The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-25 00:00:00

AMERICAN POLITICS.

The Daily News censures the writers who busy them-
selves I,
by imagining all the difficulties which can attend
the constitutional struggle in the United States and re-
presenting
them as impending calamities, and shows the
difference between this class in America and the wise, and I
grave, and hopeful, and experienced citizens who clearly
see the duty of the hour, and trust to see it still as
each hour arrives, and have faith that all must
be well at last with a nation which understands its '
own laws of political existence, and conducts its own
political destinies. Every sensible citizen has
known throughout that the war was only the
first stage of the revolution, and that the colli-
sions which now cause such a clamour were inevitable in
one form or another. They have their preferences as to
the form of the collision, and they are putting forth all
their forces of mind, speech, and influence to secure the
choice of the best ; but they waste no time and strength
in alarms and lamentations about the imminence of con-
flict, and evil anticipations of the issue. The large popu-
lations in town and country intend to do the national duty
by the freed-people, and are disposed to do it without
needless offence to the South. While resolved to finish
this work before readmitting slaveholders to Congress,
they believe that the excluded parties will wait the more
quietly for their hope in the President, and will be
growing more fit for a place in Congress when their time
conies.

The Post thinks the presence of the joint naval force
which has been sent to the North American waters by
England and America need excite no apprehension. Their
mission is to prevent collisions, and to see that the treaty
of 181$, now again revived from the dead, is properly
observed. Past experience shows that an admirable un-
derstanding has always prevailed between the British
and American naval commanders, and there is no doubt
that they will follow out their respective instructions with
courtesy and forbearance. Indeed the Post hopes it will
not be long before it is enabled to announce the comple-
tion of another and a satisfactory Reciprocity Treaty.
The Teleoroph also thinks that the despatch of a fleet
to the fishing grounds by President Johnson is a guarantee
for a peaceful settlement rather than a menace. Besides,
domestic subjects still distract the public mind of America
to such an extent that the people have neither leisure nor
inclination for the discussion of external affairs.
I The Herald looks to President Johnson to declare the
I Civil Rights Bill unconstitutional and illegal, and refuse
to allow it to he put in operation. Such a course would
certainly expose him to the risk of impeachment, but it
would be only the logical consequence of the position
which he has taken up in the matter.

The committee on public petitions report that up
to the 20th, 818 petitions, with 511,196 signatures, have
been presented to parliament in favour of the Government
Franchise BilL 227 petitions have been signed officially,
or under seal. Three petitions have been signed in favour
of Lord Otoevenor's amendment, with 1,918 signatures.
Thirty petitions have been presented against the bill.
The Owl believes that if the majority of the go-
vernment on the Franchise Bill should barely reach two
figures, thereby perilling the ultimate attainment of a re-
duction of the franchise, it will result in the immediate
secession from the Cabinet of Earl Russell and Mr. Glad-
stone. They will most probably be accompanied by ad-
vanced followers, such as Lord Hartington and Mr.
Goschen, leaving a proportion of the existing ministry,
who will be ready to form a coalition government with
Lord Stanley, Mr. Walpole, and Mr. Henley. The oppo-
sition which will thus be formed will be a strongly co-
hesive party, headed by Mr. Gladstone, and might fairly
be estimated at a strength of about two hundred and fifty,
exclusive of the Irish members.

An influential meeting to inaugurate the
National Freedmen's Aid Union was held yesterday at the
Westminster Palace Hotel. The Duke of Argyll preeided,
and mode an earnest appeal in support of the Union,
whose main object is to diffuse extensively correct infor-
mation on the condition and character of the Freedmen, so
as to induce contributions of money, clothing, useful
materials and implements, to help the American Freed-
men's Aid Commission at Washington in their efforts to
supply the pressing necessities of the negroes, and to
advance their moral and industrial training. Sir T.
Fowell Buxton, M.P., Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Hughes,
and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting, which
passed resolutions in support of the anion.