The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-07 00:00:00

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Oa Wednesday last a summary of the PRESI-
DENT'S Message, forwarded from New York, on
the 3d of December, was published in the London
evening papers. The tone of this document is the
best defence offered forlmpeachment. Mr. JOHNSON
is a mere partisan, evidently wholly incapable of
raising himself above cliques, and looking down
from his elevated position with judgment and
dignity on contending factions. Assuming REti-
TEE'S telegram to be a fair summary, Mr. JOIIN-
•4i)N has, in effect, said to Congress—" It would
have been easy but for you to have restored the
Union ; your legislation has destroyed the chance,
and the Union has ceased to exist, as our fathers
understood it. Unless you reVerSe your policy,
national bankruptcy will ensue, and should you
attempt to impeach me, suspending or abolishing
the functions of PRESIDENT, I will act as CROM-
WELL acted in England, and turn you all out.'
This is the substance of what the PRESIDENT said
to the Senate, not in any hasty or ill-considered
speech, but the written result of cairn deliberation.
We can only fully understand the position when we
recall the fact that between this Congress and the
PRESIDENT there has been a deadly war, maintained
with unrelenting vigour on both sides, and with
varying fortunes. The PRESIDENT has styled
Congress a " Rump Parliament," and in one of hiS
outrageous speeches openly threatened to kick them
out of the Capitol, vetoing almost all their measure; of
importance. Congress has appointed a committee to
investigate charges on which to impeach the PRESI-
DENT, treated his messages with contempt, and over-
ridden his veto, forcing him to execute laws most ob-
noxious to his partisan spirit. The PRESIDENT, by his
injudicious speeches, arrayed the good sense of the
country against him. Congress, by its extreme
views, has alienated the moderate men of the ruling
party, and the country has emphatically pronounced
two decisions—the one condemnatory of the PRESI-
DENT, the other condemnatory of the Legislature.
[a censuring Mr. JOHNSON'S undignified violence
the American people had no intention of unduly
elevating Congress, and in defeating the Radicals
the people had no intention of expressing approval
of the PRESIDENT. Each branch, however, so in-
terprets the popular judgment. If the Legislature
is checked, the PRESIDENT becomes rampant ; if the
Executive be pulled up the Legislature flies into an
extreme ; and the sorry spectacle is presented to the
people of rulers in high places misrepresenting their
intentions, their intelligence, and their patriotism.
The late defeats received at the polls by the leaders
of Congress have evidently encouraged the PRESI-
DENT to send to the great assembly that rules in
the States, a censure and a threat. THADDEUS
STEVENS is not the man, old and infirm though he
be, quietly to receive such a message. Rumours
have been circu'ating freely of the PRESIDENT'S in-
tention to strengthen the regular force at the capital,
to supplement it with a militia, on whom he can
rely, such as that of Maryland, and to place it un-
ler an able general, whose interpretation of the
aieasures necessary to save the life of a nation he
feels confident will be taken from himself. Colonel
FORNEY, whose means of intelligence cannot be
aenied, has uniformly and persistently attributed to
the PRESIDENT the intention to coerce the Legis-
lature. Such rumours have, however, been received
iu America with derision. The idea of Mr.
JOHNSON, from the steps of the Capitol, proclaiming
himself Dictator, with the representatives legally
elected by the people, dispersed, or in gaol—has
excited in the American mind, nothing but jeers.
Nor could we have believed, except from the
mouth of the PRESIDENT, that such an idea had
even entered his mind. It is impossible to exagge-
rate the gravity of the meaning contained in the
sentences in which Mr. JOHNSON expresses the
duties of his office, to resist by force, unconstitu-
tional legislation. Nothing could be more uncon-
stitutional than the intention thus officially an-
nounced. He expressly states that he would take
upon himself the powers delegated by the Constitu-
tion to the Supreme Court of interpreting the con-
stitutionality of an Act passed by Congress. All
tyrants who seize on supreme power justify the
action on the plea of the national welfare. In the
United States, where machinery is in constant use
for submitting questions to the people, and where
the principle is in force that Government derives
its only rights from the will of the people, such
a declaration is peculiarly uncalled for and ob-
jectionable. Once before, Mr. JOHNSON openly
stated that to his virtue and forbearance were
hie the fact that he had not seized on supreme
power. The danger of the position lies in the
reckless daring and obstinacy displayed on both
iides. Neither has the slightest intention of back-
ing as the President of the Senate exclaimed, " a
d--d inch." We fear that Congress will take up
the gauntlet thrown down by the PRESIDENT and
dash it in his face. It is no wonder that the meet-
ing of the Legislative and Executive firebrands is
dreaded by the nation, and the truth is becoming pain-
fully apparent to the American people that their in-
Aitutionsplace representatives at the seat of Govern-
ment below instead of above the average intelligence
and respectability of the country. It is evident when
Mir. JOHNSON gets beyond the subjects in dispute
between himself and Congress that he takes a more
common-sense view of affairs. A return to specie
payment as early as the principle O.fpolitical econo-
my will allow is the duty of the Government, as
well as a sacred regard for the public faith iu deal-
ing with the National Debt. Then discussing the
finances, he alludes to the treaty concluded with
Denmark for the cession of the islands of St.
Thomas and St. John. Regarding foreign affairs,
ho speaks of the Alabama Claims as still unsettled.
The reasons he gives are little in keeping with
the despatches lately published, and Americans
having all the documents before them can judge
how far Mr. JOHNSON has been justified in de-
clining arbitration. A measure urged by him in
his former Message is again advised—" that Con-
gress should declare that the naturalisation of a
foreigner as a citizen of the United States ab-
solves the recipient from allegiance to the Sovereign
of his native country." We cannot understand how
the passage of a measure in Washington could affect
the law iu Germany, France, and Great Britain.
['his may be mainly directed to favour Irish con-
spirators; but it will be chiefly felt by Prussia,
:filmy of whose citizens return to their native coun-
try naturalised Americans, liable for conscription to
serve in the Prussian army. The subject has already
caused much difficulty to the American Minister at
Berlin, and Prussia has hitherto, while maintain-
ing her right, waived much in deference to the Wash-
ington Government. Should such a law be passed a
Prussian returning to Germany may demand the pro-
tection of the United States against the Sovereign who
claims his allegiance. No such question is likely to
arise with Great Britain, except as regards Feniam
infringements of the law; but we cannot see, if Con-
gress adopted the advice of the PRESIDENT, how the
United States could avoid complications with Prus-
sia, unless the Sovereign of that country accepted
the measure as an international law. As now in-
terpreted even by American jurists; the code eeta-

