The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-03 00:00:00

TALLOW.

Tho tallow trade is steady to-day, and prices are
tolerably firm. P.Y.C. is quoted at 41s Gd to 41s 9d per
cwt on the spot, and at 42s Gd for October to December
delivery. Rough fat commands 2s 121 per 81b. Tho par-
ticulars were not issued at a late hour.

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
(Per Africa.)

NEW YORK, June 20 (Evening).
President Johnson has issued a proclamation ap-
pointing Andrew J. Hamilton, of Texas, and James
Johnson, of Georgia, Provisional Governors of their
respective States. The proclamations are the same
as those previously promulgated making similar
appointments for North Carolina and other States.
Provisional Governor Ilolden, of North Carolina,
has issued a proclamation calling for a convocation
to amend the State Constitution, elect a Governor
and Legislature, and restore the complete rule of
civil law in that State. The Governor exhorts the
people to become loyal, good, and useful citizens.
He officially announces to the coloured people their
freedom, and hopes they will become industrious,
as otherwise they cannot escape extinction. He
promises to be their friend if they do right, but
declares that he will aid in inflicting prompt punish-
ment upon the idle and vicious.
The Secretary of State has addressed the follow-
ing letter to Secretary Welles:—
"Department of State, June 17, 1865.
" Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.
" Sir,--I have the honour to inform you that it
has been made known to this department, by the
Minister of the United States residing in France,
that the Imperial Government of that country has
removed all restrictions heretofore imposed by it
upon the naval intercourse with the United States.
I have also the pleasure to inform you that I have
learned in the same authentic manner that the im-
perial Government of France has withdrawn from
the insurgelts of the United States the character of
belligerents, which heretofore that Government had

conceded to them; and these proceedings by the
Governmeni of France have been prompted by the
express desire of reviving the old sympathies between
the two nations whose interests and traditions in-
vite them to cultivate the most cordial relations.

" I beg leave to suggest the importance of com-
municating these facts to the proper officers of the
navy.—l Lave the honour to be, &c., &c.
" WILLIAM H. SEWARD."
A Washington despatch states that the Govern-
ment, having received information that the British
Government has withdrawn its concession of
belligerent rights to the rebels, Secretary Seward
has written to Sir F. Bruce acknowledging the
receipt of Earl Russell's despatch, and expressing
the gratification of the President at the action of
the British Government.
The Secretary, however, renews his protest against
the joint action of the British and French Govern-
ments conceding belligerent rights to the insurgents,
as an unfriendly act and contrary to international
law. He also expresses regret at the reservation
contained in Earl Russell's despatch in favour of
Confederate cruisers, and demands that such ves-
sels shall be delivered up to the United States. He
also declares the right and intention of the United
States Government to capture such piratical craft
under whatever flag they may be placed, refusing to
recognise the validity of any transfer that may be
be made. The Secretary has addressed the follow-
ing to Mr. Welles
" Department of State, June 19, 1865.
." Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of Navy :
" Sir,—l have the honour to transmit for your
information a correspondence between Sir Frederick
W. Bruce, and this Department, on the subject of
the withdrawal of the pretended concession of bel-
ligerent rights to the insurgents. In view of this
correspondence I suggest, therefore, that you com-
municate to the naval officers of the United States
the results following therefrom, viz.—Firs::. Great
Britain withdraws her concession heretofore made

of a belligerent character from the insurgents

Second. The withdrawal of the twenty-four hour
rule has not been made absolute by Great Britain,
and that, therefore, the customary courtesies are not
to be paid by our vessels to those of the British
navy. Third. The right of search of British vessels
is terminated. Of course this has no bearing on the
operation of the existing slave trade treaty. Fourth.
Any insurgent or piratical vessel found upon the
high seas may be lawfully captured by vessels of the
United States.—l have the honour to be, &c.,

" WILLIAM H. SEWARD."
The arguments of the counsel for Mrs. Surratt,
Harold, O'Laughlin, and Arnold, were read on the
19th inst. before the Military Court, at Washington.
Hon. Reverdy Johnson, counsel for Mrs. Surratt,
delivered an able and lengthy argument denying the
jurisdiction of the court over the cases before it, and
contending that the civil courts only could properly
try the accused persons. Mr. Johnson quoted the
Constitution at some length to sustain his argu-
ment. He contended that Mrs. Surratt having,
as had been proved by respectable witnesses, always
sustained the character of a devout Christian, and a
well-educated, affectionate, and charitable woman,
there was nothing in the evidence of such men as
Weidman and Lloyd to justify the charges against
her. In his opinion there were better grounds for
suspicion against those witnesses themselves, their
intimacy with Booth and Payne being admitted.
The argument of F. Stone, Esq., counsel for
Harold, was then read. lie also denied the juris-
diction of the court. He admitted that llarold had
aided Booth to escape, but claimed that no evidence
had been produced implicating him in the assassi-
nation conspiracy. His innocence was established
by Booth's own dying declaration, " I declare, be-
fore my Maker, that this man is innocent," wherein
Booth referred to Harold, whom he had only used
as a guide on account of his knowledge of the roads.
Harold, in that capacity, had been guilty of a grave
crime, but his offence extended no further, and, in
punishing even thal, this court should act
mercifully.

Mr. Cox, in behalf of Arnold and O'Laughlin,
offered an elaborate argument of considerable length.
The accused had been arraigned upon a single charge,
on complicity in a ,3rime located in Washington.
Witnesses for the prosecution had been allowed to
depart after little or no cross-examination. The
purlieus of Toronto and Montreal had been involved
in the evidence, also New York and St. Albans.
" During the trial," said Mr. Cox, " we have visited
the fever hospitals of the British Isles, the prison
pens at Andersonville, Belle Isle, and Lobby, and
penetrated the secret councils of Richmond." Under
the charges against the prisoners for conspiring to
assassinate the President and others, Jefferson Davis
and his associates had been tried and, in the judg-
ment of many, convicted of starving, poisoning,
arson, and other crimes too numerous to mention ;
but by no posslle ingenuity could these foreign
matters be used to the prejudice of the accused.
Arnold and O'Laughlin, although possibly identified
with the conspiracy at first, had abandoned it some-

time before its execution. They might be charged
with sympathy with the plot, but could not be
accused of participation in its execution. The only