The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-25 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(Prom the Times Correspondent.)
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 11..
Notwithstanding the warm weather and the con-
sequent dulness of all pursuits the political cauldron
throughout the United States has begun bubbling.
In Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana elections take
place about October 15. In all these States the
Republicans have declared their policy, and before
three weeks have elapsed the Democrats will have
met and laid down their creed. In all these States
the Republicans have adopted a platform which
avoids the only vital question of the day—negro
suffrage—and expresses a decided opinion only upon
points that were decided by the successful ending of
the war. There is not any doubt that in the middle
tier of States the majority of the Republicans are
opposed to negro suffrage, and so firm are they in
that belief that the Radicals have to a certain extent
modified their platform, and now advocate a limited
suffrage, depending upon the intelligence and pro-
perty qualifications of the negro. This, however,
has had no effect upon New England. Her orators
and press still advocate the extremest liberty of the
ballot, and will be content with nothing less. The
Democrats, while they have no trouble in express-
ing the most marked opinions against negro suffrage,
anticipate serious difficulty in deciding other im-
portant principles. They do not know whether to
endorse President Johnson or not, for Democrats
differ greatly in their opinion of his reconstruction
policy. Many are willing to support Johnson ;
others refuse to do so until he dismisses Seward and
Stanton ; others refuse until he liberates Mr. Davis
and pardons General Lee, withdraws the military
garrison from the South, and stops all proceedings
in confiscation. It is most probable that the ques-
tion of endorsing President Johnson will be avoided
in the Democratic Conventions, just as the suffrage
question was in the Republican ones. There still
runs through the Democratic party a vein of the
bitterest hostility to the Government, a relic of the
war that time alone can eradicate. This shows it-
self on all occasions.
The Democrats, however, will have very easy
times compared with the Republicans. So bitter is
the hostility between the factions of that party that
many anticipate it will not hold together after the
meeting of Congress. The radicals are industriously
preparing for a grand onslaught upon the President
and his reconstruction policy. They declare war
with no wish for compromise. It is probable that
Johnson will meet the attack firmly, and prove his
appreciation of his power by turning out all the
Radicals who join in this attack and enjoy com-
fortable Government offices. If he only has nerve
enough and fights hard enough, the entire Demo-
cratic party will support him in the contest. They
dislike the Administration, but hate the Radicals
still more bitterly. Besides there is a general idea
abroad that Johnson means well, and wishes to
treat the South moderately and return speedily to
civil rule, and that all the harsh measures of the
Administration have been instigated by subordi-
nates, who take advantage of the President's well-
known weakness to accomplish their wishes.
Schuyler Colfax, who was the Speaker of the lash
House of Representatives, may be regarded as a
representative Republican. He recently made a
tour through the Western territories, and on July
26 delivered an important speech at Virginia city,
Nevada. But he said not a word on the subject of
negro suffrage. He wished Jefferson Davis hanged,
and nominated General Grant as the people's
candidate for the next Presidency, but was too
far sighted to commit himself just yet to either
Republican faction on the negro question. Mr.
Colfax is ready for a decision either way, and Re-
publican journals in all quarters that have already
expressed their opinions on the subject consider it
very strange that Mr. Colfax, a recognised Repub-
lican leader, should follow the masses instead of
directing them.
The negro is thus the burden of all the American
news and the theme of all American politics. The
race of course think themselves of great importance,
and put on airs accordingly. In the South there
are great fears of a servile insurrection, and, although
no public document or report hints such a thing,
every private letter from that section is filled with
the most dismal forebodings. The Freedmen's
Bureau would have us believe that if there is any
trouble brewing in the South it is caused by the
oppression of the whites. The whites fear an in-
surrection, and blame it on the evil thoughts in-
stilled into the negroes by the soldiers and
Northern emissaries. It is scarcely possible, how-
ever, for a conflict to occur until the military are
withdrawn, and the policy of the Government
has been settled to maintain garrisons throughout
the South for some time to come. In Mississippi
General Thomas has placed garrisons in every
county of the State, and the same course is being
pursued in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
It cannot be denied that the Freedmen's Bureau has
done much good for the blacks. Along the Missis-
sippi their agents have alleviated much of the misery
among the vast columns of helpless and destitute
negroes who have assembled along the river banks,
and it is conceded that they are succeeding admira-
bly in persuading them to labour for their old mas-
ters for wages, and in procuring them good pay. In
Ne A Orleans an extensive system of negro schools
is in operation. There are 230 teachers, and 15,000
children are taught in the daytime, and 5,000 adults
at night. A military tax of one cent in $lO is levied
on all real estate to defray the expenses of these
schools.

