The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-07 00:00:00

,-EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENISG, DECEMBER .7,

polish, will only strengthen :me South is the
reiteration of defeated claim' end will only poet
pone the settlement it can do ' wain to previa.
The Southern people will soon see that they have
but little to thank him for. They know, as well as
Congress does, that he can do nothing for them,
and we are not without hope that they may repu-
diate his advocacy, reject his feeble patronage,

and do something for themselves.
Mr. JOHNSON'S attitude renders it too certain
that during this three months' session of Congress
the breach between the Legislature and the Execu-
tive will not be healed. But this will only increase
the friction of the machinery of government, and
will not stop it. The power of the PRESIDENT is
not so great as it is in this country popularly sup-
posed to be. It is an entire mistake to imagine, as
our republican cousins do, that his position is nearly
as powerful as that of a constitutional king. The
power to declare war belongs entirely to Congress,
and without its consent and co-operation foreign
war cannot be made. The power to make treaties
is dependent on the consent of two-thirds of the
Senate, and the army and navy are under the con-
trol of Congress. In legislation all measures ori-
ginate with Congress, and the PRESIDE-VT has only
to do with them when they are passed. Nor,
even then, can he withstand such Congresses as
the present and its successor. His veto on their
measures will be overruled at once by the vast
majority of more than two-thirds which is pledged
to carry out the policy of the Legislature. And
though it is possible for the PRESIDENT to excite
considerable feeling onforeignquestions by pursuing
a meddling and boastful policy, the good sense
of the people and the self-control of Congress will
not allow of any such diversion of their attention
from the work and duty of the hour. The people
have determined that, first of all, the internal
difficulty shall be overcome, and they will not be
drawn from that determination. It may take
longer to heal the schism than they anticipate ;
and Mr. Juatisou's opposition will increase the
difficulty and defer the completion of the task.
But on Monday last he stood aside from active
participation in it. He showed the whole world
that defeat had taught him no lesson, and that
for him, at least, ugly adversity had no
" precious jewel in its head." In refusing to bow
to the national decision and be the executive of
the national will, he abnegated his function as the
nation's chief, and chose the littleness of ineffec-
tual antagonism rather than the greatness of
dignified compliance. He is most likely proud of
the choice he has made, and flatters himself that
he has sacrificed popularity to principle, and that
he is protecting the conquered against the hostility
of the conquerors. " V ictrix cause Dos placuit,
sed vista Catoni ;" but though there is a nobleness
in clinging to the losing side, Mr. JOHNSON can
hardly bo credited with it, for he has thrown away
a noble chance of securing the adoption of a heal-
ing policy, and, instead of reiterating neglected
principles, has only reasserted himself.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

THE CASE OF Si. LASURANDE.
The Times lays before its readers some fresh cir-
cumstances which have been communicated to it concern.
pig the above case, and which deepen its gravity. The
substance of these allegations, for the full authenticity of
which, however, the Times does not vouch, is that M.
Pominville, who represented the Bank of France when the
seizure was made, was actually a partner in the same firm
with the Hon. Mr. Cartier, Attorney-General for Canada
East, who, as legal adviser of the government, endorsed
the Governor. General's promise to Lanerande's counsel ;
that the police magistrate who signed the committal, and
the deputy-clerk of the crown, who drew the warrant of
extradition some days beforehand, and the crown prose-
cutor, who expressed himself greatly shocked when it was
suggested before the judge that Lamirande might be pre-
judiced by foul play, hap all been previously dismissed
from office by the Governor-General, and reinstated by the
influence of Mr. Cartier. On the very night of the seizure
the judge visited the gaol and waned the prisoner of his
safety, and left with the gaoler a written order to obey no
warrant for the surrender of Lamirande. It was
after this that the genuine warrant from the Go-
vernor-General was presented. The Ti saes thinks
it marvellous that his excellency, after the warnings he
had received, should have allowed himself to be so duped.
His action must of course be fully explained for his own
sake as well as for the satisfaction of the public. Observ-
ing that it purposely forbears to report other particulars
which it has received, the Times concludes with the re-
mark that happily we have no cause of complaint against
the French government, which must not be identified with
the Bank of France. For all that appears, the consul-
general had nothing to do with the kidnapping of Lami-
rande, who, being once transported to French territory,
became subject to the ordinary process of law.
The court by which Lamirande has been tried has left
the case of the legitimacy of his surrender to the determi-
nation of the executive; and the international contention,
the Daily Nitre says, only commences where the criminal
inquiry ends. It is only a few weeks since that a criminal
whose mpf are or surrender had been improperly obtained
in Switzerland was, after conviction and sentence in
France, sent back to Switzerland by order of the imperial
government, on the ground of the antecedent irregularity.
And it will therefore be a gratuitous abandonment of the
rights of foreigners in England, and a neglect to vindicate
the respect slue to Englisii courts of justice, if Lord
Stanley fails to claim recognition of the principle which
the Swiss government has already successfully maintained
for itself against its powerful neighbour. The doctrine
laid down by the organ of the tory government—that im-
proprieties in form may be resisted before the act is
consummated, but do not vitiate the act when it is
successfully perpetrated, would abolish every safeguard
of our liberties at home, or our honour abroad. The
point whether Lamirande cos guilty or not has nothing to
do with the question. A precedent set in the case of
guilt may to-morrow be employed in a case of innocence.
That the warrant on which a man is apprehended is
unjustifiable—that uo English statute authorises his
arrest—nay, that an English court orders him to be set at
liberty, are all mere " irregularities," to be cured by
successful evasion, an evasion which our own police will
aid, and our own government will not inhibit. This is
now our constitution, as declared by Lord Derby's govern-
ment and enforced by Lord Derby's son.

those states arrayed aplnst her in a league with Austria
and Franse—a combs to which many are looking
forwasil—it is • to my what new destinies
might he in store for the eternally diyldsd Fatherland.
It is impossible to shut one's eyes to Se fact that dark
storm-clouds are lowering ominously on the European
horizon. If anything had power to avert the chances of
a general war on the Continent, it would be the conviction
on the part of France and other powers of the utter invin-
cibility of the German nation ; but of anything like a true
consciousness, either of their duties or of their interests,
the Germans seem hopelessly incapable.

