The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-23 00:00:00

041$ %.ko
*Mt

LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1865.

s--

The intelligence brought by the Moravian is
almost entirely founded upon report
and rumour.
It is almost amusing to notice the heading of the
several paragraphs. " It is said," "It isrumoured
"It is reported," time after time. Part of this
uncertainty is doubtless due to the continued pro-
hibition of the publication of military news by the
Richmond papers. The Southern journals hint,
indeed, that SHERMAN is rather retreating than
advancing, and that the news received from the
Carolinas is highly encouraging. The Confederate
authorities are undoubtedly wise in restricting the
publication of any intelligence respecting the move-
ments of the rival forces, since the FederaLs might
by means of the self -gratulationa of their enemies

learn when and where to reinforce their invading
armies. The Southern people must naturally
learn from the flying rumours, and the private
sources of intelligence open to them, enough to re-
animate their drooping courage.
The reverses of the last few months have, how-
ever, achieved an important triumph over prejudice
and self-interest in the South, and the admission of
negroes into the ranks is a matter of congratulation
to all the real friends of abolition. The bill for
authorising the arming of the slaves, slightly
amended, has passed the Confederate Senate by a
majority of one, a curious coincidence, since it was
formerly delayed or postponed by the same minimum
majority. It would seem as if LEE had not delayed
to take advantage of the permission, for GRANT re-
ports that he has seen coloured troops fronting his
pickets ; thus showing not only that the slaves
have been armed, but they are sufficiently good
' and willing soldiers to be trusted in a prominent
position. The Northern " reports" tell us, among
other wonderful pieces of intelligence, that a panic
had prevailed among the blacks ever since the an-
nouncement that they were to be conscripted, and
that, in consequence of the conscription, numbers of
slaves were flocking to join SHERMAN, assisted by
their masters, to whom they promised to return to
work for wages as soon as safe. It would be diffi-
cult to devise a more ingeniously ridiculous state-
ment. Why, if they are so afraid of enlistment,
should they rush to join an army? and why should
their masters assist them to join the enemy. Where
is the "safety" of SHERMAN'S army over any other
is not very apparent, but the Northern reports are
not always troubled by too close an adherence to pro-
, bability. In the same way it appears that EARLY,
after his rumoured capture, is still abroad, and
though we have precise details of his defeat by
CUSTEP. near Waynesboro', we have no guarantee
for their veracity. The statement that EARLY has

eft New Orleans for Mobile is evidently a mistake

for CANBY, the Northern General, since EARLY is
in a totally different direction. It is highly satis-
factory to find a Southern journal stating that it is
the determination of'LEE never to abandon Rich-
mond unless he should be absolutely compelled to
take such a step. The loss of the capital of the
Confederacy would, as we have always said, be a
misfortune to the cause ; it would weaken the pres-
tige of the South, and reduce it from the rank of an
established nation to a mere collection of fight-
ing bands. The retention of Richmond comes
under quite a different head from the de-
fence of the seaports, which required strong
garrisons, and prevented LEE from concentrating
his forces at any place inland. The surrender of
Richmond would give LEE little additional strength
compared to the loss which, in many ways, it would
prove to the Confederacy. But the South appears
to have paused in the task of evacuation, and the
fortifications of Augusta are, we learn, being
strengthened, and LEE is strongly entrenching him-
self on the Roanoke, so as to secure the retreat of
JOHNSTON, if necessary. The feeling in the South
is strongly in favour of supporting LEE'S army, and
meetings have been held to that effect.
One thing is certain amid the general uncertainty
—SHERMAN has not gained anything. He finds it,
no doubt, a very different thing to march through
Georgia, with scarcely a man to oppose him, and to
traverse a State like Carolina, which is fully
equipped for war, and accustomed to military mea-
sures. The wonderful victories which he is said to
have achieved want confirmation sadly, and it is
somewhat remarkable that the scene and the actors
change with every mail. All things at present are
in a doubtful and transition state, but the general
appearance is decidedly favourable to the pros-
pects of the South.

