The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-07 00:00:00

AMERICAN SLA VERY.

The following letter has been addressed to the
Star in reference to its support of Mr. Douglas as
candidate for the Presidency of the United
States :

TO THE EDITOR OF THE "STAR:'

Sir,—The letter of " Zeta," in the Star of Sept. 4, pre-
sents a true picture of the American slavery-supporting
Democratic party, its representative, Senator Douglas, of
the anti-slavery Republican party, and its representative,
Mr. Lincoln.

A glance at the Presidents will confirm the views
of " Zeta," and show that the slave can hope for nothing
from the former party. George Washington, a slave-
holder, was twice elected ; John, Adams, a non-slaveholder,
was elected once. The first Democratic President, Thomas
Jefferson, a slaveholder, was twice elected. Madison and
Monroe, were also Democrats, slaveholders, and twice
elected. John Quincy Adams, a non-slaveholding Whig,
was elected once. General Jackson, a Democrat and slave-
holder, was twice elected. Martin van Buren, a Democrat
and no slaveholder, was elected once. General Harrison, a
non-slaveholding Whig, died soon after his election.
John Tyler, a slaveholder, became President, and went
over to the Democrats. James R. Polk, a Democrat and
slaveholder, was elected once. General Taylor, a Whig
slaveholder, died soon after his election ; and Fillmore, the
Vice-President, a non-slaveholder, became President.
Franklin-Pierce and James Buchanan, both Democrats,
and the willing servants of the slave power, though non-
slaveholders, complete the list of Presidents.
There are some slaveholders who fear that Douglas,
if elected, will not go far enough in supporting slavery.
The Mobile Register in allaying their fears, says :—" By
the death lately of the mother of Judge Douglas's first
wife, who was a Miss Martin of North Carolina, his two
boys, his own children, come into the possession of a
largo fortune, consisting in plantations and slaves.
This, added to his extensive Mississippi property, will
make Mr. Douglas, in behalf of his children, one of the
largest slaveowners in the South. How a man who has
twice selected a southern. lady for his wife, the whole
fortune of whose children is dependent on the perpetuity of
our institutions, who is almost the only northern man of
prominence that has ever uttered one word of dislike,
much less hatred, to slavery, how such a man can be re-
presented as a worse enemy to slavery than Lincoln, passes
our comprehension. The judge has been sent for by his
connections in North Carolina, and will probably visit the
old North State."

From these statements it is evident that the success of
Douglas is the triumph of the slave power.
John Quincy Adams contended that the Federal Govern-
ment would have the right, in time :of war, to emancipate
the slaves. At present it has neither the will nor the power
to do this. As each State becomes prepared, by the public
opinion of its own citizens, to emancipate it slaves, they
will be set free. In this mode seven States have become
free, which once held slaves. The Star has done much
to aid in abolitionising the American public senti-
ment. Public opinion is stronger than armies or
navies. It made slavery, and can unmake it. One
condition, however, of its success is to place the pa-
tronage of the Federal Government in the hands of
the anti-slavery party. " When the righteous are in au-
thority, the people rejoice; and when the wicked bear
rule, the people mourn." As you, sir, have done much to
establish this great truth, I feel persuaded that you will
not object to its application to the anti-slavery movement.
—I am, sir, &c.,

EDWARD MATHEWS.
Spring Cottage, Upper 'Man (1.-atrac.t,
Dover-road, London.

POPULAR EXCITEMENT AT GENEVA.

