The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-01 00:00:00

Miscellaneous American News.

32 to 16.

The Virginia Legislature had reported a bill pro-
posing a State Convention, while protesting against
the Reconstruction Bill as unconstitutional. The
disturbances of the negroes at Williamsburg in that
State arose from their resistance to the payment of
rental for property they occupied. They are said
to have threatened armed resistance to the officers
of the Freemen's Bureau, who had applied for
military interference. As we announced in our last
issue this dispute has been settlel. The streets of
Richmond were paraded by a nears regiment carry-
ing revo:vers and sabres.
A subscription has been raised by some negroes
of the Southern States, chiefly of the Sea Islands
of Carolina, to build a monument to the memory
of Colonel Gould Shaw. The amount collected is
$3,500. The inscription, though furnished by his
enemies, is the most appropriate that could have
been devised, and in itself tells the story of the life
and death of the Boston officer. The words are the
answer of the Southern soldiers to the bearer of a
flag of truce, sent to obtain his body :
" Wo have buried him with his utggers."

The Erin arrived at New York on the 23d inst.
The Inman steamer City of Washington and the
North German Lloyd's steamer New York arrived
on the 25th ; the Inman steamer City of Limerick
on the 26th, and the China, the Chicago, and the
Olympus on the following day. The Chicago was
detained by ice, in lat. 45 North, long. 48 West.
Violent gales had prevailed along the United States
coasts, and caused many shipping disasters.
Louisiana has been the scene of political dis-
turbance, which has called for the interference of
General Sheridan. The Legislature appointed a
committee to protest against the Sheridan Recon-
struction Bill. Governor Wells, who had announced
that bill to be in force in the State, had charges of
usurpation preferred against him, for, in compliance
with its clauses, declaring certain voters in Louisiana
to be disqualified. An attempt was to be made to
impeach Lim, which we presume is becoming a
fashionable means of getting rid of rulers. The
elections which were to have taken place in Louisiana
on the 11th inst. have been postponed by the Legis-
lature, in accordance with General Sheridan's orders,
until the commander of the district is appointed, or
special instructions received from Washington. By
a telegram from New York, on Wednesday, the
General had removed Mr. Herron from his post of
Attorney-General, Ind dismissed from their offices
Mayor Monroe, so well known from his connection
with the massacre at New Orleans, and Judge
Abell.

A bill has been introduced in the Senate pro-
posing to allow American citizens to sell war
vessels to belligerents at peace with the United
States. Also a resolution declaring that justice
demands either the trial of Mr. Jefferson Davis,
or his release on bail on his own recognisances.
The house of Representatives has passed resolu-
tions expressing the popular solicitude regarding
the Canadian Confederation, and sympathising with
the people in Ireland and Canada in their struggle
for nationality. There is a curious contradiction
in the resolutions, coupled as they are in the same
sentence. Sympathy is expressed for Canada in its
struggle for nationality, and at the same time the
popular fears of the great Republic regarding the
Canadian Confederation, which means the na-
tionality of Canada, described by general Banks
on, introducing the resolution as the formation of a
mighty nation. An amendment condemning Fe-
nianism had been rejected.
The Senate passed a resolution to adjourn to
December next ; but the House of Representatives
had not as yet agreed with the Senate on the terms
and conditions of adjournment.

On the 11th instant Congress passed a supplement
to the llecon2truction Bill. By this bill the military
commanders arc directed to complete the registra,
tion of their districts before the Ist September.
W.,len the list is finished, enrolling every male of
legal age qualified to vote under the recent enact-
ment of Congress, the commander shall cause an
election to take place within 30 days, for delegates
to a convention to form State representation. Pre-
sident Johnson vetoed this supplement, but Con-
gress immediately passed it over the'veto.