blished for the intercourse of nations is opposed to
such a doctrine. If the question arose, the United
States must appeal to it, and that appeal would be
fatal to the pretension put forth by Mr. JOHNSON.
So long as a citizen remains in the States he is prac-
tically absolved from such allegiance. If he returns
to his native country he must abide by the laws of
that country, which cannot be altered by legislation
at Washington. Statesmen are bound, when con-
sidering such a subject, to weigh all contingencies,
however remote. Prussia and France might argue
that if we allow such a measure to be effective we
may relieve a portion of our people from a burden-
some duty at the expense of the rest. For if by a
short residence in America onr subjects areabsolved
from their allegiance, and return with the rights of
American citizenship, a large number may take this
means to evade their military and other duties, and
the United States, to encourage immigration, may
fix the shortest period as qualifying for naturalisa-
tion. The feeling of the Prussian Government on
this subject is of the highest importance, and •we
presume that the American Minister at Berlin has
been consulted.—Anglo-American Times.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

I,' From the Anglo-American Times.)

PARIS, Dec. 5.
The Emperor has lost no time in redeeming his
promise as to the evacuation of the Papal States by
the French troops. The Intrepide and the Orenoque
arrived at Toulon on the 29th of November, the
foriner bringing back 3,500 men of the 69th and
29th of the line, the latter the cavalry. The
Canada, the Mogador, the Tarn, and other vessels,
are busily engaged in reconveying the remainder of
the expeditionary corps. This rapid action has
done much to tranquillise the feelings of the
Italians, and remove their objections to the Con-
ference. Italy, however, still demands the pre-
liminary of a base for discussion, which shall hay e
received the assent of the Papal authorities, as also
that England, Prussia, and Russia be satisfied, and
take part in the Conference. Austria promises an
active, friendly mediation, principally with the view
of extricating the Emperor Napoleon froin the em-
barrassment entailed upon him by the necessity of
adhering to the terms of the Convention of the 15th
of September. In the meantime, the Papal
authorities are actively engaged in augmenting and
organising their military forces. The Pontifical
Zouaves will be increased to the number of 3,000,
the battalion cf foreign Chasseurs to 2,000, and an
additional 1,000 will be added to the Regiment of
Antibes, all of which does not seem to imply
the consent of the prince of the Catholic Church to
such a basis of conference as might possibly involve
the loss of his temporal sovereignty. It is reported
by some of the French journals that the pro-
positions which . will be suggested to the
Conference. (should it take place) by the
Emperor of France will be of the same
nature as those submitted some time ago
by M. de Persigny in a pamphlet published
by him upon the Roman question, and which,
according to the Siecle, did not at the time meet
with a favourabie reception either at Rome, Florence,
or even Paris, so much so that M. Dhrouyu de Lhuys
in criticising the pamphlet took care to remark that,
although the views of the writer possessedexceeding
clearness and perspicuity, they were in no respect
official. The language, however, of the Siecle, it
must be remembered, is that of the extreme Liberal
party, and it would be highly unfair at this moment
to prejudge, even in the slightest degree, the action
of France, the more especially when, up to the pre-
sent time, the policy of the Emperor bears in every
respect the stamp of honesty, and of a sincere desire
to perpetuate the blessings of a general peace.
That terrible instrument of punishment of the
revolution—the guillotine—has been dressed during
the last week in Paris for the execution of the ex-
butcher Avinain—another instance of those mon-
strous criminals, who, like Burke, Hare, or Dumol-
lard, appear from time to time as scourges of
society. Scarcely in the long and black annals of
crime has there appeared one who so coldly and
carefully calculated his chances of gain and of dis-
covery whilst occupied with the perpetration of those
atrocities, the details of which are already known to
