on the grounds that General Sickles had been guilty of military insubor dination, and had contracted the powers of the judiciary by forcibly preventing the execution of civil processes in the National Circuit Courts of North Carolina. The lion. D. A. Wells, before leaving England, informed the U.S. Treasury department thathe would soon return prepared with a new and improved system of taxation, internal and external, which will carry out the main principles he advocated in his finance report (b ut w hi c h C ongress did not endorse), t o o b tain a sufficient revenue for the necessary wants of the Government, including in terest on the public debt, in a manner the least bur densome and the most just and impartial in relation to the various industries of the countries. One great feature of the new system will be the reduction of a number of articles selected for taxation either by the tariff or by ex c i se. To the last General Sheridan carried out his re moval policy. P. G.Mohan, City Comptroller, was dismissed on charges of disloyalty, and D. P. Man del appointed in his stead ; the Attorney-General of Texas has also being removed. General Grant has ordered that no officer removed by order of a dis trict commander be re-appointed by his successor, without express authority. General Pope has tem porarily suspend e d t h e commencemen t of the exer cises at th e Augusta (Georgia)University, on account of a disloyal speech made by one of the students. The registration returns from the &milt indicate the inevitable ascendancy of negro rule. llere after they are to form one-half of all Southern juries, they now hold and aspire to hold all kinds of offices, and in skilful hands they are organising so as to m a k e the best use o f t h e i r s t reng th . In many part s negro candidates are put for ward for Congress. Nor do they rely alone on a political supremacy, for it is now a known fact that in some States they have armed in secret societies ; and the last news informs us of a report that the negroes in Northern Texas have left work and gone into camp, where they are arming, and threaten to administer the local laws themselves. In Virginia formidable bands of blacks have been dis covered to exist, and a negro insurrection in Some sections of the. South was considered so probable that families were moving to St. Louis for protec tion. Nor are such reports without events proving them not wholly untrue, for a desperate fight be tween the whites and blacks occurred on Thursday, the 29th ult., at Washington, Tennessee, when the negroes were aided by;white loyal leaguers. On the same day, at Richmond, the police were assailed by some negroes, and the troops ordered to be in readiness to suppress an outbreak The regis tration returns give as yet the following results : In Mississippi the negroes have 12,000 majo rity ; in Louisiana, over 38,000 majority ; in Alabama over 17,000 majority ; in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, they have 2,000 majo rity, while the total registry for South Carolina gives them 13,000 majority. Virginia is the only State that shows a white ascendancy, and this has a white majority of about 18,000, which is owing to the mild policy of General Schofield having induced the Southern whites of Virginia to take part in re construction. General Wade Hampton published a letter in a Georgia paper on the 28th of August, having been solicited by prominent citizens to express his views as to the duty of the people of South Carolina in reference to its reorganisation under the military bills. He argues in a long letter, against the injus tice and illegality of the proposed measures, dis tinctly stating that the people prefer to be governed by military rule rather than be reconstructed in the way at present in vogue. He denies the right of Congress to interfere with the suffrage of the State; at the same time he counsels justice to the negroes and a withdrawal of obstruction to impartial suf frage. His words are :-- "It is scarcely necessary for me to say that, entertain ing the views I have expressed, I think it far preferable the State should remain in its present condition, under military rule, than it should give its sanction to measures which we believe to be illegal, unconstitutional, and ruinous. It is my honest and firm belief that the volun tary acceptance of these measures by our people would surely bring not only to the South, but to tho whole coun try, evils far greater than any we have yet suffered. The North flushed with success, and drunk with power, may not be able to realise this fact ; but as surely as the South falls a victim to irresponsible and unlicensed pow6r, so surely will the North 4ose its liberties. Ruin