The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-08 00:00:00

TWO. TIIOITSAND.

2to 1 agst Liddington (taken and offered)
7to 2 agst Breadalbane (taken and offered)
12 to 2 agst Broomielaw (taken)
100 to 8 agst Chattanooga (taken and offered)
20 to 1 agst Ariel (taken)
25 to 1 agst Bedminster (taken)
1000 to 20 agst Zambesi (taken).
1000 to 15 agst Archimedes (taken and offered)
1000 to 10 agst Don Basilio (taken)

CHESTER CUP.
11 to 1 agst Lord Zetland (offered)
12 to 1 agst Lion (taken)
25 to 1 agst La Toucques (taken)
30 to 1 agst Grinder (taken)
30 to 1 agst The Clown (offered)
1000 to 10 agst Persuasion (taken)

THE DERBY.
6to lon the field (offered)
33 to 1 agst Chattanooga (offered)

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Commissions executed.

The Confederate Congress and President
Davis.

The Richmond Sentinel publishes the report of the
Senate Committee of the Confederate States on the
recent messages of President Davis. It was read
and adopted in secret session, and the seal of secrecy
removed on the 16th March. After discussing the
recommendations of the President, and his remarks
on the dilatory action of the Congress in respect of
them, which charge of dilatoriness the Committee
contest, the report speaks in the following terms
concerning the President's message on the subject
of exemptions :

The casual reader would infer that the laws, as they
stood at the date of the message, exempted the classes
enumerated by the President, as well as many other
classes not mentioned by him. Such is not the fact. The
only class exemptions allowed by the laws then in force
were the following: Ministers of religion, superintendents
and physicians of asylums for the deaf, dumb, and blind
and of the insane ; one editor for each newspaper, and such
employes as the editor may certify on oath as indispensably
necessary; the public printers of the Confederate and State
Governments, and their journeymen printers; one skilled
apothecary in each apothecary store, who was doing business
as such on Oct. 10, 1862 ; physicians over 30 years of ago,
and for seven years in practice ; presidents and teachers of
colleges, seminaries, and schools, and the superintendents,
physicians, and nurses in public hospitals ; certain mail
contractors, and drivers of post coaches ; certain officers
and employes of railroad companies ; certain agriculturists
or overseers. Officers of the State Government are not pro-
perly included among the exempted classes, because it is
conceded that Congress has no constitutional power
to conscribe them as soldiers. Nor are drunkards,
Quakers, or other non-combatants, regarded as be-
longing to class exemptions, because under the act of June
7, 1864, the exemption of these persons is subject to the
control of the Secretary of War. The exemption of agri-
culturists or overseers, between the ages of 18 and 45, has
been repealed at the present session. Tanners, shoemakers,
millers, blacksmiths, telegraph operators, and workmen in
mines, enumerated by the President as among the classes
exempted, are not now, and have not been since the pas-
sage of the act of Feb. 17, 1864, exempted as a class. If
railroad officers and employes and state officers who aro
not constitutionally subject to conscription be excluded,
the classes now exempted oast of the Mississippi river em-
brace about 9,000 men, one third of whom are physicians,
and nearly another third are ministers of the gospel ; the
remaining third is principally composed of teachers, 'pro-
fessors, printers and employes in newspaper offices, and
apothecaries.

After some further observations on this subject,
he report continues :

It is true that Congress has failed to respond to the re,
commendation of the President to enact a general militia,
law. The subject was considered, and the failure to act
was the result of deliberation. The conscription laws
enacted by Congress have placed in the military service
of the country all its able-bodied citizens between the
ages of 17 and 50. The whole military material of the
country, so far as legislation is concerned, is absorbed
by the conscription acts. There is none left on which a
militia law can operate, except tho exempted classes, and
the boys under 17, and the men under 50 years of age. It
was deemed expedient to allow this material to remain
subject to the control of the State authorities for the
purposes of local police, to aid in the arrest of deserters,
and to enforce the administration of State laws. It is
also true that the President has recommended the pas-
sage of a law suspending the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus. This recommendation was the subject of
a special message, in secret session. It occupied the atten-
tion of Congress for four or five weeks. After mature deli-
beration the measure was laid aside, as unimportant and
inexpedient. Spies can be arrested and tried summarily,
without suspending the writ of habeas corpus. Conspiracies,
tending in any manner to the injury of our cause, were pro-
vided for by special act passed at the present session, "to de-
fine and punish conspiracy against the Confederate States."
The states of North Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi had
expressed through their Legislature great repugnance to
the past legislation of Congress suspending the writ, and a
large portion of the people throughout the country was
arrayed against the policy of that legislation. It was
deemed -wise and prudent to conciliate opposition at a
time when dissensions were ruinous ; and as the benefits
to be derived from .the suspension of the writ were con-
jectural, the deliberate judgment of Congress was
expressed by its silence on the subject. It is to be
regretted that the Executive does not concur in these
views, and again calls on Congress to revise its action,
and to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, as a measure
" almost indispensable to tho successful conduct of the
war." If the fact stated in the confidential message
alluded to by the President be the basis of the opinion
that the suspension of the writ "is indispensable to the
successful conduct of the war," the Congress does not
concur in that opinion. The writ has not been suspended
since August last. It is not perceived that the military
reverses of the country, since that period, were occasioned
by th;"absence of the legislation asked for.

