The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-14 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14, 1864.

We are just now on the eve of a new Parliament,
and certainly no one, excepting possibly its own
members, will be inclined to regret the decadence
o' the present one. A general election is sufficiently
rare to make it a matter of interest, and the excite-
ment of political warfare is carried into many re-
tired rural diztricts, and quiet country towns and
villages, to most of whose inhabitants it is a matter
of complete indifference wh ) holds the seals of
office. Bat in the metropolis itself and in the lead.
jag cities of the empire the position of parties is a
matter of very vital interest, and the influence
which a new Parliament may exercise on the
Cabinet invests a general election with considerable
importance. Just at this juncture, therefore, it is
not uninteresting to inquire how our self-governed
colonies pass through the same crisis in their in-
sti' utions, and how their constitutional laws, in some
respects different from our own, work at such a
juncture. If in our own quiet orderly routine
world a general election produced a high degree of
excitement and contention, we may naturally sup.
pose that a young community would be still more
moved and shaken by its operation. Yet according
to the news from Victoria, however, the recent
general election has produced scarcely any excites
ment. The public have taken very little interest
in the matter, and so great hex been the indifference
manifested that in many places a second candi-
date
could not be found. It is true that
the triennial return of the elections,
which is the rule throughout the colonies for a
leovver House, renders its recurrence less noticeable
or importen; ; but other influences have more to
do with the unusual quietude. In the first place,
there have been no popular questions under discus-
mien, no party cries or divisions on topics such as
the land qeestien, which at once appeal to indivi-
dual interests, and arouse the pateiens of the
Secondly, the great change which has been
brought about in the manner of conducting elec-
tions in Victoria has not only restr-c'ed the number
of candidates and of voters, but it has taken away
their occupation from the mob orators and advene
lurers who trade on popular excitement, and seek
their own private ends by influencing the passions
of the multitude. A bill was carried during the
last session which considersbly altered the face of
matter?, and its effects have been seen in the tran-
quillity and indifference visible at the late election.

It is of course desirable that the populace should
interest themselves in their own affairs, and the
whole merit of parliamentary government is gone,
if the indifference of the people prevent them from
being fully and fairly represented, But Australia,
like all new settlements, has hitherto had to guard
rather against the opposite extreme, and therefore
the change now_visible is to be accepted as an
augury of better things. The riot and dis.
turbance of a contested eleetion, undesir-
able and injurious enough in this country,
is still worse in a young, untrained community, and,
therefore, the Victorian Parliament very wisely
provided against the occurrence of any violent dis-
turbance by a few simple regulations. Instead of a
candidate having to go through no other form than
getting himself proposed at the hustings, he is now
obliged, before he is put in nomination, to deposit
the sum of £5O, which is not returned to him un-
less he can secure one-fifth of the votes polled by
the lowest candidate. All empty and factious op-
position is thus guarded against, and a system of
" dunning" candidates, which was growing common,
has been rendered impossible. There are no longer
any hustings nominations; but a nomination paper,
signed by ten qualified electors as well as by the
candidate himself, is deposited with the returning
officers, no speeches being allowed. This does not
consort with our old English idea of an election ;
but the plan has been found to work well in pre-
venting riot and disturbance. The electors, too,
are put under restriction as well as the candidates.
Before a man is allowed to exercise his right of
voting—and manhood suffrage has long been the
rule in Australia—he must have resided six months
in the district for which he claims to vote, he must
be able to write his name, and will have to pay a
shilling for his electoral right, which is then issued
to him. The writing of the name is a good applica-
tion of that educational teat which is every where so
desirable, and nowhere more so than in a country
like Australia, which has need to be well on its
guard against the predominating influence of reck-
less democracy. The general feeling of the respect.
able population is unquestionably in favour of
constitutional government, and they are therefore
wise to put some checks on the action of so
mixed an assembly as their masses are composed
of. The general effect of the election is expected
to be decidedly in favour of the Government, which
has promised a reform of the Upper House, a revi-
sion of the tariff, and a new land bill. Meanwhile,
in the neighbouring colony of New South Wales
the Governor has just opened the fifth session of
the existing Parliament, addressing the members
at some length on the condition and prospects of
the colony. Two questions arc just now especially
engaging the attention of the Australian colonies.
There is the much-vexed question of transportation
from the mother country, the other a local dispute
between the several colonies as to the border cus-
toms duties: Sir JOHN YOUNG announced in his
speech that a satisfactory arrangement had been
come to between the Government of New South
Wales and of South Australia for the collection of
duties on goods arriving by way of the River
Murray from South Australia for consumption in
New South Wales. With the authorities of Victoria,
however, no agreement had been made, and the
question remains unsettled. The past year has been
an nnfavourable one for New South Walee, owing
to the severe floods which have inflicted serious
damage, and the failure of the harvest. Under
these circumstances the Governor warns the mem-
bers they will have to provide for a deficit. It is
interesting to notice the progress of the colony in
the various measures which he commends to their
notice, such as railway extension, the improvement
of the currency laws, the protcction and reforma.
Lion of neglected children, the regulation of the
volunteer force, and the prevention of the sale of
diseased meat. All these questions bespeak a high
state of civilisation, and show the kindred sympa.
thies existing between the population of the mother
country and their energetic kinsfolks in the
Southern seas.

