The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-15 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
(Via Crookhaven.)
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY BY CONGRESS.
CONFEDERATE PEACE MISSION AT
FORTRESS MONROE.
, The Royal Mail steamship Canada, from Boston
and Halifax, arrived at Queenstown at 5.10 a.m.
to-day (15th inst.) with 117 passengers and
$163,394 in specie. She landed two passengers and
127 sacks of mails, and proceeded for Liverpool at
5.30 a.m. All-well..
The Canada experienced severe easterly weather
throughout-the

NEW YORK, Feb. 1.
A joint resolution, submitting to the decision of
the State legislatures the constitutional amendinent
abolishing slavery throughout the United States,
passed the House of Representatives amid much
enthusiasm, by 119 ayes to 56 noes.
The Senate, yesterday, passed the retaliation re-
solutions, with the amendment that the retaliation
should be in conformity with the usages of war
among civilised nations.
The correspondent of the New York Times re-
ports that since the departure of Sherman's army
from Savannah heavy rains had prevailed.
Portions of the 15th and 20th corps crossed the
Savannah river, and advances 10 miles upon the
road constructed over the swamps. Here they
were involved in mud and forced to retreat, leaving
behind a portion of their transportation. Some of
the troops, unable to retreat, encamped on patches
of high ground.
The country for ten miles in the interior of South
Carolina was covered with water, and impassable
for men or wagons. It was reported that Sherman
would in consequence move on roads where the soil
is firmer and more elevated.
The Federals have opened a passage 100 feet
wide through the obstructions in the main ship
channel of the Savannah River, enabling vessels of
the largest class to come up to the city.
Sherman has occupied Salkehatchae. A portion
of Porter's fleet has arrived at Charleston.
Sherman has issued orders that commerce cannot
be resumed in the South until the national
authority has been sufficiently established to
enable the courts and law officers to control such
matters. Trade will be confined to the necessary
wants of the army and inhabitants dependent on it
for the necessaries of life. Nobody will be allowed
to trade unless citizens of the United States. Cotton
sales are to be restricted to the United States Trea-
sury agents. No title in cotton on a bill of sale
will be respected until after the-cotton is sold in New
York. Country people may bring in cotton to ex-
change for goods and clothing, for which three-
fourths of the value of the article, at the New York
market price, will be paid.
Charleston despatches of the 24th ult. state that
the enemy had made no advance. The railroad be-
tween Salkatchie-bridge and Pocataligo has been
destroyed. The Federal pickets extended a short
distance to the Charleston sill?. of Pocataligo.
General D. H. Hill has announced that the cotton
in Augusta will be burned at the approach of the
Federals, even at the risk of burning the city.
The Richmond Sentinel announces that measures
have been taken to burn all cotton in North and
South Carolina and Georgia that is in danger of
falling into the enemy's hands.

The Associated Press correspondent states that
General Sherman says if the Northern people pro-
vide men and money to carry on the war for four
years, the war will not last four months longer. If
they fail to do so there is no knowing how long the
war may be prolonged. He opposes any offers of
peace before the Confederate armies have been
annihilated.

The Wilmington Journal of the 23d ult. says :
" The Federals left their base in front of Hoke's
forces yesterday, and have concentrated at Fort
Fisher. Their fleet has also disappeared. Con-
siderable skirmishing took place around Fort
Anderson on Saturday and Sunday. It is supposed
the enemy are anxious to silence the Fort in order
to open the way up the river for the gunboats." _
The steamer Blenheim has been captured at Wil-
mington.

The Richmond Examiner says that now Fort
Fisher is taken there is no doubt that a new har-
bour will be staked out on the coast for blockade
runners.

A Federal-force, numbering, it is said, from 6,000
to 10,000 men, including infantry, cavalry, and
ai'tillery, is moving up the Chowan river towards
Weldon.

The City of Cork has arrived out.
NEW YORK, Feb. 1, Evening.
According to the Richmond Sentinel, the following
are the particulars relative to the peace mission of
Vice-President Stephens, Judge Campbell, and Mr.
Hunter, who left Richmond on Sunday for Wash-
ington.

Mr. Blair returned to Washington from Rich-
mond with the assurance that President Davis was
willing to send commissioners, without obstacles of
form, to confer upon peace, if assured beforehand
that they would be received.
Mr. Blair, on his second visit to Richmond, took
President Lincoln's consent to receive and confer
with commissioners informally sent with a view to
the restoration of peace. Commissioners have there-
fore left, as informal agents, to see if it is not pos-
sible to place a peace conference on a basis which
may serve for so desirable a result. Success may
possibly attend their efforts, " but," says the Rich-
mond Sentinel, "we must indulge in no confident
expectations; nor relax our energetic re preparations
for the ensuing campaign. The choice of the com-
missioners which has been made by President Davis
assures us that no means will be left untried to effect
peace if possible. Should the commissioners fail, all
discordant councils on the peace question will be
silenced, and the timid and factious will be unable
to persuade the people any longer that peace can be
reached through any other path than stout hearts
and hands."

It is understood that the Southern Commissioners
will be allowed to visit Washington a private
citizens.

