The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-19 00:00:00

THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

I learn with much satisfaction that the noble
design of a telegraphic communication between the
Eastern coast of American and Great Britain has
been renewed, with full expectation of its early
accomplishment.

Thus it is hoped that with the return of domestic
peace, the country will be able to resume, with
energy and advantage, her former high career 01
commerce and civilisation. Our very popular and
estimable representative in Egypt died in April
last.

An unpleasant altercation which arose between
the temporary incumbent of the office and the Go:
verament of the Pacha, resulted in a suspension of
intercourse. The evil was promptly corrected co
the arrival of the successor in the Consulate, and

our relations with Egypt, as well as our relations
with Barbary powers, are entirely satisfactory.
The rebellion which has long been flagrant
China, has at last been suppressed with the co-oPe‘

rating good offices of the Government and of the,
other Western commercial States. The judic:o
consular establishment has become very difficult and
onerous, and it will need legislative requisition t°
adapt it to the extension of our commerce, and
the more intimate intercourse which has been WU**
tuted with the Goverment and people of that vast

empire.
China seems to be accepting with hearty good
will the conventional laws which. regulate conunerd
cial and social intercourse among the AVcsteril
nations.

Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan and the
anomalous form of its Goverment the action of tha
empire in performing treaty stipulations is inc°l3`.
stant and caprisions. Nevertheless, good progre66
has been effected by the Western Powers mOl4
with enlightened concert. Our own peounlorf
;claims have been allowed or put in course of settle
ment, and the Inland Sea has been re-opened t
commerce.

There is also reason to believe that these Pr!"
ceedings have increased rather than diminished tme
friendship of Japan toward the United States.
INSURRECTIONARY PORTS.
The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina and Pensacola 11.811°
been opened by proclamation. It is hoped that foreig"
merchants will now consider whether it is not eater
T-Jll .°ci
more profitable to themselves as well as just to the 1"o
States to resort to thote and other open ports than it is it•
pursue through many hazards, and at vast cost, a Colltrbv
band trade with other ports which are closed, if
effot by
actual military occupation, at least by a lawful and ''et
blockade.

LAVE TRADERS.
For myself', I haveSno doubt a the power and duty of th;
executive, under the law of nations' to exclude anemia' °
the human race from an asylum in the United States.
If Congress should think that proceedings in such caße°,
lack the authority of law, it ought to be further regulatea
by it. I recommend that provision be made for effectu.6.7o
preventing foreign slave traders from acquirfng cl°lnifl
and facilities for their criminal occupation in our coul2"
REBEL BELLICIEREN6Y

It is possible that if it were a new and open question,
maritime Powers, with the light they now enjoy, ~
not concede the privileges of a naval belligerent to file in
surgents of the United states, destitute as they are,,f,...
always have been, equally of ships and of ports and j--
boura• fore
Disloyal emissaries have been neither less assideell:
more successful during the last year than they were b
to
that time, in their efforts under favoui of that privilege,
embroil our c.ountry in foreign wars. no
1°
The desire end determination of the maritime ,an
defeat that design are believed to be as sincere as, al' ---

„
t.:ittadian border by recent ar,saults and depredations
It:knitted by inimical and deep? rate persons who are har-
-00(4 there, it has been thoug'at proper to give notice that
:ter the expiration of six months, the period conditionally
"Mated in the existing arrangements with Great Britain,
qtr
'United States plus', hold themselves at liberty to increase
'4'4r naval armameric on the Lakes, if they shall find that
Proe
oeeuing necessary. The condition of the herder will neces.
0,4117 corns into consideration in connection with the ques-
.o
e 4 of continuing or modifying the rights of transit from
Pula throug) the United States, as well as the regulation
:114130sts wht,ch were temporarily established by the Red-
Lr°,eitY Trea' yof June 5, 1854. I desire, however, to be
-,uerstooci while making this statement, that the colonial
tllthorities, are not deemed to be intentionally unjust or un-
tuji” Mly towards the United States, but on the contrary,
there is every reason to expect that with the approval of
,„‘ IrtVerial Government they will take tha necessary mew.,
'res to prevent new incursions across the border.