There are few things more outrageous than
kidnapping, and it seems strange that such tole-

ration should have been exercised towards the
constant recurrence of this infamous practice by the
Federals. Constantly as the subject has been men-
tioned in one way or another, little heed is paid to
it by the Government, and neither in words nor
actions do they exhibit that contempt for the
practice nor that righteous indignation against the
perpetrators of it which we surely have a right
to expect from those who are in a position to defend
our rights and avenge our wrongs. It has over
and over again been cited by Ministers and the
members of their immediate following that all
that has been done against the Confede-
derates in the matter of engaging vessels and
so forth, was an unavoidable duty which must not
be shirked. The interests of nations required the
due observance of the leis between countries, and
no infringement, direct or indirect, could be sanc.
tioned. We hear a great deal of the necessities of
the case as regards the Government of Washington,
but it appears to escape the observation of those
zealous defenders of transatlantic claims, that an•
other country is wholly left out cf the question in
regard to the enforcement of the rules and regula•
dons of neutrals and belligerents; and that country
is no other than England. From first to last our
interests have been sacrificed, our claims neglected,
our honour tarnished by the course which theAtne-
rican war has taken. Of course, properly managed,
neither a recognition of the South nor a strict nen•
trality need have occasioned such misfortunes ; but
it is the trifling manner in which the whole affair
has been arranged, Hesitation is always injurious
to the interests of individuals, but in the case of
nations it is fatal to honour and prosperity. It is
of no use to disguise the fact, that our present Go•
vernment are secretly on the side of the Federals;
for various reasons they are led that way, and the
influence of the Manchester school of politicians has
exercised a most deleterious effect upon their
councils in this, as in other affairs, vital to the
interests and reputation :of the country. Had
Earl RUSSELL at first boldly spoken out
and contrived to let the Federals know that any
unfair acts practised upon British subjects would
call down upon them the wrath of the country, how
different would things have been ? When any one
ventures to propose that a decided step like this
should be taken, they are always met with the
assertion that care must be taken to prevent the
rupture of our friendly relations with foreign
Powers, and that above all things we must avoid
doing or saying anything that can be construed
into making a casus belle of an affair, in case of a
non-compliance with our demands being resolved
upon. Tais is a glaring error to make in the
carrying on of administration, and will assuredly
always prove inimical to the preservation of peace
in its truest sense, which must signify the will and
ability to protect one's honour. A case has recently
been reported which only serves to corroborate
former statements of a similar kind, but which is
nevertheless meat irritating to peruse, and leads
one to reflect sadly that there has been great and
grievous mismanagement somew here, for such things
to come to peas concerning a British subject, and
no notice to be taken of his wro- ge. A sailor

has returned to Gloucester, his native place,
mutilated and disabled for life, through wounds
contracted in the Federal service, into
which he was entrapped to enter by the most
insidious and scandalous means, He was desirous
of returning to England, and a man, appearing
like a sea-captain, offered to get him an engagement
on board a ship bound for this country. The usual
course was pursued ; the unfortunate sailor was
stupified, and when he awoke to his senses he was
in a hut surrounded by soldiers. Remonstrances
proved, of course, unavailing; he was declared to
be duly enlisted, and compelled to serve in the
ranks of the Federal army. Here he received
several wounds, and was at last allowed a few
weeks furlough. He took advantage of this liberty
to get on board a ship bound for Cadiz, and from
thence he came to London, and has since
reached Gloucester, " upon the very day on which
his name would be called on the muster-roll of his
regiment." Were it not for his wounds, he is far
better off than hundreds of others who have shared
his fate. They will be compelled to remain in
their unwelcome service until the close of the pro-
tracted war, unless they fill foreign graves, after
having expended their strength and wasted their
health in a cause for which they have no interest to
serve, and for a country which has no claim on them.
Mr. COBDEN was very eager and eloquent abuut
the " sublime spectacle" of re-electing President
LINCOLN ; we wonder if he thinks it a sublime thing
for Englishmen to be forced to take a part in
the glorious war which is to emancipate
the negroes. It is rather inconsistent that' force
should be employed to procure the services of the
troops who are to achieve so wonderful a boon for
humanity. It was bad enough to be told to rest and be
thankful while Denmark was ruined and our honour
compromised, but it is too much to be told to admire
the strict neutrality of a course of policy which
creates unparalleled misery on a part of our popula-
tion at home, and interferes with the liberties of
our subjects abroad, thus heaping affront on affront,
and adding insult to injury.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE NOVA SCOTIAN.
(Via Greencastle.)

