The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 14, 1867.

LONDON, TIIL7I?SDAY, FEB. 14, 1867.

The intelligence from New York shows us the
position of affairs both North and South to be still
very unsettled. The news brought by the City of
Boston from New York, on the 2d inst., contains
nothing startling, but the general impression left is
of discord and insecurity. One item is indeed

almost amusing. General BUTLER recommends the
impeachment of General GRANT l It is not very
difficult to detect the motive, since BUTLER was
formerly spoken of as temporary President, while
GRANT has since been named for the office in Radi-
cal circles. Then, again, GRANT did not spare
BUTLER in the old days of the war, and the hero of
Fort Fisher would not be sorry to have his revenge.
BUTLER is not alone in his charitable suggestion,
for other Radicals advise the same measure. Ame-
rican public men have little cause to rely on the
gratitude of their countrymen. Oue day they may
be at the height of popularity, and the next men are
demanding their impeachment. It was said at the
time that SHERMAN'S triumphant and terrible march
through the South had virtually decided the war
and raised him to the pinnacle of popular favour,
that he remarked to a congratulating friend that
on the first failure all his successes would be for-
gotten, and thus it 'often proves. An im-
pulsive and excitable people eager for success,
and irritated at any delay in obtaining it,
the Americans are generally ready when
disaster comes to visit it on one man, and to make
him the scapegoat for perhaps inevitable misfor-
tune or faults for which others are as much to
blame as he. Mr. JouNsoN's indifference to popu-
larity is one of his strong points. If he were as
eager to secure public approval and support, as
some of his predecessors have been, he would long
since have been driven from his office. He takes
his stand on principles which are beyond the mere
fluctuations of temporary feeling, and should he be
able to weather the storm he will have taught the
Americans a useful lesson. They have been too
much in the habit of being guided exclusively by
the prevailing passion of the moment, and have
yet to recognise the fact that to secure public
liberty and national progress there must be a definite
and fundamental constitution from which no states-
man may depart.
The two Bills before the House of Representa-
tives for the re-construction of the South have both
signally failed, to the regret, probably, of no one
but their authors. The rival authors were Mr.
THADDEUS STEVENS and Mr. ASHLEY, a Radica
who aspires to dethrone the chief of the ultra-Re-
publicans from his political supremacy. Mr.
STEVENS'S scheme was not, of course, very
likely to be favourable to the interests of
the South, but Mr. ASHLEY'S was plus Arabe
que Arabic. He excelled Mr. STEVENS in
severity and vindictiveness, and the Southern States
under his benignant influence would have been kept
in utter confusion, without protection for life or
property, in the condition, in short, of a conquered
country in presence of the invading army. Mr.
STEVENS'S bill was less violent though sufficiently
severe. He, like Mr. ASHLEY, proposed to destroy
the system of state governments, and to " territorial-
ise " the whole of the South, but he left the local go-
vernments in existence for all local purposes. As might
have been expected, both bills found supporters, the
more extreme party wishing for even increased seve-
rity, the more moderate desiring to abide a little within
the shadow of the Constitution. It became evident
after a time that the division in the rankswould pre-
vent either Bill from passing, and accordingly Mr.
ASHLEY was persuaded to withdraw from the active
advocacy of his measure, leaving it to Mr. STEVENS
to choose which would most likely pass through
Congress.
Fortunately for the South, and indeed for America
altogether, the result has been the failure of both
reconstructive measures, and after ample debate
and discussion a narrow majority succeeded
in getting the Bill referred back to com-
mittee, which was virtually disposing of it
altogether. Mr. STEVENS, who had laboured
incessantly in endeavouring to meet 'the views
of all parties, was much mortified at this result, and
thrdatened that he would abandon the attempt to
carry out a Congressional policy of reconstruction.
The amenities of the debate exceeded the usual
courtesies of American political controversy. Mr.
ASHLEY told the Democrats that they were
,‘ traitors," which insinuation a Democrat repelled
as " a base lie." This was too much for the equani-
mity of the Speaker (perhaps because the offender
was a Democrat), and he summoned the culprit to
the bar of the house for reproof. Mr. ASHLEY'S
words were, it was decided, not out of order, but
the feeling of the house and of the galleries was
against him, so that when another Democrat
defended his associate for telling Mr. ASHLEY he
lied, there was hearty applause from the strangers.
It is currently believed iu some parts that the
hours of Radical ascendancy arc numbered, but the
great difficulty appears to be the want of cohesion
and unity among the Democrats. They lack
courage boldly to adopt the Presidential policy, and
demand the immediate restoration of the Southern
States in the interest of the whole nation. The
result of the late elections, which for many reasons
were so adverse to their party, has completely dis-
heartened and possibly misled them. They are afraid
to stand forward to boldly on behalf of the South,
accepting the decision of the elections as indicative
of the popular determination to exclude the South.
But the North has suffered enough from the effects
of such exclusion, and it is useless to expect a return
of confidence to the finances, or prosperity to the
commercial world, while such an immense tract of
fertile territory is left to desolation. If their own
drama had been played before their eyes by any
other nation, the shrewd Americans would have
been prompt to recognise the suicidal folly of that
course which Messrs. STEVENS, SUMNER, and CO.
are constantly and industriously advocating.