EMIGRATION.
oThe act passed at the last session for the encouragement
emigration, has, as far as was possible, been put into
oration.
It
tit seems to need amendments which will enable the
h2elli of the Government to prevent the pract;ce of frauds
p'inat tb.e immigrants while on their way and on their
tival in the ports, so as to secure them here a free choice
aV'Jcations and places of settlement.
liberal disposition toward this great national policy is
itil kifested by most of the European States and ought to be
leciProcated on our part by giving the immigrants effective
t/itttional protection. I regard our immigrants as one of the
vtille!sal replenishing streams which are appointed by Pro-
:/f4ellea to repair the tavages of internal war, and its wastes
national strength and health.
Oia that is necessary is to secure the flow of that stream
4tB fulness, and to that end the Government must in
et 9 Way make it manifest that it neither needs nor de-
tol impose involuntary military service upon those who
„
..`441 from other lands to cast their lot in our country.

FINANCES.
_lllO3 financial affairs of the Government have been suc-
„..7f-
olly administered.
esring the last year the legislation of the last session of
~,.'4lgress has benefically effected the revenue, although
-7cient time has not yet elapsed to experience the full
et of several of the provisions of the acts of Congress
Posing increased taxation.
bests
receipts during the year, from all sources, upon the
L is Of warrants signed by the Secretary of the Treasury,
wsi
. ncling loans and the balance in Treasury on the first day
"444-, 1863, were 1,304,796,007 dols 62c, and the aggre-
gate disbursements upon the same basis were 1,298,056,101
:Is 19c, leaving a balance in the Treasury as shown by
iii4rrante of 96,739,905 dols 73c. Deduct from these amounts
e amount of the principal of the public debt redeemed, and
the amount of issues in substitution therefor, and the actual
4110Perations of the Treasury were—Receipts, 884,076,616
770 ; disbursements, 865,234,087 dols 86c, which leaves
`el% balance in the treasury of 18,842,558 dols 710.
10f the receipts there were derived from customs
40316,152 dols 99c, from lands 586,333 dole 29c, from
to.'cot taxes, 475,648 dols 96 cents, from internal revenue
tz',741,134 dols 10 cents, from miscellaneous sources
1611,448 dols 10 cents, and from loans applied to actua
ttthPendituree, including former balance, 623,443,920 dols
oh! There were disbursed for the civil service 27,505,599
i 47c, for pensions and Indians 7,517,930 dols 97c, for the
tt4t Department 60,791,842 dols 970, for the Navy Depart -
t 85,733,292 dole 790, for interest of the public debt
4,45,421 dols 69c; making an aggregate of 865,234,987
:5 86c, and leaving a balance in the Treasury of
,t 2,558 dole, 71c, as before stated.
or the actual receipts and disbursements for the first
ill'arter, and the estimated receipts and disbursements for
thee three remaining quarters of the current fiscal year, and
to general operations of the Treasury in detail, I referyou
the report of the Secretary of the Treasury,
l concur with him in the opinion that the proportion of
tomoneys required to meet the expenses consequent upon
War, derived from taxation, should be still further in-
%
led; and I earnestly invite your attention to this sub-
'44sut to the end that there may be such additional legislation
Lshall be required to meet the just expectations of the
'4retary.
THE PUBLIC DIET,
0,
'4O bit day of July last, as appears by the books of the
Pasury, amounted to 1,740,690,189 dols, 49 cents.
bably, should the war continue for another year, that
Ittllctlnt may be increased by not far from 500 millions.
teeld as it is, for the most part, by our own people, it has
nnecine a substantial branch of national though private pro-
rctty,.
,°.r obvious reasons the more nearly this property can
distributed among the people the better. To favour such
et4l distribution greater inducements to become owners
lekl4t perhaps with good effect, and without injury, be pre.
9 to persons of limited means.
with this view I suggest whether it might not be both
ill,,l3,,eclient and competent for Congress to provide that a
baited amount of some future issue of publio securities
Clight be held by any bona fide purchaser, exempt from
nation and from seizure for debt under such restrictions
kb' limitation as might be necessary to guard against
fee of so important a privilege, that this would enable
~...:41ent persons to set aside a small.annuity against a pos-
'6ls day of want.
t'rivileges like these would render the possession of such
'o,rities to the amount limited most desirable to every
t len of small means who might be able to secure enough
,Vie Purpose.
bell 110 great advantages of citizens being creditors as
117 as debtors, with relation to the public debt, is ob-
11s. Men readily perceive that they cannot be much
12,resled by a debt which they owe to themselves The
11io debt, on the Ist day of July last, although some-
-444 exceeding the estimate of the Secretary of the Tree-
tioY nude to Congress at the commencement of last ses-
tt falls short of the estimate of that officer made in the
gjeceding December, as to its probable amount at the be-
-411,4j0g of this year, by the sum of 3,995,079 dols 33c. This
ob. exhibits a satisfactory condition and conduct of the
" tions of the Treasury.
BANKS.
toTile tt ational banking system is proving to be acceptable
14:sPitalists and to the people. On the 25th day of Nevem-
?B4 National Banks bad been organised, a considerable
tCoer of which were conversions from State banks.
th'lltes from the State system to the National system are
Itr;elY taking place, and it is hoped that very soon there
tl,,be in the United States no banks of issue not autho-
-4
bY Congress, and no bank-note circulation not secured
thell, Government, That the Government and the people
414 derive general benefit from this change in the banking
arlss of the country, can hardly be questioned.
144 he national system will create a reliable and permanent
a'knee in support of the National credit, and protect the
°,,He against losses in the use of paper money. Whether
sto:t any further legislation is advisable for the suppres •
k• of State bank issues, it will be for Congress to deter-
tZtesems quite clear that the Treasury cannot be Belida°.
!Nil conducted unless the Government can exercise a res.
%„Iling power over the bank-note circulation of the

