The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-27 00:00:00

and to punish as felony buying, selling, or holding such

sale of notes, bonds, scrip and other evidences of debt of

the " so-called" Confederate States, or any one of them,

evidences of debt, with a penalty of $5OO fine, and imprison-
ment for not less than one year nor more than ten years.
It was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Sumner, of Massachusetts, introduced a bill to con-
firm the land titles of certain lands granted under a field
order of Gen. Sherman at Savannah, to the freedmen. It
embraces the Sea Islands, the abandoned ricefields along
the river 30 miles back from the sea, and the country bor-
dering on St. John's river, Florida. It confirms all the
possessory titles created by the Inspector of Settlements
and Plantations in the region which said order included,
and in pursuance of its provisions against any claimant
under such order. The bill was referred to the Committee
on the Justiciary.
Mr. Morgan, of New York, introduced a bill granting
to certain peasons the right to establish telegraphic com-
munication between New York and the West Indies. It
was referred to the Committee on Commerce.
A Washington despatch says :—" It is said that the Em-
peror Napoleon a short time since addressed a letter direct
to the Secretary of State, asking for the recognition by the
United States of MaxiMilian's Government as a Govern-
ment de facto. The ground upon which he based his
request was that it had maintained itself for nearly
two years, and was therefore entitled to such recog-
nition. It is said that the Sectetary of State has
replied to the note, and that he emphatically declines
to accede to the request, and gives at length the
reasons therefore. He denies that it is a Government de
facto; declares that the whole people of the United States
are pledged against any such recognition if there was
any ground for it, which there is not; that, from the best
information obtainable from that distracted country, the
Liberal party have not yielded obedience, and do not
intend to, but, on the contrary, their cause is in the
ascendant. This prompt reply, taken with the action of
both Houses of Congress in regard to the position of the
Government, will probably open the eyes of the Emperor."
The New York World's Washington despatch says :
"The State Department received by the last steamer
from Europe an important despatch from our Minister to
England. There is strong reason to believe that England
will back down from her position on the Alabama, and at
once consent to a just and equitable adjustment of the
questions in dispute. The temper of the last despatch
from the State Department, which emanated from the Pre-
sident himself, was calculated to open the eyes of the Eng-
lish Government. A gentleman, writing from England to
a gentleman in this city by the last mail, remarks that the
Queen is our friend, and she will not allow Earl Russell
to take any position that will cause estrangement between
the two Governments."
The New York Gerald's correspondent at Washington,
on the 12th, says :
General Grant had a protracted interview with the Pre-
sident this morning, and communicated to him the result
of his recent trip through Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, and a portion of Georgia. He was everywhere
received wieh tokens of personal respect, and none were
more forward in such manifestations than the leaders in the
late rebellion. The discontened who staid at home during
the war and the women are our bitterest enemies. The
labour question is still in an unsettled condition. A large
majority of the negroes are in comparative idleness, and
nearly all refuse to make or renew contracts till after
Christmas. In some localities the negroes religiously be-
lieve a general division of property is to take place at that
time, and a vague expectation of something of this sort
prevailed nearly everywhere. In too many instances, it
is feared, they are the greatest hindrance in the work of
re-construction. All men of standing and influence were
outspoken in favour of complying with any demands the
President might consider necessary for their restoration.
Slavery, state rights, and secession they admit to be settled
against them irrevocably and for ever. Their desire now
is to return to the Union in fact as well as in name, and
devote the balance of their lives to repairing the ravages
of war. They have been strengthened in this belief by
the expressed or implied promise of those having them
in charge. The summing up of General Grant's observa-
tions inclines him to the belief that the Southern people
almost unanimously desire a speedy re-admission to their
old position as states in the Union, and that their profes-
sions of future loyalty and good behaviour are honest and

sincere.
The House of Representatives at Washington was so
pleased with Gen. Grant's report of the war that 250,000
copies had been ordered to be printed.
The Charleston correspondent of the New York Herald
asserts that Gen. Grant, in the course of conversation at
the dinner given by Gen. Sickles, stated that now was the
favourable moment to drive Maximilian from Mexico, and
that such an opportunity might not occur again.
President Johnson had instructed the Provisional Go-
vernor of Georgia to continue in his functions until spe-
cially relieved, and also not to issue certificates of election
to candidates elected to Congress. The Provisional Go-
vernor of Georgia had since asked to be relieved, and re-
commended the installation of the newly-elected governor.
The Mississippi Legislature had declined to pass the
constitutional amendment because of the second clause.
Judge Jefferson, of the Circuit Court of Kentucky, had
dismissed the indictment against Gen. Palmer for abduct-
ing slaves, on the ground that the requisite number of
States having adopted the constitutional amendmend
previously to the indictment, all criminal and penal acts
of the Legislature relating to slavery are null. General
Palmer has issued a proclamation declaring slavery to
have ceased in Kentucky.
Charleston advices to the 9th instant state that a new
legal question, growing out of the emancipation of the
negroes, had been raised in South Carolina. It
is whether debts incurred for slaves purchased before
the proclamation took effect aro now collectable.
Many of the people of the state are deeply interested in
this matter, being still in arrears on old purchases from
the Virginia slave dealers. The subject had been brought
before the State Legislature, which it was expected would
make provision for partially discharging the creditors'
claims.
A negro jury was empannelled at Callao, Missouri,
in a case of assault, in which the parties were coloured.
It had been proposed to name one of the new terri-
tories in the Far West Lincoln, in honour of the late
President.
The Fenian "Senate" have impeached John 011a-
hony, the president, and deposed him from office, for
malfeasance and misappropriation of funds. They had
elected W. R. Roberts "president," and issued an address
urging all Fenians to rally round the new organisation.
O'Mahony's supporters acted independently of the Senate,
and had Galled a congress to assemble in New York in
January. Meetings of the supporters of both parties had
been held throughout the country endorsing the respec-
tive organisations.
In anticipation of the arrival of Stephens, the "head
centre," from Dublin, the following "order" had been is-
sued:—
"Head-quarters, Department of Manhattan, 8, Wall-street,
New York, December 10.
" All military and civic members of the Fenian brother-
hood in this department are respectfully requested to
hold themselves in readiness to turn out at a moment's
warning, to receive a certain distinguished Irish patriot
cn his arrival in this country.—Fraternally,
JAMES I. ROGERS, State Centre, Manhattan.

SUN OFFICE,. 7 o'CLoCK,

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.—This Day

EALING RACES--THIS DAY.
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
MATCH—Ben Nevis beat Daisy.
INNKEEPERS' PLATE.

Lady Douglas
Tambour Major
Smuito

Eight rau. Won by six lengths.

The above are the only telegrams received up to the
time of going to press. •

Terrible Lecidcmt on the Great Western
Railway—This Afternoon,

Just at the moment of going to press a report has
reached us of a terrible accident on the Great
Western Railway, near Gloucester.

The accident, it is alleged, was caused by a col-
lision between a passenger train and a train of coal
waggons, by which three passengers were, it is said,
fatally injured, and about 30 seriously so.
We are not in a position to confirm the teport ;
but the intelligence has been communicated to us
in such a substantial form that we fear it is to A
great extent true.

(inv.lat

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 26.

The Queen and royal family walked in the
grounds yesterday afternoon, and in the evening
the Prince and Princess Leiningen dined with her
Majesty.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colo-
nial-office from the Governors of Canada and
Heligoland ; and despatches were sent to the Go-
vernors of Malta, the Mauritius, Ceylon, Hong-
kong, Labuan, the Australian colonies, the Cape of
Good Hope, Natal, and Gibraltar.