Those who can spare time and attention from the
engrossing objects of interest around them to dwell
upon the events now taking place in Germany may
find that already some of the gloss of the affair is
over, and that men are beginning to understand a
little too much of the hollowness and unreality of
the plans and projects of the Berlin Government.
Notwithstanding the fuss that was made about the
entente cordiale that existed between Prussia and the
various States of importance on this question, it
may fairly be said now that grave doubts are
already entertained as to the practicability of
many of BISMARCK'S suggestions. The draft
of a Federal Constitution, which is now completed,
does not afford satisfaction. to many who at first
thought likely to become warm supporters of the
scheme, and perhaps that is not to be wondered at
when we consider the matter carefully, and ascer-
tain how far short this plan fell of ith avowed pur-
pose of unity. In point of fact, the details all tend
in one direction, to make the Government of Berlin
into a sort of military dictatorship, and woe betide
the expectations of those who have been dreaming
0
of comparative independence, or, at least, of being
only subjected to such restrictions as may be deemed
essential to preserving order and regularity in
the working out of the project. We consider
that the relinquishment on the part of the Prussian
Ministry of their intention to garrison Dresden,
even in times of peace, is a proof positive that the
signs of discontent were becoming too unmistake-
able for even their stolid indifference to neglect or
treat with disregard. It was all of a piece with the
rest of the conduct of Prussia towards the minor
States or Provinces, and we are not surprised that

the KING resented the injury and also the insult of

the proposition. •
The official Staats Anzeiger contains a long
account of the proceedings that have been
taken relative to the formation of this much-
vaunted Constitution, but it is not very
difficult to discern that the effort is a consider-
able one to make the best of a bad bargain, and to
show that there is peace when there is no peace. In
referring to the important matter of the debates in
this forthcoming Parliament, the Staats Anzeiger
is very significant in its observations. It declares
that moderation must be a sine qua non of the
matter, and that individual jealousies must be re-
nounced ; and this alone, we should think, was a
work of supererogation to attempt ou German soil.
The discussions of the Federal Parliament, it is
said, " will enjoy the same publicity as those
of the Prussian Parliament ;" but at the same time
we must remember that Count BISMARCK has said
in public that the Press will be held responsible for
the contents of what they publish in repeating the
debates of this Assembly. This last observation
seems to impart a totally different meaning to the
affair, and in all probability the notion of all this
latitude is mere moonshine. No one at all versed
in Berlin tactics would give much for the freedom
of publication that is likely to be granted by
Prussian statesmen, especially if the tone and
temper of the Assembly in question are ad-
verse to them and their manoeuvres. Time
alone will show how great is the delusion
that has been entertained in this matter
in many minds on this question of German unity.
At the best it would be a very difficult thing to
accomplish, but it is very certain that such a work
will never be effected with a man like BISMARCK to
direct and control all the subordinates who seek to
bring the task to completion. Great activity appears
likely to prevail in the army during the summer,
and considerable care seems to have been taken in
the arrangements made that all recruits should be
well drilled and exercised in the requisites of war.
All this does not look very much as if the Berlin
Government had any very certain idea, or felt very
secure, as to the prospects of peace lasting long.