The following items are from New,York, March
24. The Committee of investigation has reported
that there has been no over-issue of Bonds. The
Winter Garden Theatre has been burnt down.
Intelligence had been received from Australia, via
Panama, to the 6th ultimo, which implies that the
steamer of the Panama and New Zealand Line,
which left Sydney on the 6th February, had
reached the Isthmus. She brings no news of
im-
por _

The Canadian News, by a telegram received
through the Atlantic cable, learns that the action of

the delegates as regards the Confederation of the

British North American colonies has been sustained

on a division in the Legislative Assembly of Nova
Scotia by a majority of 16—the votes being, ayes

The Hamilton Spectator says :—" In consequence
of the failure of the fisheries, combined with the
unfavourable issue of agricultural pursuits in New-
foundland during the past year, a large proportion
of the population are literally starving. In our
recent exchanges from St. John's, Newfoundland,
we find a heartrending appeal to the public from the
Poor-Relief Association. During the week ending
February 16, 4,135 persons had been supplied with
food in the shape of meal, bread, molasses, and tea,
the total outlay for the week being £167, or not

quite 10d. to each person, a pitifully small sum to

live on for a week ! And at the same rate of ex-
penditure, the appeal states the funds of the asso-

ciation would soon be exhausted. The people of
Newfoundland who have anything to give appear
to have responded to the e.t.a made upon them in
the most generous manner and have contributed
nobly to the relief of their fellow-countrymen ; but
it should not be forgotten that the people of New-
foundlana are not, as a coMmuuity, at all rich and
their spare means will very soon become ex-
hausted."

The following are the resolutions reported by the
committee of the State Senate of Maine, referring
to the union of the British provinces of North
America, which the Toronto Globe terms Maine
Impudence:—" Resolved that any attempt on the
part of the Imperial Government of Great Britain
to establish monarchical government in North
America, or to place a vice-royalty by act of Par-
liament over her several North American provinces,
would be an implied infraction of those principles of
government which this nation has assumed to main-
tain upon this continent. Resolved—That the
people of Maine, deeply interested in the preserva-
tion of peace and of friendly relations with the
People of British North America, respectfully appeal
to the United States Government to interpose its
legitimate influence in friendly and earnest re-
monstrance with the British Government against
establishing any system of Government in North
America, the influence of which would endanger
the friendly relations of the whole of the British pro-
vinces with the people of the United States.