The document concludes with the following
words :

Nothing is more desirable than concord and cordial co-
operation between all dopartivents of Government. Hence
your Committee regret that the Executive deemed it neces-
sary to transmit to Congress a message so well calculated
to excite discord and dissension. But for the fact that the
success of the great struggle in which the country is now
engaged depends as much on the confidence of the people
in the legislative as in the executive departments of the
Government, the message would have been received with-
out comment. Your Committee would have preferred
silence. It has been induced to an opposite course, because

they believe Congress would be derelict in its duty to per-
mit its legitimate and constitutional influence to be de-
stroyed by executive admonitions, such as those contained
in the message under consideration, without some public
exposition of its conduct.

A ruffian, named Litton, has been sentenced to
three months' hard labour, at Burnham, Bucks, for beating
his pony to death.

he would take care that a full statement of the proceed-
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT 1 ings should be laid before .Parliament.
WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.
In reply to an HON. MEMBER,
Mr. CARDWELL said a telegram had been received
from Gen. Cameron, stating that war had broken out in
New Zealand, that there had been an attack, and that
three officers and 15 men had been killed and 30 wounded.
The enemy, however, had been repulsed with great loss.
THE OFFICE OF POSTMASTER-GENERAL.
In reply to Mr. GRIFFITH,
Lord PALMERSTON said it was not the intention of
the Government to introduce any measure for the purpose
of enabling the Postmaster-General to sit in the House of
Commons.

HOUSE OF LORDS-LAST EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

• - -
ROYAL COMMISSION.
The royal assent was given by commission to the fol-
lowing bills:—Consolidated Fund (£15,000,000), Perth
Provisional Order Confirmation and Affirmation (Scotland),
Election Petition Act, 1848 (Amendment), Drainage and
Improvement of Lands (Ireland), Provisional Orders Con-
firmation, the Marine Mutiny, the Mutiny, the Bank of
Ireland, Colonial Naval Defence, East India High Courts;
Colne Valley and Halstead Railway ; Glasgow City and
Suburban Gas ; and Whitechapel and Holborn Improve-
ment.

The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, Lord
Monteagle, and Earl St. Germans.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Shrewsbury and North Wales Railway Bill, the
Hastings and St. Leonards Gas Bill, the Oswestry Local
Board Bill, and the Ross Improvement Bill were severally
read a second time. The Ayr Water Bill and the Calmar-
thenshire Railway Bill were read a third time and passed.

EASTER HOLIDAYS.

The motion of Lord Palmerston that the house at its
rising do adjourn until the 24th was agreed to.
THE BUDGET.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice
that on the 27th he should make his financial statement.
:On the order for going into committee of supply,
Mr. MONSELL moved an address to the Crown, praying
that the commissioners appointed to inquire into the rail-

way system of the United Kingdom might bo instructed to

direct their inquiries, in the first instance, to the Irish rail-
way system, with the view of ascertaining, with as little
delay as possible, such facts as might enable the house to
determine whether the provisions of the second clause of
the General Railway Act of 1844 should be applied to such
Irish railways as were subject to its provisions. Comparing
the railway system of Irelaad with that of Belgium and
certain parts of Germany where the population was less
numerous than in Ireland, he contended that experience
proved that a reduction of fares by one-third would still
suffice to remunerate the companies, and at the same time
give an enormous impetus to the trade and commerce of
the country. Having also mentioned several instances of
unintelligible obstinacy on the part of the Irish railway
companies, and of dogged resistance to reform and the
' adaptation of their management to the English system in
the matter of fares and quick trains. he suggested that the
Government should put in operationthe actreferred to in his
motion, possess themselves for a limited number of years
of the Irish lines—not, however, as absolute owners but
temporary lessees—and delegate to others the duty of con-
ducting the traffic. If the question were put to the Irish
people, whether they would prefer cheap travelling, or the
abolition of the income tax, he believed they would unani-
mously prefer the former as the best and most certain means
of restoring prosperity to the country.
Mr. WHITESIDE, in seconding the motion, said the
question was not that of the state taking upon itself the
management of the railways, but of exercising that control
over them which was intended by the admirable act of 1844
at the end of 21 years from that time if Parliament should
think fit. By the abolition of four-fifths of the companies
in Ireland, the creation of a central management, and the
adoption of a moderate scale of fares, a saving might be
effected of £200,000 a year.
Mr. SCULLY supported the motion as being of equal
importance to England and Ireland, but incidentally com-
plained of the absence of the Irish element from the com-
mission.