the world—scarcely one whose defence presented alike
such unblushing effrontery or such curious sophistry.
When interrogated with respect to the murder of
Duguet —" It was fatality," replied the murderer ;
" that was the cause, as well as in other instances.
We had a discussion upon the purchase of his wag-
gon, which gradually became warm. Duguet, who
was seated on the waggon, fell on the pavement in
the act of aiming a kick at me. He was severely
wounded. I carried him into the house, and, seeing
the intensity of his sufferings, I finished him from
humanity." The day after his condemnation, the
27th of October, his. advocate, Massoni, made him
sign an appeal to the Court of Cassation, which, it
is scarcely necessary to say, was rejected ; and, after
being clad with the strait-waistcoat, which is the
custom in France, he was placed in the condemned
Hold at the prison M La Roquette. The demeanour
of Avinain whilst awaiting the order for his execu-
tion did not differ much from that of other crimi-
nals in a similar position. A. few moments after six
in the evening of the 28th several mounted horse-
men of the Garde de Paris left the Palace de Jus-
tice, bearing various despatches addressed to the
Prefect of Police, the Colonel of the Gendarmerie
of the Seine, the Commissary of Police of the Quar-
ter de la Roquette, to the Director of the Con-
demned Hold, and lastly to the executioner of
important works, or Monsieur de Paris, as the
French Jack Ketch is indiscriminately termed.
It is diffieult in France to ascertain the exact
period at which an execution will take place,
the matter being' as much as possible kept
secret, although it is known that a very early hour
in the morning is usually selected for the purpose.
Thus every morning, after the rejection of the pri-
soner's appeal, a large crowd stationed itself in the
Place de la Roquette, in the hope of witnessing
the last moments of the criminal. About one
o'clock in the morning of the 29th a covered wag-
gon, painted black, and drawn by two horses of the
same colour, made its appearance, conveying the
various pieces forming the scaffold, and composing
the instrument of death, the vehicle being accom-
panied by the two assistants of the executioner, and
about a dozen of workmen. About two o'clock the
sombre light of the torches, which illuminated the
Place de la Roquette, showed the completion of
the terrible preparations. At five in the morning
several detachments of mounted gendarmes of the
Seine, .of the infantry of the garde de Paris,
and of policemen, commanded by the usual
officers, arrived and formed a large circle around
the guillotine, behind which an immense crowd
ranged itself in silence and expectation. About
this time the day broke, and the rod and
black outline of the scaffold became distinctly
visible. I noticed especially two panniers of an
oval form, the one destined to receive the head, the
other the body of the culprit. At this moment a
man of tall stature and sallow complexion, having
his grey hair cut short, appeared on the scaffold.
This was Monsieur de Paris in person. He slowly
and methodically examined the machine, finishing
by drawing up to the top of the framework the
scythe-like knife, after ascertaining by several
experiments that it would slide easily into the
grooves; after which he re-entered the prison. At,
h elf-past six the chaplain and governor of the prison,
the Chief of the Police of Surety,and the Commits iry
of Police of the Quarter awoke the prisner to
announce to him that his last hour was come. " I
expected it," said he. "I die without regret ; it is
the fault of the men who have done me so much
evil." After taking the refreshment of a cake,
and a couple of glasses of wine, the criminal
accompanied the almoner to the prison chapel,
where be rested a short time in prayer. After
which he marched with a firm step to the
apartment of the prison, where it is customary
to undergo the operation of the " toilette ;"
this, for the information of the reader, consists in
cutting the back hair short, and removing or cut-
ting off such articles of apparel as might impede for
an instant the action of the guillotine. The toilette
finished, Avinain, having at his right the priest, and
at his left the executioner, each holding him by an
arm, advanced toward the principal gate of the