As many persons will doubtless have been sur-
prised at the non-appearance of Mr. EYRE at Bow-
street, it is well to call attention to the letter from
Mr. ROSE, which that gentleman has addressed to
the Times. In this some account is given of Mr.
EYRE'S present position with " reference to the
pending prosecution," and it is stated that so soon
as it was known that criminal proceedings had been
commenced against Colonel NELSON and Lieutenant
BRAND it was the intention of Mr. EYRE to come
to town, and it has been " by the earnest advice of
his counsel and friends that he has been induced to
abandon that resolution." It is than shown that the
object of the Jamaica Committee is to include Mr.
ETRE, Colonel NELSON, an Lieutenant BRAND in
one " indictment," so as to close all their mouths,
and prevent one from giving evidence for the other.
" Indicted together, of course not one of them could
be a witness." It appears that the announce-
ment made at Bow-street, to the effect
that Mr. EYRE would attend when and
wherever the Jamaica Committee might require
was not a correct one, and in point of fact such
an undertaking on his part, or on that of his ad-
visers, would have been virtually aiding the Jamaica
Committee in their prosecution. Mr. EYRE'S ad-
dress is given in this letter, and it was also given
in a communication made by Mr. ROSE to the at-
torneys of the Jamaica Committee. We hope that
Mr. EYRE'S friends and admirers will be able to
fulfil their intention of frustrating the scheme of
this Jamaica, Committee ; and we feel assured that
the sympathy of the public will be on their side,
for the system pursued by those who are urging on
this prosecution is one totally alien to those prin-
ciples of fair play and good feeling which are
always recognised and respected in this country.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, IVcdnesday Evening.

The Transatlantic steamer l'lmperatrice Eugenie
has brought despatches from Mexico to the 9th of
January, and from Vera Cruz to the 13th. The
Emperor Maximilian returned to Mexico on the sth
of January. The concentration of the French
troops was carried on with great regularity, but
some obstacles had been met with. Major Belcot,
chief of the Staff, having received information that
some of the disaffected were committing excesses
on the right flank of the route of his troops, rapidly
advanced against them, surprised them at break of
day on the 27th of December, and completelyrouted
them. In the State of Vera Cruz the bands of Figue-
rero and Gomez had been chastised by Colonel
Dupin, who had effected some daring manoeuvres.
On the 13th of January the above vessel received on
board a battalion of the 81st Regiment, the 4th
Company of the Ist Regiment of Artillery, and
military equipages on the return voyage to France.
On the 23d of January the Rhone transport, of the
Imperial Navy, was to sail for France with the
Belgian Legion, composed of about 1,000 men. The
sanitary condition of the troops was excellent and
free pratique was granted to the Imperatrice
Eugenie.

The Cons/du/tonna, in giving the Reform Resolu-
tions of Mr. Disraeli, quotes the views of Me Sun
upon the subject, and proceeds to say :—" As to the
principle which they embody, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer said that the Government did not intend to
set aside the principles of the English Constitution,
upon which he pronounced au eloquent eulogium.
We, however, must be allowed to ask if this eulogium
upon English institutions necessarily compelled the
eloquent orator to place in a lower rank the insti-
tutions of other countries, and particularly those of
France. It would have been equally conclusive,
and in better taste, if the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer had abstained from comparisons. Is Air.
Disraeli well-informed, and does he exactly know
the spirit of our institutions when he asserts that
the French Chambers represent only a class of the
nation, an assertion which he appears to have made,
at least according to the analysis received by tele-
graph. If the English Minister should mean to assert
that in France there no longer exists any distinction
of classes he was right. But he was wrong if he
intended it to be understood that all the in-
tellectual, moral, and material interests of France
are not represented in our Chambers.
" The explanations given by Mr. Disraeli in
regard to his Resolutions are too vague to render it
possible to form a just appreciation of the views of
the English Minister. This, too, is the opinion of
Mr. Gladstone, who said he should reserve himself
until he was in full possession of them."

