The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-14 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1856.

The American Congress. seems to have taken a
leaf from the book of the British Parliament.
If the popular representatives in the United
Kingdom could show but trivial results from their
labours, those of the United States did still less.
The excitement respecting the War was the excuse
for the want of progress at this side of the At-
lantio—the forthcoming Presidential election and
the personal interests involved therein at the
other. The contest is, indeed, an important one
in many respects: It will exercise a material
influence on the fortunei of " the domestic insti-
tution," and probably decide whether the objec-
tionable system is to be extended throughout the
entire Union, or restricted within its present
limits. The "Filibustering "or piratical system
is also deeply concerned. Ono party seems de•
termined to act in accordance with

" The good old rule, the simple plan—
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can ;"
while, on the other hand, the opponents of
Slavery, or "Nigger 'Worshippers," as they are
termed, respect the rights of all nations as well as
of all men, and do not consider superior strength
as an ample justification for plunder and robbery
of the worst description.

The chief representatives of these conflicting
principles are Mr. BUCTIANAN and Colonel FRE-
MONT. They aro tbe only candidates who have
the slightest chance of obtaining the absolute ma-
jority required by law in the Electoral College.
The object of the Whig candidate —the ex-Presi-
dent FILLMORE—is to prevent any decision in the
first instance, so as to leave the matter for the
House of Representatives. His chance, however,
even in such case, would be of a very infinitesimal
character. There would be still less prospect of
agreement in the House of Representatives ; and
when many abortive bellots had been taken, the
coveted prize would nltimately fall to the Vice-
President, or, in other words, to Mr. BRECKEN-
RIDGE., the second favourite of the Democratic or
BUCHANAN party.

Under such circumstances, and when, to use
the language of our American friends, " the
FRE:trozir stock is every day rising in the mar-
ket," we cannot feel astonished at any tricks that
may be resorted to. One of the most brilliant
specimens of recentdodges is that which ascribes
a direct and positive interference in the contest to

our own Chancellor of the Exchequer, and de-
clares that, English gold will be profusely squan-
dered to insure the triumph of the Republican
ticket, or, in other words, the return (le! Colonel
FREMONT. Ridiculous and incredibL as this
rumour may be, there are yet parties unscrupu-
lous enough to use it, notwithstanding a thorough
conviction of its falsehood, and there may be others
with credulity sufficient to swallow the palpable
canard. Those who have raised the Amy must
have calculated on obtaining some advantage
therefrom. It shows, however, that the prospects
of their favourite are not quite so brilliant as
they would strive to persuade us, or they would
scarcely resort to such weapons from which they
might easily receive a far greater loss than gain.
That the contest will be an exceedingly close
ono is certain ; and that no exertions will be
spared on either sido is equally clear. The par-
ties are so equally balanced, that it is impos-
sible to say to which side the majority will even-
tually fall. The Northern, or Free States,
have a majority of electors, but the S outherns
exhibit greater energy, are better organised, and
more willing to merge all minor points, in order
to attain success in the great matter on which
they have set their hearts—the extension of
slavery, and the overthrow of what has long been
known as the Missouri Compromise. Their
pockets are directly concerned in this interesting
question, and they have not hesitated to exhibit
a total disregard of law and equity in their efforts
to advance the cause for which they have resolved
on " going the whole hog," even to the extent (if
dissolving the Federal Union, if it be regarded.:as
indispensable to preserve a right of property' in
their fellow-men.

The deplorable .scenes that have recently been
enacted in Kansas illustrate the lengths to which
they are prepared to go. There a gang of armed
ruffians, from the adjoining slave State of Mis-
souri, invaded their brethren at the time of th e
election of the Local Legislature, took forcible
possession of the ballot-boxes, and returned a
body of men prepared to carry out their views
per fas aut nefas. The body thus illegally and
unconstitutionally placed in power fulfilled the
expectations of those to whose violence they
owed their so-called election. They passed enact-
ments prohibiting, under severe penalties, the.
expression even of opinions unfavourable to the
domestic institution, and making the slightest
assistance rendered to a fugitive slave a capital
offence.

