The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-01 00:00:00

.FIE SUN, LONDON, SATETROAY EVENING, MARCH 1, 1862.

Federals. The very important border State of
Kentucky now seems to be almost cleared of
rebels, and Tennessee, the next State south is
not only threatened by the advancing armies
of the North, but we are told Southern des-
patches state that the Federal flag was cheered,
as it advanced up the Tennessee River. One thing
is gratifying—the announcement that prisoners of
war will be exchanged, and political prisoners re-
leased on parole, and that extraordinary arrests will
in future be made only by the military authorities.
The next telegrams will now be awaited with great
interest. There seems to be something like action
at last.

Our distinguished ally has got into a curious
little collision with the House of Commons of his
creation. The matter may not seem to be very
great, but it is one in which the EMPEROR is deeply
concerned personally; and that both in regard to
the policy involved, and his own action in the busi-
ness. The questions really are—shall the second
empire have, like the first one, a number of terri-
torial titles founded on military triumphs, which
shall remain as long as an heir to wear them exists,
as monuments to the glory of NAPOLEON 111. ; the
next question is, when the EMPEROR demands the
requisite pecuniary dotation, shall the Corps Legis-
latif be at liberty to say—no.
The EMPEROR has succeeded in creating a Duke
Of MALAKOFF, and a Duke of MAGENTA. He now
desires, in honour of Chinese successes, to create a
Count of PALIXAO, making even the Flowery
Empire contribute laurels to the honour of
the second Empire. General MONTAUBAN, when
he found that the EMPEROR'S wish was
objectionable to the deputies, wished the EMPEROR
to withdraw his demand for a dotation. The EM-
PEROR replied in a firm tone that he should not
withdraw it, and of course from that moment the
EMPEROR and the Corps Legislatif were in anta-
gonism. It was naturally supposed that that body,
most of them Government nominees at the elections,
would quietly vote what was thus required of
them; but, most unexpectedly, they fight hard to
have a mind of their own. It was under-
toed that the Chamber was willing to vote a
dotation for life to the new Chinese count,
but they were not willing to vote one to his heirs.
As the General is not a wealthy man, this would
of course interfere with the EMPEROR'S desire for
posthumous reputltion. He did not, like our House
of Lords, relish the notion of Life Peers. How-
ever yielding the Count may be, the EMPEROR
cannot make up his mind to yield; the more so as
the new Count is one of his oldest coadjutors,
having assisted him in his first unsuccessful attempts
to scat himself on the throne of France. The EM-
PEROR, therefore, must feel that his credit is pledged
in every way to the attainment of his end.
Thus far the attitude of resistance is very threat-
ening. The committee on the Count DE PALI-
KAO'S pension reports to the Corps Legislatif, by
an overwhelming majority, unfavourably to the
Bill. The language of the report is, of course,
studiously laudatory of the EMPEROR'S in .
tentions, but it is equally decided as to
their not being legal. They close their report
to the House with the following mixture of flattery
and firmness :—" At the moment," they say, " when
it is about to propose to us a resolution inspired by
motives of the most elevated character, the com-
mittee experiences a deep and sorrowful impression.
We know that the Corps Legislatif will partake
this sentiment, while differing upon one point from
the intentions of the EMPEROR almost on the very
morrow of the day when the ever-generous confi-
dence of the Sovereign has restored to us several of
our essential privileees. But we have thought
that, upon a question touching fundamen-
tal principles without involving any impe-
rial political necessity, the independence of
our language would be the beat proof of the
sincerity of our devotion. The accomplishment of
our duty has been still more facilitated by the
result of the votes being 182 to 34. The committee
has not for a moment apprehended failing to be the
true interpreter of the sentiments of the Assembly.
The committee, therefore, unanimously proposes
the rejection of the bill."

What will be the course taken we cannot tell.
The report of the committee to the body which
appointed it ought to be final, and their amend-
ments have been rejected by the committee, and
remain, with the bill itself, fixed for discussion
next Thursday. The committee appear to be
confident that the House will agree with
them. That it will do so, in point of opinion
and feeling, can hardly be doubted ; since the
Committee is likely to represent the real views of
of the Corps legislatif. But the EMPEROR is
little likely to surrender such a point to those whom
he considers to be his mere creatures. Yet how
will he effect his object. The law forbidding en-
tails is against him. The committee adroitly base
their action on the law, while professing every wish
to oblige their master. If the EMPEROR persist
he must either change the law or overide it, and
that in the face of an opposition based on the
law. In resorting to mere force their is no credit.
A legislative coup d'etat would be but proclaiming
himself to all Europe a hero of Captain WILKES'S
fashion—a hero against the helpless. Most pro-
bably, therefore, means will be found to procure
either a reconsideration of the vote, or to induce the
whole House to act on the wish of the EMPEROR
rather than on the report of their Committee.

