The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-23 00:00:00

HOOD'S) has been sent to reinforcell ARDEE in South
Carolina, while BEAUREGARD is to oppose SHERMAN
in the march which JEFFERSON DAVIS confidently
predicts will be his last. From SHERMAN little is
heard, though there is a rumour in Washington
despatches that he has captured Branchville, and
is marching upon Columba, North Carolina. This
report professes to be founded upon:the intelligence
contained in Richmond papers, whose names how-
ever are not given, and it comes suspiciously with
the rumoured evacuation of Mobile reported from
New Orleans, and the rumoured evacuation of
Charleston from another Northern quarter. The
i fact is that the Federals make rumours of their
wishes, but Europeans at least have learned not to
put too much faith in their reports. General
TaomAs, at the head of a body of cavalry and
mounted infantry, variously estimated at 4,000 and
40,000, is said to be moving towards the rear of
Mobile, where General CANBY'S force is to assist
him , but how THOMAS, whose cavalry was not
sufficiently strong to enable him to pursue HOOD,
has contrived to get this supply of horses is not
stated. It may be anticipated that both sides are
preparing for an active campaign, and it is likely
that LEE will make a movement shortly.

The most important news, in a military and civil
sense, which we could receive would be the enlist-
ment of the negroes in the Confederate service.
The Confederate Senate, it is said, has almost
unanimously rejected the proposal to put 200,000
into their army, but whether they were not actuated
in some degree by their indignation at the Northern
proposals may be safely questioned. Perhaps, too,
they objected to the number, which is certainly
large, more than to the principle of enlisting the
blacks in their service. We would hope that such
reasons may have influenced them rather than think
that they are willing to sacrifice the independence of
their country, so gallantly striven for and so
valiantly maintained, to the maintenance of an in-
stitution which retards their progress, which disgraces
their civilisation, and which, whatever their national
achievements, keeps them far in the rear of other
nations. The unanimous approval of the ap-
pointment of General LEE to the chief command
of the army renders it extremely inconsistent to
say the least of it, to oppose his known views on this
subject, and we cannot but hope that the Confede-
rate senate may soon see reason to withdraw its
opposition to so wise and enlightened a measure.

The most interesting part of the fresh news is
unquestionably that which relates to the recent
peace conferences. We have the whole of the cor-
respondence which passed on the subject, as well as
the substance of Divis's message to the Southern
Congress, and his speech at the great mass meetings
at Richmond. It appears that the terms 'offered to
the North were of the most arbitrary and insolent
character, and they have been received by the popu-
lation of the Confederacy as a direct and premedi-
tated insult. The Federals refused to negotiate
on any other terms than those of conquerors,
or to grant peace on any other terms than
unconditional submission. It was further insisted
that the South should accept all the recent Federal
legislation, including the constitutional amendment,
and to this proviso we attribute the refusal of the
Senate to entertain the idea of enlisting the blacks.
The Federal rulers insisted on their right to legis-
late on the relations of white and black in each
State, they declared that no armistice would be al-
lowed without a preliminary submission to the autho-
rity of the Union, and added that whatever conse-
quences might follow from the re-establishment of
that authority must be accepted, though individuals
liable to special punishment might rely upon the
PRESIDENT'S clemency. Such was the programme
offered to the representatives of a high-spirited and
gallant people, who for four years have contrived to
maintain their independence in the face of the
most desperate odds, whose credit, means, and popu-
lation are so far from being exhausted that this very
conference was held as the wish of their adversaries
rather than their own. It is not surprising that
such an offer should at once have rekindled the full
enthusiasm of the Southern people, that it should
have stirred them up to fresh and vigorous action,
have silenced their discords and hushed their mur-
mers in the one chorus of indignant refusal. Had
LINCOLN wished to undo the effects of those dissen-
sions which his agents have so industriously fostered,
he could hardly have adopted a surer method than
the proffer of such terms, and the result of the
conference has been, in the words of the
Richmond Sentinel, to rekindle the spirit of
'6l throughout the South. An immense
mass meeting assembled at Richmond at the
call of the Governor of Virginia for the expression
of the popular sentiments on the weighty question
of peace or war. The enthusiasm was unbounded,
and resolutions were unanimously agreed to, de-
nouncing in the strongest terms the insulting conduct
of the North, and thanking the soldiers who for
four years have fought their country's battles, and
renewing the resolution of the Southern people to
pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their honour to
maintain their liberties and independence. The address
of President DAVIS was worthy of himself and of
the occasion. With earnest eloquence he declared
his unshaken conviction' of the justice and confi-
dence in the triumph of their cause. lie assured
his hearers that he had felt an anxious desire to
put an end to the sufferings caused by the war, and
he would gladly have acceded to any honourable
terms which were based on the recognition of
Southern independence, but that the person did not
know him, who supposed that on any terms he would
consent to the reconstruction of the Union. This
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not to calculate what service they could each avoid,
Ibut who among States and citizens could give most
to the cause.

The correspondence shows us one important point,
namely, that LINCOLN was throughout cognisant
of the mission, and was throughout in direct
communication with BLAIR, though withholding the
direct authority of the Government from his pro-
ceedings. It is difficult to see how Lilicoui could
have expected any result from terms which he
offered through BLAIR, and yet his anxiety for
peace is unmistakeable. The Gordian knot must,
it seems, be cut by the sword, since
England refuses to exercise her legitimate authority
by which she might long srinicteh,e willed,arhwadshtnegethre.
have
put a stop to slavery and to

Affairs in Austria and Prussia are not progress-
ing quite so favourably as their Governments
might desire ; and in various quarters we may no-
tice indications of no very cordial spirit being
entertained towards the executives. In Prussia
the sittings of the Chambers are often disturbed
by altercations, in which some unpleasant home-
truths come out concerning Ministerial dodges and
been
contrivances. Herr VON BISMARK must have
therevelations
very much annoyed the other day at some of
that were made respecting the
secrets of his policy in small matters, and in cun-
ning and contrivance they bid fair to rival his more
Projects and
proceeclinimportant plots. A most
unfair course of
gtihad beer followed by
dep
the Premier in
weavers,
of an address to the
King by a thitaetPiore:onft
complaints were
viously informed that, hail of thersk. Although pre-