The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-13 00:00:00

the laws of North Carolina in force before the State
seceded in 1861. This proclamation is another
Conservative triumph, as it excludes negro suffrage.
The State Convention is to prescribe the qualifica-
tions of electors and office-holders in North Caro-
lina. In addition to this the President's proclama-
tion directs that post-offices, tax collectors' offices,
Custom-houses, &c., are to be re-opened in the State.
This proclamation settles the principles upon
which every State will be restored to the Union.
It classes JOhnson with the State Rights party, and
is in accordance with the views of the strictest school
of that party. The Radicals of all classes are
thoroughly discomfited. The proclamation will do
more to pacificate the South than any act since
Lee's surrender. Movements looking to reconstruc-
tion have begun in several States. The State Legis-
lature of Mississippi has met and passed resolutions
instructing Governor Clark to appoint three com-
missioners to be sent at once to Washington to
confer with President Johnson upon the practicabi-
lity of calling a State Convention to restore Missis-
sippi to the Union. Meetings advocating recon-
struction have been held in many parts of Georgia
and Alabama. The people in all the States gene-
rally express a willingness to part with their slaves,
if necessary to restore tranquillity. GovernorTier-
pont has established the new State Government of
Virginia at Richmond. On the 25th of May an
election was held, under an order of Pierpont's, to
fill vacancies in the Legislature. Every voter took
an oath of allegiance, and prominent Confederates
were in all cases elected. The Legislature is strongly
opposed to Pierpont, and there is some indication
that the Federal Government will declare the elec-
tion void.

Every one is so wrapped up in reconstruction that
the foreign policy of the Government is almost
neglected. There is a strong wish to be on friendly
terms with England and France. The Government
has discountenanced the enlistments for the Mexican
Liberals, and the fever to go to Mexico has almost
died away. A very economical fit has seized the
people at Washington. They are retrenching
expenditures in all quarters, and discharging
employes by wholesale. The expense of foreign
quarrels, if nothing else, and the generosity pro-
duced by a course of fortune just now, make the
Government peculiarly placable towards its neigh-
bours.

As Kirby Smith's army has surrendered, it is
thought that Sheridan's Texas expedition will be
abandoned. That officer is on his way to Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, where the troops are assembling.
150,000 men, half infantry and half cavalry, were to
have composed the expedition, but General Logan's
army of the Tennessee-40,000 men, part of the force
—has already been withdrawn, and sent to Louisville,
Kentucky, to be disbanded. It is highly probable
that the last military movements of this great war
have been executed. Meade's and Sherman's armies
at Washington are being prepared for disbanding,
and in about two weeks the regiments will be sent
to the various State capitals to be mustered out.

The assassination trials continue in Washington

Testimony is now being taken for the defence. As
the criminals all appear to be guilty excepting
Spangler, the stage carpenter of Ford's Theatre, the
case does not attract the great attention it did some
time since. No testimony has yet been published
implicating Davis.
There has been a frightful explosion at Mobile.
The ordnance depot and powder magazine exploded
on May 28. Eight blocks of buildings were de-
stroyed, and from 500 to 1,000 people are reported
injured. The loss is estimated at $3,000,000.
All the Northern prisoners, so far as is known,
have been released from Southern prisons. The
guerilla war in Virginia and North Carolina is at
an end. Trade is opening with many parts of the
South. The Custom-house at Savannah has been
re-opened, and steamers run to all inland towns on
the Savannah river. General Gilmore, at Charles-
ton, on May 26, removed all restrictions on trade

in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Trade
has opened on the Alabama river, between Mobile
and Montgomery. The South is too poor, how-
ever, to buy much more than the necessaries of life.
Telegraphic messages can now be sent to all parts
of the South.

A movement has been started in New York to
pay off the national debt. The amount already
subscribed is $2,375,000. The project is regarded
merely as an experiment, however, and has received
no official sanction.

The course adopted by some Northern cities of
expelling people who came from the South has been
abandoned. President Johnson disapproves it.
The gold premium still continues at from 135 to
138.

