The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-28 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
(Per the Saxonia.)
NEW YORK, Sept. 16 (Noon).
The news is unusually meagre. Southern advices
are generally satisfactory, and indicate a rapid
progress towards rehabilitation by the lately insur-
gent States. The military and provisional civil
authorities are co-operating harmoniously, no cases
of interference by the former with the functions of
the latter being reported. General Slocum having,
in obedience to the President's instructions, re-
scinded his late order, the organisation of the State
Militia is being effected, and it is presumed that
similar action will be permitted soon throughout
the South ; nor is any danger apprehended there-
from, as the moderate and conciliatory policy
adopted by Mr. Johnson appears to be rapidly
eradicating all antipathy to the Government—the
most prominent leaders of the rebellion being now
foremost in openly advocating a frank acknow-
ledgement of the national authority.
It is rumoured that the President contemplates
proclaiming a general amnesty, it being found that
the issuing of special pardons requires too great an
expenditure of time and labour to examine the merits
of individual applications. As an indication of the
probability of a general pardon, it may be observed
that several of the provisional governors have re-
cently announced that all persons whom they have
recommended to the President for pardon may vote
at the approaching elections, upon the assumption
that their pardon will be granted. It may be fairly
presumed that these officials would not take upon
themselves such responsibility without being aware
of the President's purpose in regard to the matter,
as otherwise the elections would be illegal, and their
results rendered null and void.
Governor Parsons, of Alabama, is said to have
advised the Constitutional Convention of that State
to make provisions for the admission of negro testi-
mony in court.
General Swayne, Assistant-Commissioner of the
Freedmen's Bureau for Alabama, has issued orders,
which have been approved by the Governor and by
General Wood, providing that all contracts for
labour between planters and negroes must be re-
duced to writing. In order to protect the negroes,
said contracts are to form a lien on the crops, while
for the protection of the planters all negroes refusing
to comply with the stipulations are to be arrested
as vagrants and compelled to work.
The citizens of Alabama have petitioned Governor
Parsons to interfere for the removal of Colonel
Lynch, of the Fifth Wisconsin Cavalry, on the
grounds that his action is likely to create a negro
insurrection.
Advices from Texas state that the crops through-
out the State are abundant, and the negroes are
generally remaining with their masters and working
as usual. Meetings were being held throughout
the State for the purpose of aiding in reconstruc-
tion, and a Convention is to be called in order to
restore the State to its old Federal relations.
In Arkansas refugees were returning from Texas,
and industry was rapidly reviving. In the northern
portions, however, labour was in great demand, as
the negroes were generally deserting that section on
account of the great antipathy manifested towards
them by the whites, particularly by the Federal
troops, who are said to manifest so deep a hatred
of the freedmen as to render it unsafe for negroes
to remain anywhere in the vicinity of military sta-
tions. One case is reported wherein a negro, hav-
ing outraged awhitewoman, a number of furloughed
United States cavalrymen, after burning the guilty
man, made a general attack upon the negroes in the
neighbourhood, and killed a number of them. The
feeling is said to have resulted from excesses perpe-
trated by vagrant negroes.
The Wirz trial has been postponed on account of
the dangerous illness of the prisoner. It is now
supposed that he will be well enough to reappear
in Court in a few days, when the trial will be re-
sumed and the defence commenced.
There are no new developments in relation to the
trial of Mr. Davis. The President is, said to be
constantly receiving petitions from the South ask-
ing for clemency for him, and urging in extenua-
tion of his cause that he, during the rebellion, only
faithfully performed the duties of an office to which
ha was elected by the almost unanimous voice of
the South, The outcry against him in the North is