The Independance Beige publishes the following
letter:—

GENEVA, SEPT. 1.
The presence of the Emperor Napoleon in Northern
Savoy induced a great many inhabitants of the province of
Annecy to come to Geneva and embark on the lake, in order
to proceed to Thonon by water. For the last two or three
days a crowd of Frenchmen have been attracted by curiosity
to parade our streets. The llelvetia steamer took them on
board yesterday morning; there might be about 500 of
them, and several priests were of the party. The popula-
tion of Geneva, attracted in considerable numbers to the
quay, saw them depart with much indifference ; but some
20 Cenevese or so were observed among them. A few per-
sons immediately made up their minds to receive these
Geneva truants with a hissing on their return, taking care,
however, not to let it be supposed that this sign of disap-
proval could' be addressed to the Frenchmen who were on
board. The boat returned last night at half-past nine.
A larger crowd was collected on the quay than usual,
close to where the boats disembark their passengers.
As soon as the steamer arrived the hisses of the
crowd began to bo directed against their fellow-citizens, who
had shown such a want of tact, under the present circum-
stances, as to go upon a trip which might be considered as
a manifestation in favour of the annexation of Savoy. Un-
fortunately the Frenchmen, who formed the immense ma-
jority of the people on deck, imagined these hisses were
meant for them, and some of them retorted by crying out—
" Annexation for ever I " The hissing became then more
violent than before, and when the landing began a collision
took place, in which happily no one was killed or wounded.
Some of the more peaceable citizens interfered, and the whole
thing seemed to have passed off, when a porter pressed
through the crowd carrying a box with a flag-staff sticking
out of it. The flag was the imperial tricolour of the town
of Gex, and it was instantly recognised. Some imprudent
fellow began to shout out, " There's our flag ! We will
stick it up in spite of you in Geneva I" This cry produced an
unanimous commotion among the crowd ; an angry shout
was now raised, and the French travellers answered it re-
peatedly with their " Long live the annexation I" The
porter was stopped, and the people wanted to seize the flag.
The French resisted, but in spite of their efforts the colours
were carried off to the office of the commissary of
police just opposite the landing-place. Thanks to the inter-
vention of M. James Fazy and a few of our statesmen,
who came up in all haste to the spot, no fresh collision
ensued. I hear the French flag was carefully replaced in
the box this morning, by direction of the Genevese autho-
rities, and consigned to a commissary of police, who imme-
diately left in a private carriage to go and restore it to its
owner, the mayor of Gex, in the town of Gex itself."

REMOVAL OF THE COURT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
It is understood that her Majesty leaves Scotland on the
15th inst., and is expected at Osborne on the 18th.

GREAT CONFLAGRATION AT SMYRNA.—A sup-
plement to the kipartial of Smyrna, of the 29th August,
publishes an account of a terrible conflagration which has
taken place at that city. No less than 700 houses have
fallen a prey to the flames.
A MAN THREATENING TO CHOP FITS WIFE'S
HEAD OFF.-At the Hove Bench, on Friday, Richard
Trangmar, shepherd to Mr. Hamshar, Fatcham, was
charged with threatening to chop his wife's head off with a
hand-bill, and also with threatening to kill her. Ordered
to be bound over in £2O, and to find two securities in £lO
each, to keep the peace for six months, and being unpro-
vided he was locked up.— West Sussex Gazette.
SERIOUS EXPLOSION ON BOARD SHIP.--CARDIFF,
SEPT. 6.—An explosion of fire damp occurred last night on
board the steamer Asia, of London, loading coals, when
much damage was done to her decks, and eight men were
slightly injured.

DEATH OF MRS. ABBOTT LAWRENCE.—We regret
to report the death of Mrs. Lawrence, widow of the late
Hon. Abbott Lawrence, formerly minister at the court of
St. James's. Mrs. Lawrence died on the 20th of August,
at Boston, United States, after an illness of three weeks.
" A fact of great importance to the turf," says
the Sport, " has just been officially announced, namely,
that Count F. de Lagrange and Baron Nivii:re have entered
into partnership. The two stables of Royal-Lieu and La
Morlaye will nevertheless be kept on separately for some
lsshifiPtling out. A number of able
time to come."
In consequence of the demand for lads for the
naval service, an additional number will be entered weekly
soenamtheenbaoroekns
oowf th
required
eF isgiaorrd
Ntleasgse.
THE FORGERIES AT NOTTINGHANI.—YeSterday
Francis Edward Shipley, colliery proprietor, was again
brought before the mayor and borough magistrates, charged
with forging bills of exchange. The charges this morning
were five in number, and the sums upon each bill varied in
amount. The court was again crowded, a number of the
leading men of the town being present. The first charge
entered into this morning was for forging a bill for £34135.
upon Mr. Henry Norman, of Le,icester. The prisoner
pleaded not guilty, and was, after evidence had been taken,
committed to take his trial on the charge; as also upon
others. Application was made for bail, but the bench con-
sidered the charge of too serious a nature to grant it. The
prisoner was then removed to gaol. Longhorn (who was
concerned with the first forgery case) is yet at large,