The Richmond Examiner says that the mission of
the Confederate Commissioners is entirely without
official qualifications. It opposes the encourage-
ment of unofficial peace missions, and declares that
the object of the country is war.
The Richmond lVhig has little hope that the North
is prepared to grant terms acceptable to the South,
and urges vigorous preparations for war. The re-
port has been received at Richmond that complica-
tions have arisen at Washington with the European
Governments, and that this is the probable explana-
tion of Mr. Lincoln's motive for attempting peace
negotiations. The New York Herald has no great
faith in thenegotiations, but thinks that a
practicable
result from the mission is not impossible,

The says Blair's mission Was impelled
by an honest Tribune
desire for peak
e, and hopes that the
overtures thus reciprocated by the South may result
in a speedy, honourable, and lasting peace.
The Times says if the commissioners
pared for peace on the basis of the are pre-
Union they
go not
will p .
probably go to Washington, if na they will

• The World considers that the fact of Davis send-
ing COMMiggioner3 is evidence tha,t on some terl3o3 or

other he is
Willing to consent to the reoonstructklia
the Union.
The Daily News v.;
says the South will reject any
-
proposition not recognising its independence, i and
asks if Lincoln will accept the fact that areconstruc-
tion of the Union is impossible.
The Tribune states that General Singleton, who
lately visited Richmond, says that the Confederate
leaders are confident of their ability to conquer in-
dependence. He thinks there will be no peace, un-
less the South abandons the idea of independence or
the North abandons union.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2, Evening.
General Sherman commenced moving, in three
columns, on the 17th ult., in South Carolina. The
main column was marching towards Charleston,
and the two other columns by different roads in
the direction of Branchville. The last accounts
received state that Sherman is less than 40 miles
from Charleston. Forster's troops arc co-operating
with him.
The Confederates are offering resistance at every
point, but are being rapidly driven from all their
defensive positions.
Hill has ordered all non-combatants to leave
Augusta. A Federal gunboat grounded in the C01:11-:
bachee River, and-was destroyed by the Confede-
rate batteries..

An unsuccessful incendiary attempt has been made
to blow up the arsenal and magazines and burn
Savannah. A number of buildings were burned.
Several persons have been arrested.
The Federal gunboats were moving up the Cape
Fear River, on the 29th ult., to the vicinity of the
Confederate forts.
Hood's main army is at Impela. Grant has visited
Fort Fisher and returned to Fort Monroe.
Richmond papers state that Lee has not yet been
appointed to the chief command, nor has Johnston
been reinstated. -

The Governors of New York and Maryland have
sent messages to the legislatures of the two States,
urging the ratification of the constitutional amend-
ment abolishing slavery in Maryland.
The Illinois and Rhode Island houses of dele-
gutes have ratified the amendment.
President Lincoln has been serenaded at I'Vash-

ington, when he made a speech, in which he said
that the passage of the amendment abolishing
slavery was an occasion of congratulation for the
whole world. He thought the measure was a fitting
if not indispensable adjunct to the winding-up of
the great difficulty. He wished the reunion of the
States to be so effected as to remove all causes of
future disturbance. " The emancipating proclama-
tion," said Mr. Lincoln, " falls far short of what
the amendment will effect when consummated."
Mr. Fernando Wood has introduced a resolution
into Congress that it is the duty of the President to
maintain in a legal and constitutional manner the
integrity of the Union, and not to proffer or accept
any negotiations admitting the existence of any
other Federal or Confederate government within
United States territory.
A coloured lawyer has been admitted to the bar
of the Supreme Court.

The quota of troops from New York has been
reduced 25 per cent. pending negotiations.
The Toronto Leader announces that the United
States passport system has been rescinded for
Canada.

Messrs. Jay and Cook have been appointed sub-
scription agents for the Seven-Thirty Loan.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (Evening).
Money easy. Gold, 205 f. Exchange on Lon-
don, 225 ;on Paris, 2.10 to 2.15. Stocks quiet.
New York Centrals, 1031 ; Illinois, 1141 ; Erie,
69k ; 5.20 Bonds, 109.
Cotton quiet. Middling Upland, 82 to 85. Flour
and wheat quiet. Corn, gocd inquiry. Provisions
quiet. Coffee stead,. Sugar and molasses dull.
Petroleum dull ; crude, 47 ; refined, 66.
NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 10 a.m.
The departure of President Lincoln for Fort
Monroe is confirmed.

The Confederate commissioners were loudly
cheered by the Federal and Confederate troops ou
the James River.

A resolution has been introduced in the Confede-
rate Congress, and referred to the committee for
foreign affairs, declaring that the time may not be
distant when the Confederate States will be pre-
pared to unite on the basis of independence with
those most interested in vindicating the Monroe
doctrine.

Richmond despatches, dated 31st ult., state that
Hardee reports that all Sherman's efforts to cross
the Combahee River had so far failed. The Con-
federates assert that the Tallahassee escaped from.
Wilmington before the capture of Fort Fisher.
NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 11.30 a.m.
President Lincoln is stated to have left for Fort
Monroe, in consequence of a telegram from Mr.
Seward.

Gold 2054.

NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 1 p.m.
The Confederate commissioners were conveyed
yesterday afternoon in General Grant's special de-
spatch boat to Fort Monroe, where Mr. Seward was
awaiting their arrival in another steamer. At 5 p.m.
yesterday afternoon both steamers were anchored
side by side in the stream.

The IVashington Chronicle, the organ of the ad-
ministration, says that " slavery being practically
and constitutionally abolished, we are ready to con-
cede everything else to recall our erring brethren."
The New York .Herald has a rumour that the
peace programme to be discussed will include a
constitutional amendment abolishing slavery, an
amnesty, and the reunion of the North and South
in the Monroe doctrine.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Money easy. Gold, 206 i. Exchange on London,
225. Stocks slightly firmer. New York Centrals,
1041 ; rllinois, 114} ; Erie, 70f ; 5-20 United State
Bonds, 1081. Middling upland, 83c.

NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2 p.m.
The Canadian authorities have delivered up
Burleigh to the United States.
The Canadian Lower House has passed the
Alien Bill.
The Western Virginia Legislature has ratified
the constitutional amendment.