The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-16 00:00:00

Miscellaneous American News.

By the City of Boston, New York, Dec. 29, the
following items have reached us :—" It is reported
that tile Radicals in a recent caucus have resolved
to attempt the enforcement of the Constitutional
Amendment,if it be ratified by three-fourths of the
States now represented in Congress. President
Johnson has expressed his belief that the Supreme
Court will sustain the Southern States in rejecting
the amendment. It is rumoured that a compro-
mise has been effected between the Governments of
Great Britain and the United States, whereby the
Alabama claims, and the claims of British subjects
for damages during the rebellion, will be satisfac-
torily adjusted. Minister Campbell has been
ordered to await further instruction at New Or-
leans. The Fenian trials at Sweetsburg are con-
cluded. Two more prisoners have been sentenced
to death, and six discharged."
Commissioner Wells hai not yet given the com-
mittee copies of his newly-prepared Tariff Bill. It
is rumoured at the Treasury Department that he
has changed the classification of bar iron, as con-
ceded to the Pittsburg manufacturers in the House
Bill, and has greatly reduced the rates. This is
done to meet the views of the New York iron im-
porters. . . .

About forty Senators and members were to star
at six a.m., Dec. 21, from. Washington, on an excur
sion over the new air-line railroad, via Lynchburg
and Chattanooga, to New Orleans.
The Postmaster-General of the United States has
sent estimates to the House for the service of the
department for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1868, the sum being $17,500,000. The items in-
clude—For inland transportation, $8,600,000 ; for
foreign mail transportation, $620,000 ; and for ship,
steamboat, and way letters, $B,OOO. The following
amounts will be required from any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated:—For over-
land mail transportation between Atchison and
Folsom, and for marine mail transportation between
New York and California, $900,000 ; for steamship
service between San FranciSco, Japan, and China,
for one year, from July 1, 1867, $500,000 ; for
steamship service between the United States and
Brazil, for the same period, $150,000. Total,
$1,550,000.
The New York Tribune says Congress has raised
the salaries of its members and of the clerks of
several departments, upon the ground that the
increased cost of living demanded an increase of
wages. With these precedents, the Committee on
Printing will scarcely report in favour of the bill to
reduce the wages of the compositors in the Govern-
ment Printing Office, and restore the ten-hour sys-
tem. They now receive but twenty- four dollars a
week, little enough, we think, and less in specie
than they were paid before the war. They have
laid before Congress an argument showing the in-
justice of the bill, and we cannot believe that such
an unwise measure will be adopted.
The war on the River Plate has for some time
been taking a turn specially unfavourable to Brazil.
There are indications that there may be still greater
troubles in store for the South American Empire.
Paraguay has long been in negotiation with Bolivia
for the conclusion of an alliance, and the last mail
brings a report that a treaty, offensive and defensive,
has been concluded, according to which Bolivia will
supply to Paraguay a contingent of 2,500 men, carry
the war into Brazil, and, if possible, republicanise
that country. If this report should be confirmed
Brazil will find it exceedingly difficult, if not impos-
sible, to defend its Western Provinces, the only
communication with which in former years was by
the rivers now made impassable by the guns of the
Paraguayans. It is also confirmed that both the
Presidents of the Argentine Republic and Uruguay
are powerless to aid any longer in carrying on the
war. The latter may any moment be unseated by
his opponents at home ; and the former is even said
to be favourable to the alliance between Paraguay
and Bolivia.
Governor Cummings, of Colorado, has addressed
a message to the Legislature, in which he
argues at length against the creation of the
territory into a State, " under the impression,"
as he says, " that there is a claim upon him for a
candid statement and discussion of the whole ques-
tion." We fully agree with Governor Cummings
as to the claim, but as to the candour with which he
has attempted to discharge it there may be a differ-
ence of opinion. His principal argument is
that the inhabitants of the territory don't want
to be admitted into the Union, in proof whereof
he cities the action of the Territorial
Senate at their last session in rejecting the
project for a State Government. We don't ap-
preciate the force of this circumstance, con-
sidering that the Senate subsequently reversed their
action, and the House of Representatives likewise
voted for admission. The new Legislature which
has just assembled, and which certainly ought to
know the sentiments of its constituents quite as well
as Mr. Cummings, is also understood to be largely
in favour of the erection of a State Government.
Mr. Cummings's statement that the party desiring
admission is only a miserable faction composed of
ambitious demagogues and place-hunters, therefore
lacks confirmation.
GALVESTON, Dec. 20 (Evening).--Gen. Kiddoo,
of the Bureau, bas announced his intention to fur-
nish transportation to negroes from States where
there is a superfluity of labour to those where it is
in demand. lie will extend unusual facilities to
planters desiring labourers.
The expenditures in Canada for military purposes
since the first of January, 1866, have been over
$2,000,000.
Application was made Dec. 19, before Chief
Justice Chase, in Washington, for a writ of habeas
corpus in the case of Dr. Mudd, imprisoned at
Tortugas, for complicity in the assassination of
President Lincoln.
A fire in Philadelphia (Dec. 19) destroyed seve-
ral large warehouses on North Broad-street, the
loss amounting to $76,000. James Rolston, who
was doing business in one of the houses, is sup-
posed to have perished in the flames.
The Times has authority to state, that, in reply
to a communication received from the Government
of the United States, her Majesty's Minister at
Washington has been instructed to ascertain whether
that Government is prepared to accept the principle
of arbitration upon the pending differences arising
out of the late civil war, provided an agreement can
be come to as to the points to which such arbitra-
tion should apply.
The Emperor of the French has presented Mr.
Bigelow with a copy of his complete works, and
bearing the Imperial autograph.
The widely-circulated rumour that the Chief
Justicehad been offered the Presidency of the Union
Pacific Railroad, vice General Dix, gone to France,
is incorrect. No selection has yet been made.
The following commissioners have been ap-