The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-17 00:00:00

STATE OF JASIAICA.

An official publication on the state of the British West
India Islands gives a favourable account of the prospects
of Jamaica. Perfect tranquillity was maintained in the
colony throughout the year 1866, and has been continued
ever since. In August 1866 there were eight military
outposts in different parts of the island, but five of them
were withdrawn during 1867, the three retained being no
more than the extent of the colony demands. In no case
have these troops been called out for internal service. The
sugar crop of 1866 was rather above the average, and so
was that of 1867. Moreover, the old prejudice against
everything but sugar cultivation is fast dying out, and
attention is being given to several industries for which
nature has prepared the island. Railway and telegraphic
communication have been extended. Altogether Governor
Sir J. P. Grant, is of opinion that " security and
tranquillity are beginning to have their natural effect in
turning the attention of capitalists to a colony whose
natural resources are unbounded."

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
The charge of bribery so persisted in by the
New tl
e
New York Evening Post against ex-Governor Fen-
ton has not been without its effect at Washington,
where it created some stir. The Post asserts that
Senator Fenton's influence with General Grant was
nearly destroyed by the exposure. His friends re-
commended him to take no notice of the malicious
attempt to damage his reputation ; a curious way
to meet charges which the Evening Post makes
while calling on the Senator to commence legal
proceedings for his vindication either against it, or
against Mr. Murphy, who declares he saw the
cheques for $20,000 presented to Governor Fen-
ton's agent for the signing of the Erie Bill
within three hours. There is, however, a difficulty
in the way, as statements made before a Legislative
Committee are privileged, as is, the report of such
statements ; hence the law shields both Mr. Murphy
and the Evening Post. But Governor Fenton ought
not to look for their punishment so much, as to
clear himself from the imputation, and the investi-
gation of a legal tribunal might be the best means
to accomplish this object.
Mr. Butler has reported a bill from the Recon-
struction Committee for the removal of disabilities
from loyal citizens. The bill provides for general
or
system for the removal of political disabilities, by
petition to the United States Courts, in States
Territories where the persons applying resided dur-
ing the war, admitting that the applicant believes
the Confederate General and State Government to
have been rebellious and treasonable, and truly
repeats of all acts done by him in maintenance
thereof, &c.
The Session has been prolonged by the debates on
the Tenure-of Office Act, an Act which has given rise
to more talk in both Houses than any subject since
Impeachment. When the Vice-President laid before
the Senate the House Concurrent resolution to ad-
journ till the 6th April, Mr. Sumner opposed it,
and some little sparring took place between him
and Senator Anthony, who thought there was no
good reason why Congress
.should not then ad-
journ. " What does the Senator propose to do with
Georgia ?" asked Sumner. "Leave it to take care of
itself," was the reply. t, But what does my excellent
friend say to Virginia ?" was the next question.
His excellent friend considered it unnecessary to
do to anything to Virginia this Session. "Or with
Texas?" continued Sumner. Mr. Anthony sup-
posed Texas would stand pretty nearly where it
had stood for the last few years, which the Senator
from Massachusetts considered to be an abandon-
ment of those States, while the other thought it to
be no more an abandonment than of Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, and the rest. Mr. Sumner pointed
out the difference, showing how the former needed
Congressional protection; and thus the precious hours
slipped away while the Senators haggled over the
time they would give.
The House seems to have closed its business last
Saturday, but the Senate was sitting during this
week, as on Tuesday they rejected the Alabama Claims
Treaty, with only one vote in its favour. On Fri-
day of last week Congress received a message from
the President, transmitting copies of the correspon-
dence. The adjournment, the telegram states, is
to the 7th December, which will be a Tuesday ; but
as, according to the Constitution, Congress must
meet—in the absence of a special law —on the first
Monday in December, the 6th of that month must
be the day meant. Reuter's telegram also says that
the Senate was specially to meet last Monday for
the ratification of treaties, and it is perhaps out of
" pure cussedness" that, instead of ratifying the
most important, they tore it into pieces, with but
one man to gather up the fragments. On Thurs-
day they rejected the Darien Canal Treaty, though
on that day they ratified the Naturalization Treaty
with Great Britain.

The President's appointments this week, all which
we may presume the Senate has confirmed, were Mr.
J. Lathrop Motley, of Massachusetts, to succeed
Mr. Reverdy Johnson as Minister to St. James's ;
Mr. John Jay,'of New York, to succeed the Minister
at the Court of Vienna ; Ex-Governor Curtin, of

Pennsylvania, in succession to Gen. Cassius Clay
at St. Petersburg. His Excellency S. Sanford, now

United States Aiinister Resident at Brussels, to be

Minister at Madrid, vice Gen. John P. Hale. Mr.
Horace Rublee to Berne, Switzerland, in succession
to Mr. George W. Warrington ; Mr. Thomas Nel-
son to Mexico ; Mr. William Thompson to be Con-
sul at Southampton, probably the gentleman who
eight years ago held the post whom Mr. Brittan
succeeded ; Mr. Meredith Reade to be Consul-Ge-
neral at Paris, vice the lion. John G. Nicolay ; the
lion. Freeman 11. Morse to be Consul-General in
London. These two latter appointments have just
been created by Congress, and Mr. Morse is pro-
moted by the new Administration from the post he
has long held as Consul, and on this point there
appears to be an error in the telegram, for holding
the office of Consul he cannot be nominated to it,
though it would require a new exequatur for the in-
cumbent of the new post.

In consequence of the recent hardships and ill-
treatment of emigrants on the voyage to America,
the Government at Berlin, in co-operation with
that of Washington, has consented to the sketch of
of a treaty, drawn up by Consul-General Rosing,
in New York, from the North German Confede‘
ration, and it is hoped that it will soon be per-
fected.

The following is the bill reported by Senator
Sumner from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
to facilitate telegraphic communication between
Europe and the United States :
" The bill provides that whenever telegraphic commu-
nication shall hereafter be established between the United
States and any foreign country by moans of lines or cables
is any part thereof Within the juriotlictical Qf the United