Negro troubles still continue, but happily the
budget for this week is not near so bloody as it has
been for a long time past. The exodus of negroes
from Kentucky continues, and it is greatly stimu-
lated by the result of the election, the majority of
Congressmen elected, and votes polled, being, in
spite of the military, against the Government and
opposed to the abolition of slavery. The blacks still
cross the Ohio River by thousands, little knowing
whether they can live or starve on the northern
bank. They flee from an unknown evil and see
nothing before them. An official report that has just
been made states that 28,818 Kentucky negroes
entered the army, and by the provisions of the law
that liberated their families from slavery 100,854
blacks were freed from servitude. As many more
have run away ; and by the time the votes of the
electors are counted and the majority by which Ken-
tucky has decreed perpetual slavery is determined
there will not be a score of negroes in any county
to make slaves of. The hegira from Kentucky has
prompted a similar one from the lower counties of
Maryland and Viginia. Every negro goes to
Washington, and all the vessels that sail up the Po-
tomac are loaded with them. The mania for run-
ning away from homes and masters is spreading
fast, and is one of the strange characteristics of this
remarkable people. A cause for it may be found in
the fact that in those parts of the South where the
military is not stationed slavery is maintained in its
most aggravated rm, and the slaves run away to
escape cru treatfoment.

The constant intermeddling of the militaryautho-
rities sometimes takes strange phases. In
e or
two Southern States special orders haye been given
to all clergymen directing them to affix the follow-
ing declaration to the marriage rites of negroes :
" In accordance with the ordinance of God, and by
authority of the United States, I pronounce you to
be husband and wife."

If the " authority of the United States" will tie
the knot more firmly, this, of course, is very salu-
tary ; but I doubt it very much. A few days since
th people of Newbern were terribly alarmed by
nuge posters placed in conspicuous places all over
the citywith these mysterious characters " R. C. B."
Here was a plot, and after many councils among
military officers, and the issue of innumerable
orders, it was decided that they could mean nothing
less than " Rise, coloured brethren," and guards
were sent round the city to tear them down.
When nearly all were destroyed, a quack medicine
vendor, of whose name the posters bore the initials,
appeared and protested against the outrage. The
military were destroying his advertisements.
General Sigel, whose rather tame career in the
Federal army is well known, has become the edito-
rial manager of the Wecker, the principal German
newspaper of Baltimore. It is Radical in the most
intense degree, and in a late impression states that

those white citizens who dread coming in contact
with the black voters at the polls can have their
qualms eradicated by providing special ballot-boxes
for the negroes. The Wecker continues—" Perhaps
the plan would relieve the negroes from a great
deal of ungentlemanly and disagreeable company."
This is only equalled by the conduct of a conven-
tion of negroes that met recently at Nashville.
They fought for six hours about who should be Pre-
sident, and then selected a well-to-do barber of
Nashville, who as he presided applauded whenever
sentiments were expressed that met his approval by
saying, " Dat's what's de matter !" The convention
demanded the right of suffrage, and in order to
enforce the demand adopted a resolution protesting
against the congressional delegation from Tennessee
being received into the Congress of the United
States, if the State Legislature does not grant negro
suffrage before December 1.
There is nothing of very great interest transpiring
in the South. In South Carolina the conflict be-
tween the military and civil authorities continues,