to the South will react on the North, and if we aro crushed into the dust the Northern people will see but the foreshadowing of their own certain doom. Recognise, as an established principle, the right of any political party that may be in the ascendancy to fix upon all who differ with them laws unauthorised by the Constitution of the United States, and we shalt begin that downward career which will lead us steadily threw confusion, anarchy, and blood, to the cer tain overthrow of republican institutions and free govern ment." At the same time that he urges conciliation and harmony between the races he says : "1 deprecate universal suffrage, not only on general principles, but especially in the case before us, because I deny the right of Congress to prescribe the rules of citizenship in the States. The Supremo Court bas decided that a negro is not a citizen of the United States, and Congress cannot reverse that decision by an Act. The States, however, are competent to confer citizenship on the negro, and I think it is the part of wisdom that such action should be taken by the Southern States. We have recognised the freedom of the blacks, and have placed this fact beyond all probability of doubt, denial, or recall. Let us recognise in the same frank manner, and as fully, their political rightn also. For myself, I confess that lam per fectly willing to see a constitution adopted by our State, conferring the elective franchise on the negro, on precisely the same terms as it is to be exercised by the white man, guarding against the abuse of this privilege by establish ing a slight educational and property qualification for all classes." The Protectionist League established in New York, as a counterpoise to the Free-Trade League, proposed to publish jointly a paper containing arguments anl replies. Both sides were freely to ventilate their opinions in the same journal, the readers seeing the doctrines advanced and the ref u tation side by side. We regret that the latter League declined the proposal, as such a paper, so original in c - meeption, would have been a curiosity in practice. We have some knowledge here of the heat to which Protection versus Free Trade leads when the con troversy is likely to cad in practical legislation, for the subject involves material interests of great scope. The editor would have had a delightful task when the quarrel began to wax fierce, and communications to be showered in. Who would have undertaken to hold the balance, to stand the central figure between the ferocious combatants fiercely hitting at each other in their blind prejudice? By the cable we learn that the Democratic party have carried the elections in California, and the Republican party those in Blaine, but by a decreased majority. The controversy which took place in May between the Cunard and Inman companies on Rapid Steam ing, has been followed during the last month by some extraordinarypassages of vessels of the Cunard line. The mails were brought last week by the steamship Java, Capt. Moodie, which left llalifax on the 30th of August, at 8.30 p.m. For the first four days the wind was scant, and the ship received no material assistance from her canvas. The weather was fine and the water smooth. After this a fresh W.S.W. gale helped her along, and the result was an average speed to the entrance of Queenstown of 14 knots. If this is not the greatest speed ever attained by any ocean steamer, it is, nevertheless, a most wonderful run acres.: the Atlantic, and accom plished without the slightest discomfort to the pas sengers, the ship carrying topgallant sails during the whole of the time she was under canvas, and never rolling sufficiently to cause any inconvenience even to the passengers. This ship ran a distance of 2,184 knots—viz., from the wharf at Halifax to the Fastnet light—in 156 hours 18 minutes. This week the Scotia has outdone herself, having brought the mails of the 4th September from New York in eight days seven hours. We presume these figures are round numbers, but if the time there given be exact the last passage of the Scotia is the fastest on record. That vessel once made the run home in eight days seven hours and ten minutes, and out, in eight days four hours and 34 minutes. The Nation may well say that the accounts of the Indian war continue to be conflicting, incom prehensible, and unsatisfactory. Major Womb well, on the 2d of May, is reported, it says, to have fought 3,000 Indians for three hours with 29 men, and killed 2,000 Indians, with the loss of six men to himself, thus giving to each man an Indian slain every two minutes and a half. Santanta, the most formidable chief of the Cheyennes, has, ac cording to another account, defeated