The opening of the Se3sion will take place to-
morrow afternoon at one o'clock precisely by the
Emperor in person in the Palace of the Louvre.
The official regulations for the ceremony are pub-
lished to-day. They do not differ from those
usually observed on the occasion.
As was anticipated brigandage has been resumed
in Italy. On the 3d inst. the diligence from Rome
to Viterbo was attacked by three ruffians in masks,
and well armed, who ordered the passengers to get
out and lie down, in order to enable the robbers to
take from them all they possessed. The ruffians,
however, met with their match. Among the passen-
gers was Lieut.Savini of the Chasseurs, who replied
to the invitation of the ruffians by firing at them
twice from a revolver. One of the aggressors was
severely wounded. The two others decamped with
all speed. Lieut. Savini pursued them, but was not
able to reach them. On his return to the diligence
he placed the wounded bandit in
_the vehicle, and

on arriving at Viterbo he was placed in the hands
of the police.
An interesting ceremony took place the day be-
fore yesterday—the inauguration of the monument
at Montmerail, destined to perpetuate the recollec-
tion of the great battle fought there by the first
Napoleon on Feb. 11, 1814, when attacked by the
Allies. The National Guard marched to the spot,
and the number of spectators estimated at 20,000.
Count de Nieuwerkerke, superintendent of the fine
arts, represented the Emperor at the ceremony.
The authorities of the neighbouring districts were
present, and after appropriate speeches the Bishop
of Soissons gave his blessing to the monument.
There was a banquet in the evening at the splendid
chateau of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld Liaucourt.

The Ocean of Brest gives an account of a terrific
thunder-storm which took place on the 6th inst. The
lightning struck the spire of Laurivoare, which it
completely destroyed, as well as the roof, and did
much injury to the stained glass windows. The
damage done is mentioned as enormous.
The Jury appointed to examine the works in-
cluded in the section of painting, sculpture, and
architecture, for the Universal Exhibition, have
concluded their labours. The French school will
be represented by 550 pictures, 102 statues, 40
busts in marble or plaster, 83 engravings, 23 litho-
graphs, and 28 architectural sketches.
The Correspondance de Pesti' says :—" Deak has
returned to Hungary. The nomination of the
Ministry will take place on Thursday (to-morrow).
The list of the new Ministry has been so modified
that it will include Somfrich, who will be charged
with the department of communications,' and
Milio will be appointed Minister of Commerce."

The Jamaica Prosecutions.

L A TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

DISSOLUTION OF THE ITALIAN PARLIA

MENT.

FLORENCE, Feb. 13.

The Italian Parliament has been dissolved. The
Electoral Colleges are convened for the 10th of
March, and the new Chamber will meet on the 22d
of March.

Evening.
A Council of Ministers was held this morning
under the presidency of the King.
A conference is said to have taken place to-day
between Baron Ricasoli and several prominent poli-
ticians.

It is expected that the Ministers of Finance,
Public Works, and Justice will shortly resign.
Several of the prefects have been changed.

GERMANY.

FRANKFORT-ON-TILE-MAINE; Feb. 14.

Baron Charles de Rothschild has been elected
a member of the Northern Parliament by 5,300
out of 5,732 voters.

THE PRINCIPA LITIES.

B t!C HARE ST, Feb. 13.

The Hospodar of Roumania has returned to
this city with his brother.

DENMARK.

COPENHAGEN, Feb. 14.

The great majority of the. Danish candidates
in Northern Schleswig, including the town of
Flensburg and, the island of Alsen, have been
elected members of the Northern Parliament.