prison, opening upon the place of execution. 05
the opening of the door, which at once confronted
him with the scaffold and the assembled crowd,
Avinain drew himself up and appeared to regard
the guillotine with a strange and indescribable look ;
he appeared, however, immediately to recover him-
self, and, on passing through the ranks of the sol°
diers who guarded the scaffold, " Adieu," said be,
" children of France !" Arrived at the foot of
the steps, before ascending them the criminal
kneeled down on one of the lowest with the
chaplain, and, after having embraced, mounted the
steps, supported by the executioner and his assistants.
Arriving on the platform he again started at the
view of the terrible knife, and appeared to make 3
movement as if to dissemble the emotion which be
experienced. Then locking on the ground he began
to laugh. "Never co►:fesi anything," said be,
" never. It is the telling the truth which has
brought me here." Scarcely a few seconds elapsed
after this before Avinain had been strapped to the
plank, which was pushed horizontally beneath th►e
instrument of death, and as the clock of the prison
tolled the last stroke of seven the head fell into the
basket placed underneath to receive it. Thus
perished one of the greatest 'criminals of modern
'times.

The Emperor and the Imperial family have taken
up their residence for the winter at the Palace 0f
the Tuileries.

The masked balls at the Opera will commence on
the 23d inst. A translation of " Hamlet" 11
Dumas and M. Taul Meurice is announced for re'
presentation at the Theatre de la Gaits,-and that,
too, in verse. Alas ! poor Yorick, he little thought,
indeed, what he would come to. It was bad enough
to have his skull knocked about in his own ountrY;
However, we shall see. The attempt is, at
all
events, another recognition of the mighty British
genius, who bath never yet, and probably never
will, be equalled as a master of the human hear",
and human passions ; but " Hamlet" in verse is
almost, I fear, equivalent to " Hamlet" with the
principal character omitted.
I observe that the Commission of the Uni-
versal Exposition has forwarded to the Bureau of
Public Assistance the amount of the receipts of th,
last three days of its existence, the total arnountlerl
to 176,000 francs—a piece of intelligence which
brings me back to my unfinished critique upon WI
American Section of the Fine Arts. In my last e
instanced a few of what may be consideredtil;
leading American artists in landscape painting, 11
there is many a name and many a landscape whiff
the limits of my letter do not allow me to desert'
in full whose reputation is scarcely second to there
I have noticed at length, amongst which may
reckoned the names of Cropsey, Cole, Durand,
Gignoux, Gifford, &c., of all of whom America
reason to be proud. Amongst portrait painters/Jr%
excellence—that is to say, amongst those artists w'
confine themselves literally to their subject, without
,
the admixture of historical or other general se
jects—the names of Healy, Baker, and Hunt still)
pre-eminent. As I have approached, however, tcf,
near the proposed limits of my present letter
is
dilate upon this class, I will, with the reader's
Per-
mission and sans faute, set out from this point 1
my next.
at
The postal contract with England was signe-id
Berlin last Saturday, and a contract for a weeola
postal service was also concluded between the VII,'"
States of America and the North German C°we-
deration.
The Quaker City, after an excursion of 174 claYlls6o
returned on the 19th November to New York. ler,
tourists visited all the principal cities of the Medit e,
ranean and of the Black Sea, and enjoyed an egr,ert
able and instructive voyage with so little disceel'c'bo
that we imagine next summer their example Will
ea
wore generally followed. Although cholera rata
in the basin of the Mediterranean during the Per
the steamer was in these waters, yet the Paro.
't
escaped without serious sickness or accident, steep'
one to Colonel J. S. Holderman, of Harrish
br° 70
Pennsylvania, ex-Minister to Sweden, who
his leg when within three days' sail of New York; 0.
The Springfield Republican states that " fir 4.
Lincoln has not yet done her most disgraceful
She has now under serious consideration a preff
old
tion from a party of showmen, to put up her tbo
clu" iu a gift enterprise, while she goes through t•
i
country to deliver lectures and sell tickets for ,
The story seems too absurd to believe, even concerns
ing Mrs. Lincoln, but we have it from such a sour
that we cannot doubt its truth." Those whoa at
instrumental in bringing this disgrace on a gire to
name should be denounced and discountenanced
of
it is known that the lady is not in a sound state of
mind. Surely public opinion in the States i°
of
sufficient power to suppress the greedy
showmen who would make gain of such a Beau