The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-16 00:00:00

AIIERICAN POLITIC&

The Times speaks of President Johnson's late proclama-
tion as an official announcement of the end of the civil war.
It cannot be denied that it is a perilous experiment to leave
the civil rights of negroes wholly dependent on the will of
a white population, so lately ruled by slaveowners, and
still possessed, more or less, by the spirit engendered by
slavery ; but what is the alternative I How can a Federal
legislature from which the Southern States are wholly
excluded impose laws upon them, and create a
new criminal jurisdiction within them, without vio-
lating the fundamental principle of Federal union?
At the present moment if the President and the republican
majority were to exert their strength against each other
to the utmost, • violent collision could hardly be avoided.
But experience has taught us that the conservative tenden-
cies of America are stronger than some suppose. It is these,
and not the hatred of slavery, which subdued the South,
and may again save the republic from • new source of
political disruption. Whether the Civil Rights Bill be
carried or not, the affairs of the South must for some time
remain in a transitional state, and the autumn elections, at
latest, will determine whether the President's system of
reconstruction commands that degree of public confidence
which is essential to its success.
' •

The Post thinks that if the radical party succeed in
having their way, a very disastrous state of things through-
out the country cannot fail to be the consequence. There
is only too much reason to conclude that the white race all
over the States will not accept the position in which the
Civil Rights Bill would place them relatively to the negro.
and we should then see the curious spectacle of
the President and his cabinet supported by the
nation on the one side, and the majority of
both houses of the legislature on the other. Were
an English premier and his cabinet, supported by the
nation, to be thwarted in their measures by a mere faction
in parliament,he could dissolve and appeal to the conntry;
but there is no such expedient as this provided by the con-
stitution of the United States. The people of the States,
however, would have it in their power to make their repre-
sentatives understand what their will and wishes really

The Herald says that should his antagonists prove re-
fractory, the President has still a weapon in his armoury
which may prove even more triumphant than the power
of veto. He may declare the so-called congress at Wash-
ington to be an unconstitutional meeting, a Transatlantic
Rump Parliament, representing only a fraction of the
North American Union, and may carry on the executive
government without it and in defiance of it. The very sug-
gestion of such a challenge may be sufficient to bring the
radicals to reason, and convince them of the expediency of
admitting the members for the South.

In the view of the Telegraph, so long as the admission
of the Southern States to equal political rights is
refused, the danger of renewed conflict must con-
tinue, and must be aggravated and intensified. It is
that conviction which causes the news from America to
be scanned with such ea3erneu in this country. We
look for some unmistakable expression of the popular
will sufficient to impose on the representatives the neces-
sity of abandoning their obstructive course. We regret
that, although the signs are favourable, there is yet no
assurance that the danger is at an end, or that Mr.
Johnson's victory will be as prompt or as easy as the
true friends of America earnestly desire.

CONSERVATIVE MEETING.—On Saturday after_
noon upwards of forty peers, supporters of the Marl of
Derby, met at the Marquis of Salisbury's residence, in
Arlington-street, Piccadilly, by invitation. The meeting
was appointed for three o'clock, and a few minutes after
that hour the Earl of Derby arrived. The noble earl ad-
dressed his political Mends at some length. The meeting
broke up at about a quarter past four, and, we understand
had reference to the Oaths Bill, which stands for second
reading in the Lords this evening.

THE DISTURBANCES AT ST. BRIDE'S CHURCH,
DUBLIN.—We learn by Eloctrk Telegraph that at Bt,
Bride's Church, Dublin, yesterday, the congregation
answered the responses so loudly as to overpower the choir.
The clergyman did not preach in consequence of some in-
terruptions when he gave out the text.

Tats Brinsor or Lonnon. —The Bishop of London
is recovering from his late alarming attack of illness. He
hi at present at Hastings, but hopes to be home spin for
his Trinity Sunday ordination. For the confirmations
which will take place meanwhile several bishops have
kindly volunteered their services.--Bstaday Garerte.

Tan Sim or LIMERICIL—The Very Rev. Charles
Graven, D.D. Dean of the Chapel Royal, Dublin, has been
appointed to the raaant nee of Limerick.