The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-17 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPT. 17, 1867.

The difficulties that hedge round the Abyssinian
Expedition continue to form the prevailing topic
of conversation, and to be the theme of letters
and communications. A letter to the Times of
to-day seems to hold out better' hopes to us, and to'
promise that, after all, it may not be so bad as
it seemed. This correspondent sends a " route'
across the country from Suakin to Berber, which
is about 200 miles north of the proposed line of
operation of the Abyssinian Expedition, shows
the nature of the country and the climate, and
may tend to create a more favourable im-
pression regarding the affair altogether than
has unfortunately prevailed in some quarters, owing
to the lugubrious prospects that have been held out.
This writer, with a party of four Europeans in all,
crossed this route in 1833, after having been ship-
wrecked in the Red Sea, and they had to depend
entirely upon the resources of the country, with the
exception of their arms. They found that the dis-
tance from the Red Sea to the Nile was nearly two
hundred and sixty miles, almost west by south, and
what is a very encouraging piece of information, they
encountered neither difficulty nor danger on the road.
We quite agree with Mr. Lvsen in his sanguine
anticipations of the nature of the expedition now
about to set out, and he observes that he cannot
believe the difficulty of the roads that lie west to
Massowah, about 200 miles to the south, " will be
found so great as some correspondents suppose, and
generally in the East such difficulties disappear as
you approach them." We are very glad to meet
with such sensible observations as these, and they
are doubly welcome after the sinister prophecies
that some hare indulged in, and the more tempe-
rate but still condemnatory opinions formed by
others. One of the evils of the present day is that
so many persons are qualified, or at all events think
themselves qualified, to give an opinion on all such
subjects as this, that it becomes most confusing and
perplexing for ordinary individuals to form a correct
judgment. Besides, the tendency of the present
day is to exaggerate the difficulties of these expedi-
tions, and to intimate that there is no need to
go to war at all. It is stated in this letter that
the party referred to above had a desire to go
towards Abyssinia, and when at Berbee they made
inquiries which caused them to come to the conclusion
that there would have been no difficulty in so doing
had time permitted the venture to be made, and
concludes with great force of argument " You may,
I think, take it for granted that with this line open
to Abyssinia, the Indian authorities would not have
chosen a path anything like that which the imagi-
nations of your correspondents have drawn from
Massowah to Abyssinia." Why, indeed, should they,
and why should we in this country be so beset by
the complaints and timorous suggestions of those who
do not estimate rightly the nature of the subject
upon which they discourse ?

The preparations for the expedition are proceeding
very favourably. Up to yesterday four of the
steamers which had been chartered for service in the
Eastern seas had left, direct for Bombay. This is
encouraging intelligence at any rate, and seems to
indicate that a spirit of activity is prevalent. The 7
did not call at Deptford, as was at first suP\
posed, because they have completed their equip-
ments. Two more vessels were to have left
last night, and two others are also ready.
It will be a satisfaction to the public when all the
arrangements for this expedition are fairly com-
pleted ; and meanwhile we would say just that
people should not suffer themselves to be led astray
by the chimerical fears of those who doubtless mean
well, but who are mistaken in the exaggerated
opinion they express on the matter. The difficul-
ties of the Abyssinian Expedition are as nothing
compared to those which our troops have over and
over again surmounted at different times, and are
ready to do again if occasion calls for it.