Resolved—That the Governor be requested to trans
mit copies of the foregoing report and resolves to
the President of the United States and to each
House of Congress."
The Inman steamship City of Boston, as usual
well up to time, arrived at Queenstown on Wed-
nesday, with 35 passengers. She brings news from
New York to March 16. The House of Represen-
tatives have appropriated $500,000 for giving effect
to the Military Act. This act has been declared
unconstitutional and revolutionary in the Michigan
State Democratic Convention. The elections in
New Hampshire have resulted in gains to the Demo-
cratic party. The Senate has rejected the appoint-
ment of Mr. Cowan as Mini;ter to Vienna, and
Congress has voted thanks to Mr. Geo. Peabody for
his gifts to the American people. The disturbances
lately reported among the negroes in Virginia are
quieted. The Fcnians are very active, and have
held numerous meetings. One was harangued at
Chicago on the 15th instant by Roberts. A Fenian
regiment paraded the streets, and rumours were
current at New York that an attack on Canada
was being organised.
The Roman Catholic population in the United
States has reached such proportions that his 'Holi-
ness the Pope has decided that four additional Epis-
copal seats are to be created in America. In con-
quence, the United States, which fifty years ago
had only one bishop—that of Baltimore—will now
have twenty-two.
On the 11th instant the following notice appeared
in the New York papers :—" Mr. George Peabody,
intending soon to leave for England, deems it a
duty to himself to inform all those who, during his
visit of ten months in his native country, have writ-
ten to him asking loans of money, donations to
literary institutions, subscriptions to churches,
public charities, &c., or asdstance for themselves or
others, that the great number of these communica-
tions has rendered it impossible for him to read or
answer, or even to open, them in person. The
latter duty has, therefore, been assigned confidentially
to others. And as many of the writers have re-
quested that their applications should be kept secret
Mr. Peabody states that he has this day caused
these letters, amounting to nearly 4,000, to be
burned in his presence, thus relieving their appre-
hensions and his own responsibility. Editors of
newspapers will oblige Mr. Peabody by giving the
above an insertion."
Mr. James Howard, of Britannia, Works, Bedford,
ought to publish in the United States the lecture he
delivered some months ago at the Farmers' Club on
" Things in America." We have noticed many
allusions to what is considered there one of the
ablest accounts delivered by any traveller concern-
ing American agricultural and industrial affairs,
although none of them appeared to have the
lecture in full. A very useful pamphlet could be
framed from this speech, and from a lecture de-
livered by Mr. Howard at Bedford embodying the
experiences of an agriculturist, qualified, not only
practically, but by a scientific knowledge, to form
valuable conclusions. Such a pamphlet would be of
infinitely greater value to America than to Eng-
land, and in his effort to work out good results, this
gentleman would succeed more effectually by send-
ing the manuscript to an American publisher to be
printed in the United States, and read by the men
whom it most concerns.
The Springfield Republican says :—‘‘ William
Cullen Bryant, of New York ; Colonel C. G. Ham-
mond, of Chicago ; and William Lloyd Garrison,
of Boston, have been chosen by the Freedmen's
Union Commission to represent this country at the
world's anti-slavery conference in Paris, in June
next. Mr. Garrison will sail in May ; the others
are now in Europe. The selection is well made,
combining as it does the various phases of the anti-
slavery movement, moral and political. If the Rev.
Dr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, and the Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, of Brooklyn, were added, in
behalf of the extreme wings of the anti-slavery
movement in the church, the deputation would be
well-rounded and complete."
The Nation states :—" Congress adjourned with
great decorum, Messrs. Foster and Colfax deliver-
ing very graceful valedictory addresses. Mr. Colfax
was immediately elected Speaker of the Fortieth
Congress, and the machine is once more in motion,
with some new wheels, of which the most promi-
nent are General Butler and Mr. John Morrissey.
The fine personnel of the latter,' says the New
York Times' reporter, ' astonished many who had
formed their opinion of him based on the popular
conception of his character.' We have- no doubt
what, by dint of puffing Mr. Morrissey's personnel,'
' Our Washington Correspondent' will win for him
by next fall the well-known brevet rank of a' gentle-
man of fine talents and dignified manners.' "
THE NAVAL ACADEML—We congratulate the
people of Maryland most heartily on the defeat of Mr.
61chonck's proposition to remove the Naval Academy from
Annapolis, and we congratulate our Representatives in
the House, too, Messrs. Phelps and John L. Thomas, on
the manly tight they made on the side of the right, and
which was effective finally in saving it. Founded as the
movement was on spitefulness and narrowness of views
combined—a bad return to our people for the courtesy and
kindness extended to the mover here—it demonstrates a
degree of fairness and liberality on the part of the House
few were prepared to see; and should go far in excusing
much that hitherto wo have had reason to complain of in
matters of policy. Even Tuad. Stevens put in a good word
for us on the occasion, so that in the course Mr. Schenck has
seen fit to pursue, he has boon left completely in the voca-
tive. We trust now that oven the most implacable or
covetous of its acquisition will, after this, let the Naval
Academy rest. Let such institutions as that be made the
mere footballs of party, and where would be stability for
anything ? We accept this result as an indication of better
things; as the possible return to that period when sec-
tionalism will indeed be discarded in favour of broad and
national views of what is needed for the country, and.
.all
may be glad on those grounds of the return to
amenity, this occurrence foreshadows.—Baltimore Com-
mercial.

COMMERCIAL.

NEW YORK, March 9.

There is no material change in the position of affairs,
except that the want of confidence exhibited by the dis-
n clination to loan money tends to increase, while gold has