We are glad to see that the hon. member for
Bodmin last night called the attention of the Pre-
mier to a very important subject. The suppression
of the African slave trade has long been an object
of great importance with the people of this country,
who naturally think if they can put a stop to the
slaver's exportation of his victims, and prevent the
horrors of the passage, a very important step will
be taken towards the abolition of that inhuman
traffic, which is the disgrace of modern civilisation.
The co-operation of several States has been, or
should have been, secured by treaties which
have not been kept with the good faith
which the importance of the subject and
the value attached to it by this country
demanded. Spain has fallen far short of her en-
gagements, and there is now another delinquent.
Mr. WYLD last night asked Lord PALMERSTON
whether any communication had been made to the
Government of the United States relative to the
withdrawal of the American squadron from the
African coast. The hon. member was also anxious
to learn whether any attempt had been made by
the British Government to induce tb e PRESIDENT to
prevent the use of the United States flag by foreign
slavers on the West Coast of Africa, and if any
request had been made on the part of the English
Government to obtain permission for the British
ships engaged in the suppression of the slave trade
to ascertain the nationality of ships which may
hoist the fag of the United States. Lord PAL.
MERSTON, in his reply, confessed that the Govern-
ment of the United States had not fulfilled the
terms of the treaty, and added that the British
Cabinet had thought it necessary to make repre-
sentations on the subject. The answer was that
the blockade of the Southern ports obliged them to
withdraw part of their cruisers from the African
coast. As the Premier very justly observed, this

reply was most unsatisfactory, as its plain meaning
was that the United States' Government had failed
in executing the engagements of an important
treaty, because the cruisers which ought to be em-
ployed in its fulfilment were occupied in maintain-
ing a blockade which was very prejudicial to the
interests of this country. We cannot altogether
coincide with Lord PALMERSTON'S faith in Presi-
dent LINCOLN'S earnest desire for the extinction of
the slave trade. Had there been a hearty desire
on the part of the North to stop the iniquitous
traffic in humanity, the emancipation of the slaves
would have been declared long since, and the
sympathies of the greater part of Europe
enlisted in their cause. It was said to be a
forcible argument some years since against total
abolition that it would create anarchy, discontent,
and confusion, and possibly plunge the country
into civil war. The validity of this reasoning has
admittedly many friends of total emancipation, and
a gradual destruction of the system was confessed
to be more practicable though less desirable. But
now when the evils spoken of have been
brought about by the wrongheadedness of the
people themselves, without much regard to their
African brethren, when disgrace, and disaster, and
financial difficulty have exacted a heavy payment
for American arrogance and tyranny, it seems hard
that the struggle should be brought to an inglorious
termination or prolonged to an indefinite period
without the great obstacle to American progress
being finally disposed of, and the barrier removed
from the onward and upward growth of the brave
Republic of the New World, We much doubt
whether President LINCOLN is equal to the op-
portunity, and certainly we are inclined to ques-
tion the good faith of a Government whict,
proves its anxiety to repress an objectionable
traffic on the coast of Africa by removing its squa-
dron to the shores of the southern States of North
America. Such active kindness sounds either like
an Irish bull or an imposition on credulous simpli-
city. We are glad that our Government have
thought it necessary to inquire into the subject;
it is also a matter of satisfaction that the hon. mem-
ber for Bodmin should keep a close surveillance over
the indulgent laxity of our home officials, and the
ingenious subterfuges of the American Cabinet.

The mystery of the Neapolitan Proclamation is
now cleared up. It would have been cleared up
sooner, but Sir JAMES HUDSON, to whom Lord
RUSSELL telegraphed, was away from Turin at the
time—was indeed at Milan. An answer was how-
ever, forwarded by Baron RECASOLI to the repre-
sentative here of the Italian kingdom. The
proclamation was not a forgery—it was
genuine—but more to the credit of the
Italian Government than bad it been a forgery.
It was the concoction of a .subordinate officer
(doubtless in imitation of that of MURAT, in the
same district, and probably with intentions of
honest severity in behalf of the life and property
of innocent men), but it was instantly suppressed
by the superior commander. There was accord-
ingly nothing for the British Minister to apprise
his Government of at home. Nothing had been
done by any responsible authority. The thing was
as utterly unworthy of notice iu the House of Lords
as any indiscretion of one of Admiral MILNES'
Lieutenants, which the Admiral on the spot had
rebuked and disallowed.

LATEST NEWS.

AMERICA AND MEXICO.
NEW YORK, FEB. 15 (Morning).
(Per Nova Scotian, by telegraph to Portland, and

via Londonderry.)

The Federal forces invested and attacked Fort
Donnellson on the 13th. The cannonade lasted all
day. One Federal gun boat assisted, and others
were coming up. Three Confederate guns were
reported to be dismounted. It was believed that
the Federals had captured the left redoubt. A
considerable number were killed and wounded on
both sides. Fifteen thousand Confederates, under
Generals Pillow, Floyd; Johnston, and Buckner,
garrisoned the fort; and it was thought the Fede-
rals would carry the place by storm to-day or to-
morrow.

Southern despatches state that the Federal flag
was cheered when proceeding up the Tennessee

river.

The Confederat es had agreed to a general exchange
of prisoners. The Secretary of War had issued an
order for the release of all political prisoners, ex-
cept spies, upon their giving their parole not to aid
the enemies of the Federal Government. All per-
sons so released, who keep their parole, will be
amnestied for past treasonable offences. Extraor-
dinary arrests will in future be made only by the
military authorities.

The House of Representatives has passed the
Naval Bill, with an amendment appropriating
15,000,000 dols. for gunboats. A general impres-
sion exists that a strong effort will be made in the
House of Representatives to cancel the clause of the
Treasury Bill making interest payable in coin.