NEW YORK, DEC. 2 (Evening).

General Schofield reports that on the 30th ult.
he repulsed a heavy and persistent attack on Frank-
lin by two corps of Hood's army. The engage-
ment Lasted from the afternoon till after dark.
Hood was repulsed at all points, with a loss of
probably 5,000 to 6,000 men. The Federal loss was
one fourth of that number. 1,000 Confederate pri-
soners were captured. On the night of the 30th
Schofield retired from Franklin, and formed a line
of battle three miles south of Nashville. On the
morning of the Ist inst. Hood's cavalry crossed the
river above Franklin, closely following the Federals
towards Nashville. Heavy skirmishing and a
general engagement was expected. Reinforcements
were arriving at Nashville, and the troops and
Government employees were under arms in the for-
tifications and trenches.

Unofficial accounts represent that in the battle
of the 30th tilt., in the first charge of Hooci's troops,
the Federals were driven back, but rallied and
counterr•charged the Confederates who had crossed
over the Federal lines. The Federals then swung
round on the Confederate flank and drove them in
cenfusion. Some despatches estimate the Confede•
rate loss at 3,000 men.

Grant reports that tho _Richmond Examiner of
yesterday admits that Sherman had crossed the
Oconneo river, and would succeed in reaching the

sea coast.

Richmond papers of the 29th ult, assert that it
was well known in Richmond for several days that
Sherman was bafiLd in his attempts to penetrate
Georgia. He neither captured Macon nor threat-
ened Augusta, since during the last week he was
unable to advance 10 miles, being harassed on his
flank and rear and manfully resisted in front, and
forced to avoid all important towns.
Augusta papers of the 26th reiterate that Sher-
man had been repulsed in crossing the Oconnee
river.

Beauregard and Johnston were in Augusta on
the 23d. Bragg has left Wilmington for Augusta
with a large force.

A heavy Confederate force is concentrating from
all quarters at Augusts.
It is reported that Burnside has sailed from
Fort Monroe with 20,000 men to meet Sherman.

General Grant despatched Gregg's cavalry on a
reconnaissance to ascertain if Lee was sending
troops south. Gregg captured and destroyed
Stoney Creek station and a quantity of stores, and
afterwards retreated, followed by the Confederates
towards the Federal camp. He obtained no infor.
mation of troops passing southward.

Resolutions have been submitted in the Confede•
rate Congress to the tffect that the South would,
if shortly recognised by the North, unite with the
North in maintaining the Monroe doctrine. If
recognition was delayed,the South would abandon
the Monroe doctrine in exchange for material ad.e
vantages for herself.

The steamer North Star, from Aspinwall, with
1,000,000 doll, in specie, has beon long overdue
here.

The China has arrived out.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, DEC. 2 (Evening).
Money easy. Gold, 231.
Exchange on London, 262; do. Paris, 2 81 to
2 131.

Stocks doll. New York Centrals, 120; Illinois,
1291 ; Erie, 93: ; 5-20 Bonds, 107 i.

NEW YORK, DEC. 3.
There is no later war news. Hult
_has declined
the Attorney-Generalship.
General Washburne has promulgated an order
requiring a tax of a half per cent. per month to be
levied and collected on all persons at Memphis,
who are in anyway exempt from military duty and
hold trade permits. The funds thus raised are to
be devoted to defraying the expenses of the militia
and paying for a permanent guard for each regi-
ment.

The districts of West Tennessee and Vicksburg
have been placed under the command of General
Dana with headquarters at Vicksburg. Ile has
ordered the traders in Vicksburg and Natchcz to
ship north all the cloths and cotton cards remain -
log in their hands under pain of confiscation.
An attempt to escape was made by 1,300 Fede•
rals at S,Aisbury, North Carolina, but was frus,
trated.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Geld, 229. Flour, sc. to 10c. lower, Wheat, lc.
lower. Sales unimportant. Cora declining. Pros
vision declining.

Telegraphic News Association.
(Per Nova Scotian via Greencastle.)
NEW Yoxx, Dec 3.
A battle took place on Wedne.tday, at Franklin, between
a portion of Thomas and Hood's armies. The Confede-
rates drove the Federate back and scaled, their works, cap-