...~,::

LATES'

DENCE.

1-wae•-•,
S 0

BREAD RIOTS IN VENICE.
Under the heading of the "Riots of this morn7o4"
the Ritinoeantento of Venice of December 1 pub-
lishes the following :
A body of workmen, who it appears must have come to
the resolution yesterday evening, assembled this morning
at 8 o'clock before the windows of the Town-hall, and com-
menced to ask for "bread or labour." At first there
was nothing threatening in their manner, but
the crowd having augmented and their cries having
become louder and menacing, the troops on guard
endeavoured, but in vain, to calm them. Two of our m
lost
eminent citizen, with the commandant of the guards of he
Questura St. Yentas Raffaele, did all they could to pacify
the rioters, and advised them to send a deputation to lay
their demands in a legal way before the municipality, but
their advice was disregarded. To make things worse an
officer of the municipality presented himself in the balcony
and spoke to the crowd in an insulting way. The people
then cast away all restraint, and foroed an entrance into
the town-hall. The mayor, Assessor Mow, the secretary,
andothers,now came up and held council as to what was to
be done. The workmen, who were greatly excited by the
insults which had been cast on them, would not listen to
the chief of the municipality, and it was alone owing to
the firmness of Captain Ventella that the second
barrier of the staircase was not forced. By a
lucky inspiration S. Zanzi Antonio, a Garibaldian captain,
addressed the crowd, and with great difficulty persuaded
them to select himself and some others to go to the mayor
and ask for labour as well as an apology for the insulting
language used towards them. Count Giustiniani, more-
over, solemnly assured them that the municipal officer
whose conduct contributed to increase the disorder would
be punished, and having sent for some of the other
municipal officers he informed them of some works which
might be at once taken in hand. The mayor then stated
that on Monday morning they would commence the demo-
lition of Privo Priuli, SS. Apostoli, and Ogni Santi, which
would give employmenttoabout 400 workmen. Shortly after
the mayor, the Assessor Riooo, and Capt. Antonio, appeared
at the balcony of the Town-hall and promised that in the
course of the day active steps would be taken to procure
work for the unemployed. When the mayor told them that
the works in question would be executed by the municipality
itself, and not by private persons, there was a general
clapping of hands. He added that a list would be opened
at the Town-hall, on which the workmen who wished for
work might inscribe their names.

(lIECTRR'S TELEGRAMS.)
THE CANDIAN INSURRECTION.
CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 6.
Government advices received here from Candia,
dated 30th instant, announce the submission of the
most important districts and the entire dispersion
of the insurgent bodies. The Turkish authorities
in the island had been reinstated in their posts.

FRANCE AND AUSTRIA.
VIENNA. Dec. 7.

It is stated that the final negotiations for a
treaty of commerce between France and Austria
have been concluded.
The French commissioners will leave next week.
Baron Beust will entertain them to-day at a
banquet.
The treaty of commerce will come into force on
the lit January, 1867.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

. ~..s„as;=...

1866.

i----------
THE " SUATITER IN MOE.DO" OF A FRENCH
PBELAT

The following is an extract from a recent charge
of M. Plantar, Bishop of Nimes :
" You are well aware that the Achitophels—the traitors
and deserters who advise and encourage rebellion
are those revolutionists and freethinkers of Frame
and Italy whose journals, pamphlets, and speeches,
devoted to the service of the modern A.bsaloms, form that
mighty oonspizacy against the new David, of which the
Neared Scripture speaks. Only, in order to cast con-
fusion and madness into the thoughts and language
of these Achitophels, it will not be necessary that Pius
IX. should repeat the request which David formerly made to
God. The Lord has poured upon then' the phial of giddi-
ness without being asked to do so. By an avenging
initiative He has bestowed upon them, in incalculable pro-
portions, the gift of unreason, and nothing is so consoling
to faith as the absurdities whereby they attempt to justify
by anticipation the Seal assault which they expect to
witness against the temporal sovereignty of the Hely See.
Et tranni ridicuti eau: eruct.
The Journal des INbats, commenting on the above,
says :—" After this comes the enumeration of these ab-
surdities, amongst which we find ' the absurdity of sup-
position,' which consists in making ridiculous hypotheses ;
' the absurdity of appreciation,' which consists in passing
false judgment on men and things. Here, then, we are
accused and convicted of confusion, of madness, of ab-
surdity and giddiness, and it is in these choice terms that
M. 'gentler gives lessons of courtesy and politeness to free-
critics after having reproached them with ' grossness
in their attacks' and puerility in their reasoning."

THE DOUBLE MURDER
IRE. AND SUICIDE IN
BERKSH

THE INQUEST.
NEWBURY, FRIDAY MORNING.
Yesterday afternoon the inquest on the body
of the murderer Martin, who committed suicide
by drowning himself in the Bennet and Avon Canal at
Rnbonie, • short time after perpetrating the dread-
ful crime, was held before the coroner for the
district and a respectable jury, and Mr. Her-
field, the superintendent of county police for this
division, was present during the inquiry. The jury, after
hearing evidence giving the facts already published, re-
turned a verdict of fel() de se.
Last evening the inquiry intothe deaths of themurdered
prostitute and her paramour, Elise Shaw and Edward
Priest, was opened, and several witnesses having been
called, the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder"
against Martin.