and the military officers refuse to allow any civil
officers to resume their functions. As the subject
has been referred to President Johnson for a deci-
sion affairs will remain at a stand-still for some
time. In Mississippi the election of delegates to the
State Convention took place on August 8, but
nothing has yet transpired indicating the result.
There is little doubt that the Southern Rights party
has swept the State, and that nine-tenths of the dele-
gates chosen are Confederates of the stronger feeling.
The Convention meets on August 14, and will
speedily reconstruct the State in a manner suiting
all the people, unless the military interfere. In
North Carolina Governor Holden has appointed
Judges for nearly all the counties, and the courts
will at once be opened. Criminal cases, however,
will only be tried, civil ones remaining in abeyance

for some time to come. The Richmond election dif-
ficulties have at length been settled. There is to be
no new election, nor are the officers chosen to be

allowed to take their seats, but a list of gentlemen
has been made at a meeting of citizens, and General
Terry has appointed them to the offices. As the peo-
ple generally approve the new appointments, the ad-
ministration of affairs in Richmond will continue
peaceably. At the recent election in Tennessee very
few votes were cast, and in more than half the counties,
owing to the military restrictions, the polls were not
even opened. As the returns are not yet made public,
it is presumed that the Democrats, in spite of the
military, polled the majority of the votes. The bit-
terest feuds exist throughout Tennessee between the
Union men and Confederates. Murders are of fre-
quent occurrence, and Governor Brownlow recently
said publicly, " It is clear to my mind that in Ten-
nessee the loyalists and rebels cannot live together."

It is reported from Illinois that large numbers of
Southerners are coming into that State, especially
from Missouri. The central and southern parts of
Illinois were first settled to a great extent by people
from the Southern States, and having strong family
affections they are sending to the South for their
relatives and bringing them to Illinois in large
numbers. The tendency of this emigration is to-
wards the strong Democratic counties, and as it
threatens to change the entire political complexion
of the State the Republicans look upon it with a
very jealous eye, and threaten to use legal means to
prevent it.

It is said that the friends of Mr. Jefferson Davis
in Washington are raising money for Mrs. Davis,
who is in a very destitute condition in Alabaia.
Mr. Davis is still imprisoned in Fortress Monroe,
and enjoys good health. General Joseph E. John-
ston, of Georgia, wishes to be made superintendent
of some Southern railroad, as he finds it necessary
to do something to keep the wolf away. Hershel
V. Johnson, of Georgia, who, in 1860, was candi-
date for Vice-President, on the ticket with Stephen
A. Douglas, has been pardoned by the President at
the intercession of Mrs. Douglas. It will be remem-
bered that Colonel John S. Mosby, the famous par-
tisan leader, recently opened a law-office at Cul-
pepper, Virginia. On the 9th of August he came
to Alexandria to be admitted to practice in the
courts there, and was arr*sted by the military for a
breach of his parole. To-day he was released on
promising to remain in Culpepper.
The American newspapers are discussing the
gradulal payment of the National Debt by means of
the surplus gold accumulating in the Treasury. The
receipts from Customs largely exceed the amount of
coin required to pay the interest on the debt, and it
is estimated that the surplus of coin this year will
be at least $25,000,000. The Act of Congress, pro-
viding a sinking fund for the payment of the debt,
requires that the surplus gold remaining after the
payment of the interest shall be devoted "to the
purchase or payment of one per cent. of the entire
debt of the United States, to be made within each
fiscal year after July Ist, 1862, which is to be set
apart as a sinking fund, and the interest of which
shall in like manner be applied to the purchase OP
payment of the public debt, as the Secretary of the
Treasury shall from time to time direct." Under this
requirement the Treasury is bound to redeem dur-
ing the current fiscal year about $28,000,000 of
the debt, from its gold resources. To do this about
$20,000,000 of coin would be required, and the
putting of that amount on the market will have a
tendency to keep down the premium. The National
Banking system, it appears from the latest reports,
is fast ruling out of existence the old State Banks,
especially in the cities. In New York city there are
but 15 State banks in operation ; in Philadelphia,
none ; Boston, one ; Baltimore, seven ; Pittsburg,
one ; Albany, one ; St. Louis, four ; Chicago, none;
Louisville, ten ; Detroit, two ; and Milwaukee,
three.