a considerable party of Federal soldiers. The fight took place at a point on the Republican river, and lasted three days. Three Federal soldiers were killed, 25 wounded ; the Federal dead being left upon the field. The Indians captured 30 horses. From St. Louis the news is to Aug. 30. The Montana Rangers, under General Beem, expected to move against the Indians in a short time. Fi ve h un d re d d o ll ars h ave b een paid for three Indian scalps. No tidings of the expedition which left Fort llays, Kansas, a short time since, have yet been received. The Postmaster, at Pres cott, Arizona, in a letter dated July 21, says:— "There are probably ten Indian massacres to to every one reported. The military force here is not half equal to the demands, and unless some suitable commander is appointed and can compre hend the true condition of the country, it is feared many years will elapse before we will be relieved of Indian troubles and personal danger. The country is, however, censtautly increasing in white popula tion." Mr. Dunbar, not content with his two issues of the Globe attributing to the Treaslry most outra geous frauds, has come out in a third number, making further exposures and reiterating former charges. But Mr. 1-unbar's little game has been played out. The newspapers of New. York took no notice of his allegations, and they scarcely at tracted the most passing attention, from any one in that city. After Garibaldi's arrival on Sunday evening at Geneva the Peace Congress was opened on the fol lowing day. The great Italian patriot who had spent his life in arms appeared in the singularly in appropriate head dress worn by Quakers, the booted and spurred man-of-war crowned with the emblem of peace. The Congress has not been a success, Jules Favre and Louis Blanc failing to appear, and Mon sieur Fazy resigning his post. Monsieur Simon invited France and Germany to come to a good understanding on the question of obtaining internal liberty, with what success may be readily antici bated. But the most striking feature of the Con ference was the speech of Monsieur Lemonnier, who maintained that the Republican system of govern ment alone could put an end to war. The senti ment was in accordance with the programme, which asks the assembly to consider "whether the reign of peace, to which humanity aspires as the completion of civilisation, is compatible with those great mili tary monarchies which despoil the peoples of their most vital liberties, maintain formidable armies, and tend to suppress small States to the profit of despotic centralisation. That the committee who framed the programme have made up their mind on the point is pretty evident from the second proposi tion in their first question—namely, is not the essential condition of a lasting peace between nations liberty for every people, and in the inter national relations of all, the establishment of a con federation of Liberal democracies to constitute "the United States of Europe ?" At the conclusion of Monsieur Lemonnier's speech Garibaldi embraced him with great enthusiasm. The Congress closed on Wednesday, and Garibaldi left for Ralf*, having met a warm reception in Switzerland. He had visited the Polish General Bossak the previous e►ening. But the Congress did not close in peace. The scene appeared to end in marked disunion and had it not been abruptly terminated (if we may judge by the confused telegrams which have reached London), it would have broken into open war—a strange spectacle, and a remarkable illustration of theory versus practice. It is announced from Montreal that during the nomination meeting in the city on Thursday, 29th August, the mob assaulted Mr. M'Ghee and the other candidates. The Dragoons charged and dis persed the rioters, wounding 30 persons. The New York Tribune, in allusion to this, states that the " first nominations for members of the new Parlia ment were attended at Montreal with a fierce riot, and the Liberal member would hardly have got home alive if the police had not given him a strong escort. They are a rather barbarous people up there beyond the St. Lawrence, and we see little hope for their regeneration unless they can be ab sorbed into the United States." A revolution was announced from Hayti as hav ing broken out against Salnave, and it was reported that Port-au-Prince was besieged. The latest intel ligence froth Hayti is to the 12th August, which reports the insurrection as quelled. King William of Prussia in person opened the North German Parliament at Berlin on Tuesday last. The Royal speech dwelt only on internal affairs. Among the legislative measures promised are reforms of postage and of weights and measures. One of the first bills to be