for the past week been steadily falling. Loans cannot
now be effected even on the best security under 7 per cent
Short-dated paper only, even of the first class, can be dis-
counted. The shipment of specie in last Saturday's steamer.
amounted t 05648,500, and the only further export during that
week was about a hundred thousand dollars, the total for
the week was about $750,000. On Thursday the Aspinwall
steamer brought to New York $828,514 in treasure,
which left a balance of imports over exports. With
gold stocks and securities of all kinds have de-
clined, and the market has greatly fluctuated
while falling. However profitable the speculation in
which the public had till lately indulged has been to
Wall-street brokers and others the public at large have
reaped nothing but loss. In consequence they are with-
drawing from these operations, and business has diminished
to such an extent that, if the stagnation continues, there
will be a considerable clearance trade in " the street." I
hear that the circumstances are somewhat similar in Lon-
don, and even that at Paris things are little more lively.
The severe fall has caught some heavy operators, and
Etra,ge rumours are abroad affecting the credit of some
well-known gentlemen. The failure of Mellen, Ward,
and Co. has had a most damaging influence. One
of the firm, Mr. Edward Carter, was president of the
Copper-Falls Mining Company, the stock of which
was at one time quoted at 75, but tumbled down suddenly
to 27. The New York Central is higher, and the Hudson
River has risen in the expectation of increased dividends.
A proposition has been made to the Legislature of Missouri
to take the Missouri Pacific Railroad for $3,000,000, and it
is expected that it will be accepted, as the parties are able
to fulfil the conditions. The following are some of the
latest quotations :-American gold 1341, United States
Five-Twenties (1862) 1094, (1864) 1074, (1865) 1071,
United states Ten-Forties 1061, United States 7 3-10
Loan 105 k, Missouri Sixes 90, Virginia Sixes 58, New
York Central Railroad 102, Erie 531, Erie Preferred
69, Hudson River 139, Reading 1014, Michigan Central
116, Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana 71,
Illinois Central 1144, Cleveland and Pittsburg 791,
Cleveland and Toledo 1164, Chicago and North-Western
321, Chicago mid North-Western preferred 591 Pittsburg,
Fort Wayne, aril Chicago 94, Chicago and Rock Island
931, Ohio and Mississippi Certificates 26k, Adams Express
Company 55, American 55, United States 55, Wells,
Fargo, and Co.'s 57k, Merchants' Union 124, Western
Union Telegraph Company 41a, Pacific Mail Steamship
Company 1241, Atlantic Mail Steamship Company 881,
Cumberland Coal Company preferred 30, Canton
Company 45, Quicksilver Mining Company 351, Mari-
posa Mining Company 9, and Boston Water Power
Company 25.

From Messrs. Bowles, brevet, and Co.'s Circular, Paris,

March 29.)
Rumours of the cession of Luxembourg to France have
been the chief topic of discussion during the week, the
subject being regarded in contrary lights by different
parties. Whether Prussia will consent is the important
question which holds the minds of all in suspense. Some
reply in the affirmative, and anticipate a general rise in
the values at the Bourse ; others, on the contrary, predict
a fall, fearing tlkat, the proposed annexation might become
the signal of a E*liean conflict. However, neither one
party nor the othkhas such great confidence in its opi-
nion as to induce it to depart from the reserve which has
for some time ruled in our market, and business has been
very. dull. Prices are well maintained, and nearly all
securities are quoted higher than at the date of our last
advice; among them the French 3 per Cents., which have
risen by more than 40 centimes.
The quotation of Five-twenties has shown an upward
movement during the week, which we must attribute to
the same cause as heretofore, viz., to the approaching
payment of the May coupon, and also to important new
purchases. Considerable business has taken place in this
security, and it is becoming more and more kriown by the
French public. The abundance of money, which its
holders do not for the present dare to risk in other funds,
leads each day to new investments in American Bonds ;
and thus it is that for some time the Paris market has
been at the head of the movement for the rise, a position
heretofore always held by London and Frankfort. The
latest quotation is 84 11-16ths.
We have again remarked, during the present week,
several transactions in the Bonds of 1865, a security com-
ing constantly more and more into notice.
Exchange on London is decidedly better, at 25 16 to
25 19.

(From E. F. Satterthwaite and Co.'s Weekly Circular,

March 27.) •
Per Asia our ad vices from New York are to the 28th
inst. Government stocks were reported generally about I.
per cent. lower, but at quotations the demand was good.
In Railroad Shares the movements were unimportant, with
the exception of Eric's, which had advanced $6, closing
59 to 60. State Stocks were steady, but railway mortgages
were not in so much demand. Gold had declined 3 per
cent., being last quoted 1341.