General PIERCE, totally disregarding the cha-
racter of the pseudo election, or the atrocious
violation of popular rights, sanctioned the pro-
ceedings, and recognised the men pitchforked into.
the Legislature against the wishes of a large arid
overwhelming majority of the bond fide voters ;
thus affording an additional proof, if any were
required, of his unscrupulous determination to
support the cause of slavery at any cost. There
is, however, fortunately, but little prospect of his
being able to do much more mischief. His
tenure of office is rapidly approaching to a con-
clusion, and whoever may be chosen there must
be a decided improvement in the Government.
We cannot conclude without assuring our
transatlantic brethren that, however anxiously we
may watch the progress of the contest, we have
not the slightest intention of interfering, one way
or other, with the exercise of their incontes-
tible rights—the results whereof must exercise
not only a vast influence on their own
future welfare and prosperity—but on the peace
and tranquillity of the world. We shall rejoice
if Colonel FREMONT be selected, but we shall do
all in our power to maintain the most amicable
relations with their future President, whether the
fortunate individual be BUCHANAN, FILLMORE, or
BRECKENRIDGE.

Austria was displeased with Russian occupa-
tion of the Isle of Serpents, therefore at once the

ships of England were ordered into the Black Sea.
Whoever may be offended, Austria may not. We
wonder how long Turkey or Sardinia might have
been annoyed without redress. What on earth
obtains for Austria these attentions ? Is it be-
cause she declined a legitimate alliance with us

all, and seduced us into a disgraceful liaison with
her that she might gratify herself with the liber-
ties accorded to a political courtesan ? Of course
in this case we are heartily glad of the result ;

Turkey gets the benefit, and R'n3ia is obliged to

draw in her horns both at the mouth of the
Danube and at Kars. Still we cannot but won-
der, though we- night well have ceased to do it,
at the effrontery of Austria ; that she, who never
did anything for the liberation of the Danube
(except when she liberated the Russian troops
there from fear of the Turks, and sent them to
attack us at Inkerman)—that she should now
make such a stir about Russia's taking a station

at the mouth of the River ! To the last the
sAme—ptting all she can without expending
a penny herself.
.Aud this shameless Power

is actually at the prepent 'moment retaining her
9dious troops iu the Principalities she ought never
to have entered, and furnhhing the Russians with
pretext to keep theirs still in the country agreed
to be surrendered.

Nothing, indeed, can contrast more discredit-
ably on the one side, and more honourably on the
other, than the perfidy of Russia and Austria,
and the good faith of the Allies. Russia encroach-
ing everywhere, and destroying what she was in
all honour bound to restore entire ; and not only
that, but prolonging the stay of the troops in Kars
and Bessarabia till this hour, though but a few
miles from their own country. Austria again
imitating her in this, and preventing the convo-
cation of the Divans, and the settlement of the
Principalities by refusing to withdraw her soldiers
from a country which never belonged to her. On
the other side all that was stipulated is more
than fulfilled. The vast armies of the English
and French, several thousand miles from home,
have been withdrawn, within three .months
from the signing of the Treaty, though they had
six months allowed them, and for no other reason
than to show alacrity in fulfilling engagements,
for the stores already there were superabundant,
the health of the men. excellent, and the weather
the best of the year. England and France have
been in this, as in all things, but foolishly desir-
ous to relieve Russia from disgrace, and mean
overreaching, on her part, has been their reward.
After such a merciful peace, a Government with
the least sense of honour would have shown its
gratitude by immediate evacuation of Turkish
territory, and scrupulous regard to appearance.
Russia and Austria are, beyond question, the
shabbiest of great powers.

While on the subject-, it is but fair to give hon-
our to whom honour is due. It would appear
that not only has England more than fulfilled her
engagements to Ru3sia, but tho last year and the
return of the troops has been a happy reversal of
all the mismanagement of the awful winter of

1853-4. The stores accumulated, of every kind,
have been so large that they were a considerable
impediment to completing the evacuation, and
though heavy loss has been sustained in selling
part of them, yet care has been taken to sell
only what would cost more for carriage home than