introduced relates to the postal law, on which the commission appointed for preliminary deliberation had finished their labours and furnished their report. The draft comprises the provisions of the postal legisla tions of Prussia, Saxony, and Brunswick, abolish ing postal compulsion. Modifications are intro duced in favour of private enterprise, under which letters and packages may be forwarded. In con nection with this we may mention that Mr. Kasson has arrived at Berlin, charged with a postal mission from the Government of the United States to London, Paris, and Berlin. A committee is being formed to arrange the pre liminaries for organising a universal exhibition to be held in Berlin next year. THE BISHOP OF ORLEANSON THE DEATH OF CARDINAL ALTIERI. After alluding to the noble resolution of the Holy Father renouncing a journey deemed most necessary for his health, on account of the out break of the cholera in Rome, and the impulse that this sacrifice gave at once to the Roman ad ministration, Mgr. Dupanloup goes on to say that in one night, as it were, by the blowing of a hur ricane, a pestiferous wind burst over the usually salubrious and deliciously-situated town of Albano, and brought the cholera in all its virulence. On one of the hills that surround the Eternal City, crowning the horizon of the Roman Campagna, its houses studded over it like gems in a coronet, embosomed in a setting of green verdure, offering a retreat from the glare and heat of the capital about five leagues distance, the little town of Al bano has become the scene of desolation and sorrow, attacked by the strange scourge which, for the last five-and-thirty years, has by turns visited and ravaged all the countries of Europe, bidding defiance to all human art and science, baffling all man's skill, and setting at nought all earthly precaution. One day four cases of cholera showed themselves in Albano ; the next night a violent wind rose, and, as if it brought the pestilential fluid in its breath, that very night more than 100 persons were attacked, of whom 50 died before the morning ; in the next 48 hours 135 more had fallen victims to the plague. To judge of the alarm, we have only to say that hundreds ran from the scene of horror, and fled into the adjacent woods and neighbouring hills, and some went as far as Rome. The sick and the dying were in a fair way of being left unattended, for houses were left tenantless, and many dead bodies were found unburied some days after. Cardinal Altieri, the Bishop of Albano, was at this moment at Rome, where the duties of his im portant position detained him. He no sooner hears the news of the disaster that had fallen upon his diocese than, without an instant's delay, he has his horses brought, and, calling together physicians and nurses, and sending for his servants, calls nobly on them to accompany him. He waits no delay, and, starting himself at once with one valet, leaves orders for the rest, who had the courage to sacrifice themselves, to follow at once. his chaplain accompanied him ; he took his will with him, a dding hurriedly a short codicil, and was soon en route for his noble work. . _ On reaching Albano he passed his own door, and went at once to the scene of death, and thus going from house to house, and street to street, he en couraged both those who tended the sick and those who were sinking from the dire disease, and gave an impulse even to those who were ready to fly from their abodes and to neglect their relations already attacked. lie was deeply gratified to find the most ardent devotion on the part of all the clergy. Two cardinals were already at their post in the scene of action when he arrived—Cardinal Sacconi and Cardinal Pietro. He at once divided the town under three heads, and each cardinal took his post accordingly. The Holy Father did not leave Albano without succour. He no sooner learns the state of the town than he sends sisters, religious, both Capu chins and Jesuits volunteer, and rush to the spot. He also sends 45 Zouaves, whose conduct deserves the greatest praise. They performed all kinds of offices towards the dead and dying. The Pontifical gens-d'armes rival the others in all their painful and charitable operations. The Cardinal Bishop continued to spend himself unceasingly for three days and nights in the midst of the thickest part of the malady. lie adminis tered remedies himself, and performed the sacred offices of confessing and preparing the dying. li e followed even to the graves to see that everything should be done to his dear parishioners which religion could command, duty impose, or charity require. . _ _ Such devotion to so sacred a cause merited the glorious crowning end he was so soon to go