WAI DEPARTMENT.
it 21443 report of the Secretary of War and the accomp any..
14 40ouinents will detail the campaigns of the armies in
th; field since the date of the last annual message, and also
°Aerations of the several administrative bureaus of the
1;1' Department during the last year. .
also specify the measures deemed essential for the
kitl°llal defence, and to keep up and supply the requisite
tte;t4l7 force. The report of the Secretary of the Navy
4t ,ellte a comprehensive and satisfactory exhibit of the
.
itirB of that department of the naval service.
tasubject of congratulation and laudable pride to our
otp74tqfnen, that a navy of such vast proportions has
sbeen
Otlised in so brief a period with so much efficiency and

THE NAVY,
totC° general extent of the navy, including vessels under
Ihtltrnetion of the Ist December, 1864, shows a total of
itt vessels, carrying 4,610 guns., and 510,396 tons, being
lohllqnal increase during the year over and above all
42:4 by shipwreck or in battle of 83 vessels, 167 guns, and
',,,327 tons.
14:ille total number of men at this time in the naval service
11;,11,ding officers is about 51,000. There have been captured
klb.4,e navy during the year 324 vessels, and the whole
I,a''lser of naval captures since hostilities commenced is
14,41, of which 267 are steamers. The gross proceeds aria-
trona the sale of condemned prize property, thus far
tOlted, amounts to 14,396,250 dole 51c. A large amount
tehlittelt proceeds is still under adjudication and yet to be
ported.
iter:? total expenditure of the Navy Department of every
th4i4ll3tion, including the cost of the immense squadrons
lkhave been called into existence from the 4th of March,
i) to the Ist of November, 1864, are 238,617,262 dole 35c.
tet,,c4r kvourable consideration is invited to the various
te?Caroendatione of the Secretary of the Navy, especially in
et ;ri'tti to a navy-yard and suitable establishments for the
qtrUction and repair of iron vessels and the machinery
armature for our ships, to which reference was made in
tinnual message.
14'cntr attention is also invited to the views expressed
113.° report in relation to the legislation of Congress
ft° last session in respect to prize on our inland waters.
tc°rdially concur in the recommendation of the Secretary
Itt,Lithe propriety of creating the new rank of Vice-Admiral
naval service. Your attention is invited to the re-
%)
tetV., the Postmaster-Geuerai for a detailedaccount of the
'Ll°rts and financial condition of the Post-office Depart-

POSTAL SERVICE.
tt411116 Postal revenues for the year ending June 30, 1861,
12,6 rated to 12,460,253 dols 78c, and the expenditure to
1ti,44,786 dols 20c, the excess of expenditures over receipts
1 206,652 dols 42c.
IVoj•• 8 views presented by the Postmaster-General on the
t4heie.t of special grants by the Government in aid of the
111(1,. lehrcent of new lines of ocean mail steamships, and
eogr 'icy he recommended for the development of increased
cc,tZercial intercourse with adjacent and neighbouring
i;)titi.l.teise:: should receive the careful consideration of

t is OUR NATIONAL GROWTH.
N noteworthy interest that the steady apansion

population, improvement and governmental institutions,
over the new and unoccupied portions of our country, have
scarcely been checked, much less impelled or destroyed, by
our great civil war, which, at first glance, would eeem to
have absorbed almost the entire energies of the nation,