Many transactions in trade, particularly in

sugar and coffee, are now - made exclusively for
gold. Texas will soon be opened to unrestricted
trade.

The Whitsuntide Procession of Roman
Catholic Schools.

(From the Manchester Guardian of Saturday.)

Yesterday morning, the children connected with the
Roman Catholic Sunday schools in this city walked in
procession. They assembled at the New Cross, Oldham-
street, and started on the route about half-past nine
o'clock. They were accompanied by many of their
teachers and clergymen. The route was, as hitherto,
through Great Ancoats-street, Bridge-street, Union-street,
Ardwick Green, Rusholme-Road, to Oxford-street. The
whole of the way was crowded with eager spectators.
As the procession passed through Great Ancoats the
streets were literally blocked by onlookers of all
grades. The weather was exceedingly favourable, and
the sight was imposing. A band of music headed each
school, banners and symbols of the Catholic faith enlivened
the scene, the girls smartly dressed in light attire, chanted
sacred music, while at intervals, especially when the pro-
gress of the march was checked by a pressure of spectators,
the lads rent the air with cheers. The order of the proces-
sion, with the names of the clergymen preceding the schools,
and the number of children in them, was as follows :
St. Alban's, John-street, Ancoats, preceded by the Rev. J.
Gornall, St. John's Young Men's Society; boys, 160;
girls, 227 ; and teachers, 40..
_ _

St. Ann's, Every-street, preceded by the Revs. T. Allen and
W. Manby ; 500 boys, 1,000 girls, and 50 teachers.

St. Augustine's, Granby-row, preceded by the Revs. Canon
Willing, J. Tracy, and J. Snape ; boys, 600; girls, 900 ;
and teachers, 90; irrespective of the Young Men's Society,
of whom 70 were in the procession.

St. Joseph's, Goulden-street, preceded by the Rev. W. Ma-
lone; 300 boys, 300 girls, and 30 teachers.

St. Aloysus's, Ogden-street, preceded by the Revs. F. Ho-
gan and R. Power : 250 boys and 300 girls.
St. Patrick's, Livesey-street, preceded by the Revs. Canon
Cantwell, R. Liptrott, K. Bouleye, D. O'Brien, J. Scully,
and Costallo ; 1,500 boys and 2,000 girls, besides 28
children belonging to a female orphange connected with
the school.
St. Chad's, Cheethani-hill-road, preceded by the Rev. W.
J. Sheehan, J. Hayes, S. Clarkson, and Riley, and the
Xaverian Brothers; 1,100 boys, 1,400 girls, and 50
teachers, besides several members of the Young Men's
Society, which numbers 650.
St. Mary's, Mulberry-street, preceded by the Revs. J. New-
ton and J. Gerard, and Mr. F. M'Carthy ; 550 boys, 650
girls, and 40 teachers.
St. Wilfrid's, Bedford-street, Hulme, preceded by the Revs.
Canon Toole, T. Billington, and P. Liptrott; numbering
1,400.

As these particulars indicate, the procession was a very
long one. Notwithstanding the crowded state of the
thoroughfare excellent order was maintained by the
police, who sprinkled along the route to prepare for the
procession. On reaching Oxford-road, the children were
dispersed and proceeded to their respective schools.

THE HOLY FATHER has sent a gift of great value
to M. Thiers as an acknowledgment of the services he has
rendered the Catholic cause by the magnificent orations ha
pronounced this session in the Chamber in defence of the
temporal power. The Cardinal of Mechlin, who has left
Rome a few days, is the bearer of this present, which is
said to consist of a matchless collection of engravings of
all the principal paintings on sacred subjects in the Vatican.
M. Thiers's artistic tastes are well known, and the Pope
was probably aware that he has the finest engravings
avant la lettre in France.

The oldest inhabitant of the Cher, M. Besson,
has just expired on his property of Franchant. Ho last
month entered on his 105th year.
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