" Better late than never " is an adage with '
which we are obliged to console ourselves when a
long talked of and much desired reform is at last
carried. The arrangements in the Post-office have
long called for alteration, and it is in every way
satisfactory that at length some mode has been
suggested for their improvement. The Circular
Memorandum that has lately been issued contains
the recommendations of the Postmaster-General to
the Lords of the Treasury, and, so far as they go, they
seem to answer the desired purpose, and to meet
the exigencies of the occasion. It is true that a
more liberal allowance might have been made, but
any change is for the better. The highest sum
allowed to the letter-sorters is to be fifty shillings
a week, and the lowest, twenty-three ; the highest
to carriers thirty shillings, and the lowest twenty,
and so on. Now, considering that the work
of these men is very arduous, it may well
appear upon reflection that a little more liberality
might with propriety have been adopted. The
labourer is worthy of his hire is in no instance
more true than in that of these men who have to
labour so hard for the benefit of the community,
and in many departments are compelled to brave
all weather and put up with many hardships.
Some more money might be spared from overpaid
and idle officials in many departments of the public
service, in order that a better provision might be
made for these zealous and indefatigable servants
of the Post-office. We are reminded, however, in
the circular that there are other advantages enjoyed
by these men in cases of illness which is so far
fortunate, but that does not give them more remu-
neration in health. At any rate the public will
learn with satisfaction that they are not
thrown on the world entirely when worn out,
by their toilsome avocations, and prematurely dis-
abled in consequence of the anxiety experienced in
trying to make their hitherto wretchedly insufficient
remuneration cover their necessary expenses. More
especially in the. case of letter-carriers are these-
advantages enjoyed,
and very justly so, because, of
course, they run most risks by exposure and fatigue.
Pensions are granted to all who retire from age or
sickness ; and the establishment being always re-
cruited from its lower classes all have a chance of
rising in their employment. A fortnight's holiday
is granted, and medical advice is given gratis. It
is furthermore stated that the wages of the minor
establishment go on all through the year, and fre-
quent changes of abode are not rendered necessary.
This is very true, but then the strain on the consti-
tution of unremitting toil must also be borne in
mind. On the whole, it may be fairly considered
that it is more an instalment of a long-required jus-
tice that has been rendered to the letter carriers
rather than any extra favour given or particular
boon confessed.

The Irish members cannot possibly complain that
their affairs have not been attended to this Session,
for there is a constant recurrence of subjects per-
taining more or less to Irish interests. It is to be
regretted, however, that the Railway Travelling
Bill introduced by Sir C. O'LoGHLEN was thrown
out, for its provisions were moderate, and calculated
to conduce to the public welfare. Prejudice has
carried the day unfortunately, even as it did in the
case of the Yorkshire Railway the other evening.
Sir C. O'LOGHLEN made a very good speech, and
explained the purport of his proposition in a clear
manner. The object which he had in view was to
enable the public to travel on railways on Sundays,
and furthermore to secure to third-class passengers
the same rights -which they possessed in Eng-
land, The hon, member truly observed that