through. The day before his death he wrote a letter with his own hand to the Holy Father, to thank him for some alms he had sent to the 'chef of the sick, and he said to his visitor :—" What a tremendous visitation is this disease ! But in my desolation I have much consolation, because I feel and see that my clergy are supported by the Holy Spirit of God ; they have none of them shrunk from the most revolting scenes and duties. The civil authorities, it is true, have left the town, but not one of those who are devoted to God have shown any defection, and by a wonderful mercy it is that every one who has died has had time to receive the Holy Sacra ment, and thus I believe that this calamity will have been a mercy. It kills the body but it saves the soul." The very next night, between the 10th and 11th bit 0.... of August, he was attacked himself, and in the morning he was in his agony. Cardinal Saccon hastened to his dying bed, and did not leave him till all was over. Cardinal Pietro had then the duties of all three to perform, which he did noblY• During the last few hours of the Cardinal Alder!, many persons, priests, and others, came to receive the glorious man's benediction. Among them and foremost were found the Zouaves. He was, as he had always been, calm and full of faith ; he spoke a few words very simply about his death, adding he had done his duty, and was quite haPPY to die. He exhorted all to their duties, and esPe . cially the priests, to devote themselves more than ever. A friend who had seen him the evening be fore, returning just th en t o see hi m , s aid could hardly recognize him. He asked me for the Holy Viaticum, which was administered, and aft er receiving Holy Communion his voice became veil feeble, but with a supreme effort and great strength of nerve he pronounced the following words : "My God, I am a great sinner, but I know Then art more full of mercy than I of sin. I acknow ledge it is a great mark of Thy grace to be called by Thee to die th us , i n th e m id s t o f s o many It ° t the flock committed by Th ee t o my k e eping. ' l t is true, 0 God, Th ou d os t s t r ik e a t this women, my poor children, but if Th ou killest the bo d Y Thou makest the soul to live for ever. I recom mend to Thee thy Vicar on earth. I bless The e ' I recommend the College of Cardinals, the Erne c i t i ) pacy, and all the clergy over th e w orld, espeele e l d the clergy of my diocese a n d my poor aidiet i. people. I commend my soul into Thy hands rt love and confidence in Thy unending mercies. He fell exhausted by the supreme effort ; hew, ever he resumed his calm attitude soon again , an " . received Extreme Unction in the deepest recollee tion and humility. He then blessed all present, recommended cot!... rage to them all, and at their request all kissed his hand. At two o'clock in the afternoon the holY man was no more. The consternation which at first had seized 011 all who heard of their bishop's attack, now ga it° way before the deepest sorrow, and many words of lamentation were passed from mouth to mouth. Such is the death so simple and so noble of the great and good Bishop of Albano. It was a novel and touching sight to see whole crowds of people flocking from the surrounding heights on their way to the scene of sorrow. It w'aa the return of the terrified and alarmed inha. bitants, who, a few days ago, left in f ear and trepidation the scene of death and misery, but who now, reckless of danger, hasten back to joir the whole living population who, collected on the great square, before the palace of the noble cardi nal, waiting for the funeral bier, while no sooner were the gates thrown open, than with one bound; the people unharnessed the six black horses that led their noble master's corpse, and placing them selves in their places, dragged in triumphant silence the remains of the Cardinal Bishop of Albano to their last resting place. It would be impossiblet to describe the scene of heart-rending s orrow that followed in the vivid expressions of the bereaved Albanians, or to depict the look of desolation which everyone wore, as we gazed at several of the townspeople, who were collected in different corners of the cemetery ; nor was it only here. We followed some into their dwellings/ and we heard but one eulogy. Not one but was affreteud and afflicted by the sev ere loss God had C , O on the town of Albano and the world in which n was known. 