On the Ist of May last there were 1,050,000 men
enrolled in the Federal army and on the pay rolls.
Since that time a little over 700,000 have been dis-
charged, so that there are about 330,000 still under
arms. Of the troops discharged about 300,000 are
now en route to their homes, to be mustered out.
During the last 40 days over 260,000 men have been
mustered out and promptly paid, the rapidity and
completeness with which it was done giving proof
of the enormous machinery controlled by the Go-
vernment. The reported discharge from service of
large numbers of troops in Texas is correct, and
fully one-half of Sheridan's army will be discharged,
paymasters and mustering officers being already
sent to Texas for the purpose. Everything is pro-
foundly quiet on the Rio Grande, and it is reported
that the fortified positions now held by the French
forces in Mexico have been greatly strengthened by
heavy ordnance recently received from France. This
will enable small garrisons to hold the positions ; it
is also stated that. General Brown has been removed
from command at Brownsville. Our latest advices
from San Francisco indicate that the loan on behalf
of Juarez was being rapidly taken up in that market,
and the 30,000 stand of arms purchased there for
him had again been seized by the Federal authorities
for debt. On Aug. 2 an incendiary fire took place
at Galveston, Texas, which for a time threatened

the destruction of the entire city, but fortunately
was overcome.

There is an open conflict between the military and
civil authorities at Detroit, Michigan. The comman-
dant of the barracks turned a citizen ni.med Whiting,
who lived in the neighbourhood, out of his house,
aplaced a guard over it. Whiting had the officer
he guard arrested and lodged in gaol, when a
military squad went to the gaol and rescued him.
A warrant was then issued for the arrest of the
commandant of the barracks, but he refused to pay
any attention to it. Thus the matter stands, and
every one is anxiously awaiting developments.
Governor Parsons of Alabama has just issued a
letter of instructions to applicants for pardon in
Alabama, which directs
them now to frame their
In these applications they are to
applications.
de of each man's past life before
that is to be ma
answer 12 questions, which show the strict inquisi-
tion

he is pardoned. As these questions are, no doubt,
prompted from Washington they are of interest to
all who watch the progress of Southern reconstruc-
tion. The principal questions are—Have you ever
served on a vigilance committee by which enemies
to the Confederacy were tried ? Are you under
arrest ? Has any person been shot or hanged by
your order for disloyalty to the Confederacy, or
have you shot or hanged any one yourself ?
Have you ordered or been engaged in hunting
any one with dogs who was disloyal to the Confe-
deracy ? Were you in favour of the ordinance of

secession ? These are but a few of the questions,
and all are framed with such great care and acumen
that it is impossible for any one to evade giving
answers that will show up his past life, and then
when the answers are forwarded to Washington
with the application for pardon the examination of
outside testimony is also made before a pardon is
granted.
The Shipowners' Association of New York has
just published a statement of the abuses and extor-
tions practised upon foreign vessels at quarantine.
This statement has caused great excitement, and
will, no doubt, result in a complete reformation of
the quarantine:' The manner in which shipowners
have been robbed is positively shameful. The most
exorbitant charges have been made for the slightest
services, and their payments enforced by threats to
confiscate the vessels.

Statements have been published of the receipts
from the sales of various newspapers in New York
during the year ending the Ist of May, 1865. Of
the daily papers the Herald sold copies amounting
to the value of $675,000 ; the 7imes, $340,000 ;
the Tribune, $135,000 ; the World, $60,000 ; the
Daily News, $45,000. Of religious papers, the Inde-
pendent sold copies amounting to :8,000. Harper's
Weekly, the principal American illustrated weekly,
sold $300,000 worth, and the New York Ledger, the
principal literary paper, $366,000.
The reports of the progress of the cholera and its
breaking out in Malta have caused consternation
in every American seaport. The health officers are
stirred up and the mayors are frightened.