The negro difficulty is rapidly assuming such
formidable proportions in the Southern States as to
force itself upon the attention of American states-
men. Registration is nearly completed in most of
the States, and the results are what might have
been expected from the determination of the
Radicals to disfranchise the whites, and from the
disgust with which they have done their best to in-
spire all the better class of Southern residents. In
South Carolina the majority of registered blacks
over whites is about 50,000, in Louisiana 60,000, in
North Carolina 20,000, and in Alabama 10,000. In
Virginia, it is true, the whites have the ascendancy
by about 20,000, but of that number half are
Radicals. It is quite evident that under this
system the direction of affairs will be entirely in
the hands of the blacks. We have already a proof
of this in the fact that half the number of delegates
in the approaching Reconstruction Convention in
Louisiana are negroes. The prominent Southern
whites are now becoming alarmed at the pros-
pect, especially after the example of negro rule
in Tennessee. They are therefore with-
drawing their support from the system of
military reconstruction, which they have hitherto
advised their friends to accept. General WADE
HAMPTON has just published a letter advocating the
people to register, but only in order to be qualified
to vote against the proposed conventions. The fact
is, that the Radical party took care so to frame the
conditions of registration that they should exclude
the majority of the Southern whites. Their aim
was to get the power into their own hands,
either directly or through their influence over the
negroes. Considerable uneasiness has been excited
by the fact that in more than one of the Southern
States the negroes are known to have formed them-
selves into armed organisations. Who supplied
them with arms? is the question, and hints are freely
thrown out; but it is of less consequence at present
to know how they got them than what they will do
with them. In Virginia, in North Carolina, in
Tennessee, and in Missouri there are alarming
rumours. In Virginia they have some sub-
stantial foundation, since General SCHOFIELD
directed an official inquiry, which brought
to light the fact that in almost an the
counties of the State formidable armed
bands of negroes are in existence. In the
border counties of Carolina and Tennessee armed
blacks are wandering about, and information to
that effect has been given to the PRESIDENT. Pos-
sibly these authenticated facts have in creased the alarm
in Missouri, but the wide spread uneasiness through..

-
out these four St
sates should put the officials on
their I;tuard. ney have been careful to order the
:
disarma tanto of the whites, but there has evidently
been some) -remissness in permitting the negroes to
arm. If the rest of the population are prevented from
wearing ea ms, there can be no reason why the
blacks--fr ee men like the rest, and certainly
favour& - rather than opposed by the Government—
should b' 3 allowed to possess them. In the present
critical state of affairs such a permission is foolish
in the extreme; but, as we have said, so far as the
officio! 's Are 'concerned, it has probably been granted
through- carelessness. In two of the Southern
districts the disbanding of negro militia
has bees t ordered, and probably now that
the suspicious circumstances we have referred
to have :been brought under the notice of the
authorities further precautions will be" taken.
General St IHOFIELD has made an effort to redistri-
bute the "black population by declaring that the
State poor-laws shall be put in force ; that is to say,
that the d,?..stitute negroes shall be charged upon the
counties wllich they left for the towns at the close
of the war. If this order is carried out, it will, at
least, disperse some of the more dangerous and dif-
ficult classes.

Meantime the removal of Generals SHERIDAN and
SICKLES continues to be the subject of comment,
North and South. It is said to be the PRESI-
DENT'S intention to reinstate some of the officials
removed by SHERIDAN. Governor THROCK3IORTON,
of Texas, will be one of these, it is thought, as his
removal was an unwarrantable act of oppressive
interference. Of course any such proceeding will
be in contravention of General GRANT'S order, for-
bidding military commanders to reinstate deposed
civil officers, but as GRANT took upon himself to
give this order without consulting the PRESIDENT,
it is not very likely that Mr. JOHNSON will alter
his plans to suit the officious manifestoes of
his somewhat unruly lieutenant. The real
difficulty in carrying out the reconstruction laws
has been made by the Radicals themselves. if the
truth were known they were probably disappointed
that the Southern people accepted the scheme, and
instead of smoothing the way and encouraging
them to comply with the new revelations in good
part, the Radicals, from the military commanders
of the several districts downwards, have endeavoured
in every way to irritate and disappoint the
people. Mr. THROCKMORTON, the deposed Gover-
nor of Texas, has published his defence in the
local newspapers. He asserts that commanding
officers have persistently impeded the work of re-
construction, though the people have been anxious
to carry out the plan of Congress. Happily, the
" obstacle," as the Radicals politely term the PRE-
SIDENT, has now interfered with a strong hand, and
it remains to be seen what further course he will
adopt to save the Southern States from a war of
races.