11011 The cholera still continued to rage, and the co knots a Father, mindful of the severe loss, s ent at ounitti another devoted servant of God, Mgr- AP° an d Randi, who instantly answered to th e a ppe al ' expressed himself happy at the choice Nv.il ha — fallen on him, and at five o'clock in the he entered the devoted city of Alban o, and vr'e. menced his work of charity as had done his P decessor. ,noun for The death of Cardinal Altieri is an 11° ^ be .as the Church, but it is also a great loss ; fe r in one of the most em i nen t a nd remarkablementhe the Sacred College. H e belonged to one of to first families of R ome . He was grand-neAPhSter Pope Clement X., and his mother wa s a -all- ars of Prince Xavier de Saxe. He was sixty'-W ° of age. He was a man of very high fe chug and full of high Christian love and go odn4- ma nn ers, simple in his life but very polished in and with a great deal of character. such 1, menA contrast might be made betwee n and our worthy Anglican bishops, especiallYl3l°lle7 Whately, who, in his charge a few ye ars a g ° ' tino t pressed to his clergy the utter folly o f their put themselves in the way of danger, boasting tll:er they had no superstitious prac ti c es to adin inis at the hour of death to their dying parishi onerao and that it was their duty ra ther to keep awile from infection and danger, lest they carry it 11°111 to their wives and innocent children. COUNTRY MARKETS• COLCHSTEI--SEPT. 14. a nd This market was well suppl l- ied with whea t to -day , trade was healthy, at fully last week's prices . More barlt and prices rather easier. So 40 ' Wheat, white 66s 70s Beans, Mazagan...• •• 3 486 red 6s c 6, Middle and small ..40 ‘,6 Barle3Bs d' 38a 418 i Peas, white ........ •• 1 2i Oats.... •• -8 - 8 1 grey ......... ...300 CHELMSFORD—SEPT. 13. There was 4 large supply of wheat on sa le to-daY, 84 S prices advanced is to 2s per qr on t he quotations of ', privi week. There was a fair amount of transactions in corn, at late rates. Wheat, old white.... 588 72s new • 75s old red 569 66s new 61s 709 Barley . 26s ns Chevalier 4ls 538 Grinding 265 328 Malt 668 748 Chevalier ......•••' 685 76i Oats ••• 208 268 Peas, Partridge ...... 4CS 42 ' .348 36 ' White Bulling 3 6 3 40' ..... 40 ! dit , o, new....--8 Beans, Tick, old ......40s 45 , new. • —Ns 43 Harrow 1ick8.428 46 ' new....4is 95i Mazagan 39,3 431 ABERDEEN—SEPT. 13. Prices for all descriptions of grain nominally the same last week. There was a brisk business done o , w ith a g`, attendance. New barley and here were shown for the f irs] time in the market to-day. White wheat 58s Od to G3s Od? Red wheat 28s Od to 29s Od} 50s Od to 58s Odc 6 2 1 b 111 bushel• Potato oats Common oats 26s 6d to 27s Od Bore 35s 6d to 36s 6d ( 531 b v bushel• Barley 35s Gd to 36s Gd) Oatmeal Olt) 20s 6d to 21s Gd 1.1 boll of 28 . Flour, find 4Gs Gd to 50s Gd V sack of 280. D 401 b 1 3 1 bushel• KIRKCALDY—SEPT. 14. Small supplies of wheat at our marke t to-day, sold at 2s higher. Oats and barley — none at market. Wheat. Barley. Oat s. First 62s Ott ; 3.Ss 611 33s d second 638 6d I —a Od . BOd Third - s Ott '—s Ott --s Od Ntiliio COAL MARKET. Price per ton at the closeof the market. s. d. Haswell Russell's Hetton... 19 9 South Hetton Holywell Main l7 0 Walls End Hetton Hetton Lyons Hartlepool Ships at mark ITeesEa as Et Ha . r t . ... .. . ......... z: 2 t, ~„° IKelloe .................. 6 Hastings Hartley •••••• i 8 6 I Huddle's W. Hartley. r, 6 Walbottlo liardey.... 6 West Hartley ......... :et, 49—sold, 45. Births. HANBURY— On the 15th inst., at The Avenue, Tooting/ Surrey, the wife of Capt. Hauburv, of a daughter. HOLLAYD—On the 15th inst., at 1, Sunnyside, Wimbledon, the wife of E. Thurston Holland, Esq., of a son. ho LUARD—On the 141 h inst., at Herstmonceux, Sussex, t' wife of Colonel lt. Luard, of a son. Marriages. BNJES—LovE—On the 14th inst., at St. Georg'e's, 113 , 11 1 7 RU over-square, Martin Brunjes, Esq., of 12, 13rook 1 -strea W., to Marian, daughter of John Love, E s q ., ° 131ouliehn-ereseent, Kensington-rk. A g . LEWIS—WICKSTEED—On the 11th inst , St' Arthur, third son of Thos. Lewis, Esq:, of Grove-InBio Hackney, to Janet, eldest daughter of the Kov. 0113r u d Wieksteed, 13. A., of Ifope-stroet Church, Liverpool, a llafod-y-Coed, Fliutshire. Deaths. ARMSTRONG—On the 13th hist at North Orm sb i , colnshire, Thomas Arm s tr o ng,' 'Esq., of Iforncastle, colnshire, aged 81. BROM . LEY— On the 15th i ns t Finchley-road, St. Jold6- wood, James B rom l ey , Esq., aged 45. DETELEUX—At Ballyrankin House, county of We7cf°•ell!' the lieu. N. Devereux, D.D., rec tor of Kilrush , aged bc,.. HALsTED—On the 11th inst., at 3, Shornden Leonard's-ou-Sea, Wm. A. Halsted, Lt.-Col. Lll r eldest son of the late Admiral Sir L. W. Halsted, G•ti• and the Hon. Emma Mary. London : Printed and Published by WILLIA:d ANDRE" y of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN (Paco, Strand, in the Precinct of the S e to y , in the County 0 didalesox.—Tuesday, September 17, 1867.