there was not th e same feeling existing
with regard to rails way travelling in Ireland
as there was north of tl to Tweed, and indeed at the
outset of railway traffic in Ireland Sunday trains
were run by almost eve' y railway, but latterly the
habit has been discontim ied in many instances. The
inconvenience of this ces cation has been particularly
felt in the case of the Lii nerick and Waterford Rail-
way. The consequence of this arbitrary arrange-
ment may be best uncle mstood by the explanation
here given—" No one can leave Dublin for the
county Clare between four o'clock on Saturday
afternoon and eight o'( ;lock on Monday morning,
and no one can leave Li merick—a town of 50,000
inhabitants—between el..wen on Saturday night and
eleven on Sunday night" Surely this sufficiently
explains the necessity for some alteration being
made, and it is certainly singular that when the
inconvenience was so well explained no heed
should have been given to the scheme. It was
simply suggested that all railways should run one
passenger train each way every Sunday, and that
the time of their departure should be fixed by the
Board of Trade, in order to prevent the evasion
practised of not running the compulsory train till
late at night. There was great truth in the argu-
ment of the hon. member that railways ought to be
made to suit the public convenience. This is the
only principle upon which to act if we would main-
tain that consistency so peculiarly necessary in these
circumstances. The traffic on railways should be
settled in the best manner for the public convenience,
and not be exclusively directed in order to suit pre-
judices and narrow notions. It is evident that the
excuse alleged in some places, that theSe arrange-
ments are for the benefit of the officials, cannot be
relied on, for everyone knows that when excursion
trains are to start hardly any rest is allowed to the
underlings by night or day. The provisions for
third-class passengers were also very desirable
ones ; in one proviso especially, where at present
these unfortunate travellers have to sleep on the
road when they only go a journey of six hours. Mr.
ROEBUCK also took a very proper view of the case,
and disposed of the arguments against the measure,
by stating that when Parliament gave powers to
Railway Companies they drove all other persons
from the line of traffic, and, therefore, they were
bound to take care of the public interests. It can-
not be said that there was much force in the
reasoning of Mr. BLAKE'S amendment, nor in the
speech of Mr. LEFROY, who seconded it, and said he
did so on religious and financial grounds. No
doubt before long necessity will compel the Legis-
lature to adopt this proposal, and fortunate will it
be for the interests of the public when it does so,
and in all probability those who now oppose it will
find their notions erroneous and their views
mistaken.

The adoption of the Confederation scheme by the
Canadian Parliament will be received with satisfac-
tion in this country. It is an earnest of the anxious
desire of the colonists to prepare themselves for a
possible emergency, and to follow that course in
the hour of danger and uncertainty which wise and
prudent men have strongly recommended. The
dissent of New Brunswick will, it is hoped, only in-
terpose a temporary delay, and it will be a relief,
and satisfactory to this country when the grand
Confederation scheme is fully completed, and the
British North American provinces present a firm
and united front to any assailant, stimulated by a
desire to mortify and humiliate England, or tempted
by the rich prize of their yet half-developed
wealth. It by no means follows that such
a proceeding on the part of the colonists
indicates any desire to embroil themselves with
their neighbours. They have everything to lose and
nothing to gain by such a course. Unlike older,
less fertile, and more populous districts, they have
as yet vast treasures hid in their soil, wild tracts
untenanted, rich plains where numberless herds
might find pasture, which now lie idle and fallow.
Their sparse and scattered population does not at
present suffice to develop the riches of their own
country, or to do more than lay the foundation of
that extensive commerce which will one day no
doubt fill their ports and cities. It is the
sense of how much they have to lose, and
how peculiar and insecure is their posi-
tion, that urges colonial statesmen on to
active exertion in this matter, and we are glad that
they have received every encouragement from the
Home Government to proceed on a course which
will really tend to strengthen England herself. The
old saying that no machine is stronger than its
weakest part is equally true of nations, and in spite
of the extraordinary theories of a new school of
politicians who seem to think that England's wealth
and power would increase in proportion as the ex-
tent of her dominions lessened. Canada is part
and parcel of the British Empire, and as such we
are bound to assail and defend her. The
views of this matter which have promul-
gated in some influential quarters reflect very
little credit on the political sagacity of our modern
statesmen. The general tone of Lord RUSSELL'S
foreign policy may have lowered us in the
eyes of other nations ; our cowardly vacilla-
tion about Denmark may have rendered our
threats and promises alike henceforward worth-
less ; our partial neutrality in American affairs may
have alternately incensed and irritated the parties
concerned, but all these results together are tame
compared to the effect of England's abandoning her
colonies at the moment of danger. Not alone
would such a policy be commercially suicidal, not
alone would it convert close allies into positive
enemies and hand over a large and important terri-
tory to some other power—making it propor-
tionately stronger as we grew weaker—but such a
mean and shortsighted course would at once reduce
England from her position as a first-rate Power.
Like a merchant losing his credit, we should find
that the loss was worthy ten times its actual value,
and the prestige thus forfeited would never be re-
gained. Let Englishmen regard the plain prin-
ciples of straightforward truth and honour, and not
suffer their common sense to be mystified by the
speculative theories of gentlemen who show
eccentricity rather than sagacity or experience.