It is most satisfactory to find that Austria has
been able to bring matters to a more agreeable con-
clusion than was at first expected between the
Ministers of Finance of Austria and Hungary.
The object is to regulate the several points con-
nected with the division of the public debt between
the Empire and the Cisleithan provinces
From Vienna we learn that the official evening
Post gives an authentic denial once for all to the
rumours that the Government intend to confiscate
the Church property in order to meet the present
financial requirements. The Presse declares that
the Ministerial proposals which had been made to
the Austro-Hungarian Conference are, that a
capital is to figure as a separate item in the total
amount of the public debt. This is to be repre-
sented by interest to the amount of twenty-five
million florins. The last news from Pcsth is that
confident expectation is entertained of this Austro-
Hungarian Conference being brought to a satisfac-
tory conclusion, and that an agreement will be come
to respecting the portions of the State burdens
to be borne by Hungary. This is very gratifying
to hear of, because some well-grounded fears were
experienced by some that the result of this com-
plicated arrangement would not be a fortunate one,
and that at any r4te some Unpleasantness or
awkwardness would prevail respecting the affair.
It rnust be admitted that the Vienna Government
have shown great discretion in the way in
which they have conducted their policy
towards Hungary. Such a course of wise
and moderate legislation cannot fail to have
the most beneficial results, and it is the more
fortunate just now because of the many difficulties
with which Austria has to contend. One cannot
help wishing that this better understanding did
not prevail at an earlier period between Austria
and Hungary, for it might have averted some of
the worst evils of last year ; but we hope that this
will prove an illustration of the truth of the say-
ing, " Better late than never," in the fortunate
effects it will produce.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

g.
PARIS, Monday
rage Mon atda yEsienin
Congresses are decidedlAyß
the
present. In
addition to the four already mentioned there
is now
a Congress of the Catholics of Germany at Inspruck
the capital of the Tyrol. At the preliminary • • sitting
the secretary, Professor Moriggl read a letter by
which Pope Pius bestows his apostolical bl • essmg
upon all those who frustrate the efforts of men with-
out faith. His Holiness implores Heaven
« that
the general assembly may come to decisions which
may contribute to preserve the cause of the Church,
to the propagation of the means of instruction for
safety, to the destruction of fatal errors, and that im-
pious manoeuvres, deceits, and seditions of enemies
may be frustrated." Resolutions were agreed to hav-
ing for object to form a committee of 12 members to
assist the Holy Father, and to create in each town
newspaper and publications to propagate good prin-
ciples and oppose irreligion and evil.
Accounts from Italy state that the cholera having
completely disappeared from Albano, a solemn ser-
vice has been celebrated for the repose of the soul of
Cardinal Altieri, late bishop of that city, who suc-
cumbed to the disease while nobly performing his
duty. The whole population were present at the
ceremony, and by their respectful demeanour proved
their estimation of the devotion of the prelate who
had so heroically sacrificed his life. Among other
titles the Cardinal Altieri had that of Camerlingue.
According to the rules of the Catholic Church the
Cardinal Camerlingue is invested, during his inter-
regnum, with executive power, which he exercises
until the election of a new Pontiff. In pursuance
of this dignity he enjoys certain privileges attached
to the Sovereignty—for instance that of ordering
money to be coined with his effigy.
There is an idea of closing the Exhibition in a
manner worthy of it by a magnificent fete At that
time the Emperor and Empress of Austria will be
in Paris, and other Royal personages are also ex-
pected.
A Congress is to assemble at Saint Briuc, in
Brittany, on the 15th of October, the special ob-
ject of which will be to discuss matters connected
with Celtic languages and traditions. The cora-
-1 mittee have sent invitations to the English, Welsh,
Irish, and Scotch interested on the subject to take
part in the discussions. Means will be adopted to
establish relations between the friends of these
studies on both sides of the channel. Inquiries
respecting language, history, and mythology will
be included in these discussions, which will pro-
bably prove of importance.
Democracy and letters have lost another friend