The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-25 00:00:00

those white citizens who dread coming in contact
with the black voters at the polls can have their
qualms eradicated by providing special ballot-boxes
for the negroes. The Wecker continues—" Perhaps
the plan would relieve the negroes from a great
deal of ungentlemanly and disagreeable company."
This is only equalled by the conduct of a conven-
tion of negroes that met recently at Nashville.
They fought for six hours about who should be Pre-
sident, and then selected a well-to-do barber of
Nashville, who as he presided applauded whenever
sentiments were expressed that met his approval by
saying, "Dat's what's de matter !" The convention
demanded the right of suffrage, and in order to
enforce the demand adopted a resolution protesting
against the congressional delegation from Tennessee
being received into the Congress of the United
States, if the State Legislature does not grant negro
suffrage before December 1.
There is nothing of very great interest transpiring
in the South. In South Carolina the conflict be-
tween the military and civil authorities continues,
and the military officers refuse to allow any civil
officers to resume their functions. As the subject
has been referred to President Johnson for a deci-
sion affairs will remain at a stand-still for some
time. In Mississippi the election of delegates to the
State Convention took place on August 8, but
nothing has yet transpired indicating the result.
There is little doubt that the Southern Rights party
has swept the State, and that nine-tenths of the dele-
gates chosen are Confederates of the stronger feeling.
The Convention meets on August 14, and will
speedily reconstruct the State in-a manner suiting
all the people, unless the military interfere. In
North Carolina Governor Holden has appointed
Judges for nearly all the counties, and the courts
will at once be opened. Criminal cases, however,
will only be tried, civil ones remaining in abeyance
for some time to come. The Richmond election dif-
ficulties have at length been settled. There is to be
no new election, nor are the officers chosen to be
allowed to take their seats, but a list of gentlemen
has been made at a meeting of citizens, and General
Terry has appointed them to the offices. As the peo-
ple generally approve the new appointments, the ad-
ministration of affairs in Richmond will continue
peaceably. At the recent election in Tennessee very
few votes were cast, and in more than half the counties,
owing to the military restrictions, the polls were not
even opened. As the returns are not yet made public,
it is presumed that the Democrats, in spite of the
military, polled the majority of the votes. The bit-
terest feuds exist throughout Tennessee between the
Union men and Confederates. Murders are of fre-
quent occurrence, and Governor Brownlow recently
said publicly, " It is clear to my mind that in Ten-
nessee the loyalists and rebels cannot live together."
It is reported from Illinois that large numbers of
Southerners are coming into that State, especially
from Missouri. The central and southern parts of
Illinois were first settled to a great extent by people
from the Southern States, and having strong family
affections they are sending to the South for their
relatives and bringing them to Illinois in large
numbers. The tendency of this emigration is to-
wards the strong Democratic counties, and as it
threatens to change the entire political complexion
of the State the Republicans loak upon it with a
very jealous eye, and threaten to use legal means to
prevent it.
It is said that the friends of Mr. Jefferson Davis
in Washington are raising money for Mrs. Davis,
who is in a very destitute condition in Alabama.
Mr. Davis is still imprisoned in Fortress Monroe,
and enjoys good health. General Joseph E. John-
ston, of Georgia, wishes to be made superintendent
of some Southern railroad, as he finds it necessary
to do something to keep the wolf away. Hershel
V. Johnson, of Georgia, who, in 1860, was candi-
date for Vice-President, on the ticket with Stephen
A. Douglas, has been pardoned by the President at
the intercession of Mrs. Douglas. It will be remem-
bered that Colonel John S. Mosby, the famous par-
tisan leader, recently opened a law-office at Cul-
pepper, Virginia. On the 9th of August he came
to Alexandria to be admitted to practice in the
courts there, and was arrested by the military for a
breach of his parole. To-day he was released on
promising to remain in Culpepper.
The American newspapers are discussing the
gradulal payment of the National Debt by means of
the surplus gold accumulating in the Treasury. The
receipts from Customs largely exceed the amount of
coin required to pay the interest on the debt, and it
is estimated that the surplus of coin this year will
be at least $25,000,000. The Act of Congress, pro-
viding a sinking fund for the payment of the debt,
requires that the surplus gold remaining after the
payment of the interest shall be devoted "to the
purchase or payment of one per cent. of the entire
debt of the United States, to be made within each
fiscal year after July Ist, 1862, which is to be set
apart as a sinking fund, and the interest of which
shall in like manner be applied to the purchase or
payment of the public debt, as the Secretary of the
Treasury shall from time to time direct." Under this
requirement the Treasury is bound to redeem dur-
ing the current fiscal year about $28,000,000 of
the debt, from its gold resources. To do this about
$20,000,000 of coin would be required, and the
putting of that amount on the market will have a
tendency to keep down the premium. The National
Banking system, it appears from the latest reports,
is fast ruling out of existence the old State Banks,
especially in the cities. In New York city there are
but 15 State banks in operation ; in Philadelphia
none ; Boston, one ; Baltimore, seven ; Pittsburg,
one ; Albany, one ; St. Louis, four ; Chicago, none
Louisville, ten i Detroit, two ; and Milwaukee.
three.

On the Ist of May last there were 1,050,000 men
enrolled in the Federal army and on the pay rolls.
Since that time a little over 700,000 have been dis-
charged, so that there are about 330,000 still under
arms. Of the troops discharged about 300,000 are
now en route to their homes, to be mustered out.
During the last 40 days over 260,000 men have been
mustered out and promptly paid, the rapidity and
completeness with which it was done giving proof
of the enormous machinery controlled by the Go-
vernment. The reported discharge from service of
large numbers of troops in Texas is correct, and
fully one-half of Sheridan's army will be discharged,
paymaiters and mustering Officers being already
sent to Texas for the purpose. Everything is pro-
foundly quiet on the Rio Grande, and it is reported
that the fortified positions now held by the French
forces in Mexico have been greatly strengthened by
heavy ordnance recently received from France. This
will enable small garrisons to hold the positions ; it
is also stated that General Brown has been removed

from command at Brownsville. Our latest advices
from San Francisco indicate that the loan on behalf
of Juarez was being rapidly taken up in that market,
and the 30,000 stand of arms purchased there for
him had again been seized by the Federal authorities
for debt. On Aug. 2 an incendiary fire took place
at Galveston, Texas, which for a time threatened
the destruction of the entire city, but fortunately
was overcome.

There is an open conflict between the military and
civil authorities at. Detroit, Michigan. The comman-
dant of the barracks turned a citizen named Whiting,
who lived in the neighbourhood, out of his house,
and placed a guard over it. Whiting had the officer
of the guard arrested and lodged in gaol, when a
military squad went to the gaol and rescued him.
A warrant was then issued for the arrest of the
commandant oftoh ite barracks, but he refused to pay
anttetion t. Thus the matter stands, and
every one is anxiously awaiting developments.
Governor Parsons of Alabama has just issued a
letter of instructions to applicants for pardon in
Alabama, which directs them now to frame their
applications. In these applications they arc to
wwhich show the strict inquisi-
tion of each man's past life before
questions,ma
anse
thatr l2
is toe
a 0

he is pardoned. As these questions are, no doubt,
prompted from Washington they are of interest to

- -
all who watch the progress of Southern reconstruc

tion. The principal questions are—Have you ever

served on a vigilance committee by which enemies
to the Confederacy were tried ? Are you under
arrest ? has any person been shot or hanged by

your order for disloyalty to the Confederacy, or
have you shot or hanged any one yourself ?
Have you ordered or been engaged in hunting
any one with dogs who was disloyal to the Confe-
deraei? Were you in favour of the ordinance of ,