Mr. ENNIS opposed the motion, and contended that the
cases of Ireland and Belgium were not analogous, the rail-
ways in the latter country being subsidised by the Go-
vernment. As an Irish railway proprietor he should be
delighted if the Chancellor of the Exchequer would take
the railways under his protection, as, owing to keen com-
petition and the depressed condition of the country, they
were now the reverse of prosperous.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, although
unable to give his assent to the motion, assured its sup-
porters that such measures as the Government could pro-
perly adopt should be taken to secure an early investiga-
tion of the condition of the railways in Ireland. He did
not approve of placing the railway system in the hands of
Government, but readily admitted that there were various
modes in which Government might intervene to secure the
advantages of cheap railway conveyance. The commis-
sioners recently appointed to inquire into the railway sys-
tem in this country had already entered upon their task ;
but it would be possible foi them to direct the collection of
facts relating to Irish railways. If, therefore, the motion
were withdrawn Government would cheerfully undertake
to avail themselves of such means as were at their com-
mand to institute an examination of all the facts of the
Irish railway system without delay.
After some observations from Colonel DICKSON and Mr.
LEFROY,

Mr. MONSELL expressed himself satisfied with the
assurance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and con-
sented to withdraw his motion.

Sir H. VERNEY put a question to the Under-Secretary
for Foreign Affairs respecting the construction to be placed
upon the despatch of Earl Russell to the English em-
bassies at Berlin and Vienna of the Bth instant concerning
the recognition of the provisional flag of the duchies of
Schleswig and Holstein. The hon. baronet, in drawing
attention to this subject, complained in bitter terms of the
conduct of Prussia.

Sir F. GOLDSMID said it was impossible for the House
of Commons to view the state of things in the duchies with
anything like satisfaction ; but the hon. baronet ought to
have known, when last year he advocated their separation
from Denmark, that the idea of a despotic power like
Prussia coming forward as the friend of oppressed nationa-
lities was the merest delusion. Prussia had throughout
but one object, and that was her own aggrandisement.
Mr. LAYARD also twitted Sir Harry Verney with hay-
ing been the earnest advocate of the state of things which
we now had the pain of witnessing. Government had not
interfered, however, and had nothing to say withregard to
what was passing in the duchies. When Schleswig and
Holstein were separated from Denmark they were -placed
in -an anomalous position, for they were no part of the
territories either of Prussia or Austria, and had ceased to
form part of Denmark. But it was necessary that they
should have a flag, and in provisionally recognising that
flag the Government had not admitted the rights of
Prussia, Austria, or the Germanic Confederation.

In reply to remarks by Mr. WYLD and Mr. F. POWELL,
Sir G. GREY stated the objections of the Government
to the severance of Cornwall from the diocese of Exeter,.
and the erection of that county into a separate see, and in-
timated that there was at present no necessity for any
general revision of the boundaries of dioceses.
Mr. H. SEYMOUR called attention to the recent news
respecting the operations of the British expedition to
Bhootan.

Mr. GOSCIIEN inquired by whom the war had been
initiated, the local or supreme Government, and whether
the Government or the commander-in-chief in India was
responsible for the manner in which hostilities had been
conducted.

Sir C. WOOD offered a detailed explanation of the cir-
cumstances which had led to the war, and said that it had
been determined upon by the Indian Government after
communication with the commander-in-chief and with the
sanction of the Government, at home.. •

The only other question discussed on the motion for
supply was the works at Holyhead, the progress of which
towards completion was described by Mr. GIBSON.
The house then wont into committee on the navy esti-
mates, and agreed to tho votes of £1,158,797 for waged of
artificers and labourers in the naval establishments at
home, £72,585 for wages in the establishments abroad,
£64,800 for medicine and medical stores, and £103,925 for
miscellaneous services.

The Pilotage Order Confirmation Bill was read .a third
time and passed.

The General Post-office (Additional Site) Bill was read
a second time.

Other bills were also advanced a stage, and the house
adjourned at five minutes past one o'clock.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

ROCHDALE.

Mr. William BalioliretCh; offered himself as
a candidate for Rochdale in the Conservative in-
terest. In his address he states that he, if returned,
will give his support to the political views of Lord
Derby. He is a member of the Church of England,
but is favourable to the relief of Dissenters fromthe
payment of church rates. He is prepared to add to
the franchise, but would not give exclusive power
to any one class. He is in favour of a policy of
peace, but hostile to a' constant interference in
words, o
t accompanied by an ill-concealed intention
f n
acting. He thinks the colonies should be
o
defended with the whole strength of the empire from
foreign molestation. He would have the present
laws of settlement abrogated. He states, in conclu-
sion, that he has invincible objections to the Lord
Chancellor's proposed Bill for doing away with the
power
of imprisonment
for certain debts.