The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-10 00:00:00

MiSCELLANEOUS AMERICAN NEWS.

Philadelphia presented a strange spectacle during
the sitting of the Convention. The city was
thronged with strangers. Southern and Northern
leaders met at every turn. There were those who
had hoped to have entered the Quaker City at the
head of a hostile and victorious army, and there were
those who had intercepted and thrown back that
army in its march through Maryland. The rush
now was not for military fame and warlike trophies,
but for, " victuals" and a place to lay one's weary
bead. A decent bed could not be obtained for love
or Money. The dining table by day was surrounded
by a scrambling multitude—at night 'it groaned
under the weight of sleeping patriots. Barring the
hot rush for creature comforts, profound peace
reigned in Philadelphia. Large bodies of military
were stationed at convenient points. Both within
and without the Convention long speeches and
exciting harangues were vigilantly suppressed. It
is probable that the Quaker City might have been
the scene of a riot if every patriot had had an
unlimited opportunity of speaking out his senti-
ments to the public.

The Independent of August 23d has an amusing
letter from the Continental Hotel, Philadelphia, on
the "Dumb Convention." The wig-wam, he says,
so called—not by invidious outsiders, but by the
Indians themselves—was a barn of rough and rugged
pine boards about as big as that hole in New York
which the burning of the Academy of Music has left
as a classic ruin. Some say the wig-wam held 15,000
people, but crowds are always over-estimated by un-
careful guessers. Perhaps the Convention and its
audience at its greatest crush of attendance num-
bered nearly 10,000. " The sight was superb—that
multitude of faces ! I heard the statement fall from
the lips of the Hon. James R. Doolittle that the Con-
vention contained more brains than had ever before
been assembled in America under one roof. The
large number of Radical editors who were present
felt this compliment keenly. I turned to one of
these gentlemen near me, and inquired, How
would you analsye this crowd ?" Well,' said he,
' I would first put the question, "As many of the
Convention as are office-holders will hold up their
hands," and one-half would respond ; then I would
say, " As many as are not office-holders, but expect
to be, will hold up their hands," and the other half
would respond ; and so you have the two classes."
The whole business was in a nut-shell. Does the
innocent reader think that this greatest of delibe-
rative bodies' did any such thing as deliberate ?'
Not at all. There was not an exchange of senti-
ment on its floor ! The Convention did nothing
but appear in • dress-parade before its leaders.
Its total sessions amounted to less than five
hours—two hours of which were occupied
bj the simple reading of the address and the
declaration of sentiments. All motions, resolutions,
-and nominations were prepared beforehand. Every
state delegation voted in its private committee-
room that no member should speak except by
unanimous consent of the delegation. Accordingly,
in open session, every motion was carried unani-
mously, and ivithout debate. Charles V. could not
make his clocks strike together, but the managers
of the Philadelphia Convention could have taught
him how ! lam fond of machinery ; and I frankly
confess to a doubt whether the machinery of the
Philadelphia Mint, or the machinery of the Phila-
delphia Convention, was the oilier and smoother of
the two. I believe that if any delegate had risen
in the Convention, and been determined to express
his mind against the foreordained plan, he would
have been lynched. The declaration of principles,
and the address to the people, took the ground
that the Southern States are entitled to represen-
tation, without delay and without condition. This
is the only vital point at which this convention is at
issue with the Republican party. As to slavery,
emancipation, and their consequences, Ido not see
but that the Philadelphia Convention is up to the
high-water mark of any official declaration which
has ever been made, on the same points, by any gene-
ral convention of the Republican party. Forinstance,
the Philadelphia Convention says, Slavery is abo-
lished, and forever prohibited, and there is neither de-
sire or purpose on the part of the Southern States that
it should ever be re-established upon the soil within
the jurisdiction of the United States ; the enfran-
chised slaves in all the states or the Union should
receive, in common with all the inhabitants, equal
protection in every right of person and property.'
This reaches as high a point as the two great Re-
publican measures known as the constitutional
amendment prohibiting slavery and the Civil Rights
Bill. The Republican party, as a party, has not
yet taken a step beyond these two measures. On
the subject of human rights, therefore, abstractly
considered, the Philadelphia Convention confesses
itself side by side with the Republican party. I
am devoutly grateful for this result. It leaves no
possible excuse to the Republican party for not im-
mediately taking the next and final step to impar-
tial suffrage. Mr. Raymond said to me on the
stairway of the Continental Hotel, ' This conven-
tion will compel the Radicals to a more conserva-
tive position.' But, on the contrary, I think it will
compel the Republican party to a more Radical posi-
tion. The Republican majority in Congress failed
to plant themselves on the basis of Equal Rights,
thinking they had enough of principle still left to
themselves in a higher moral position than their
antagonists would dare to occupy. But the Phila-
delphia Convention has stolen a march to the Re.
publican front. The moral of the strategy is, let
Congress beware of all half-way measures in deal-
ing with great principles."
Captain Lycester, RN., the Admiralty agent at
Liverpool, received orders on Saturday last to
charter two steamers for the immediate conveyance
of a number of troops and horses to Canada. The
Sunday Gazette observes that when the reinforce-
ments now embarking reach Canada we shall have
quite a respectable army in our North American
provinces. There are two brigades of artillery and
fifteen battalions of infantry, of which latter eleven
are in Canada, two in Nova Scotia, and two in
New Brunswick. An additional force of artillery,
a regiment of cavalry, and three more battalions of
infantry will have been landed by the end of the
month, when the total of the regular force will not
be less than about 16,000 of all arms.

Almost daily some new instance of fraternisation
between the Russians an d Americans is reported by the
St. Petersburg telegrams. We read that a deputation
of American peasants have waited upon Mr. Fox
to offer him their congratulations in the name of
the whole Russian peasantry. Mr. Fox presented
M. Gwosdew, the spokesman of the deputation, with
an American flag in remembrance of the occasion,
and, in acknowledging the gift, M. Gwosdew de-
clared that, in case of necessity, all Russia would
unfurl its banners by the side of those of the great
American Republic.
The Times in a recent article on the English
Na
v,, praises the American system, which uses the
best means at hand and best contrivances known,
instead of Waiting for perfection. This system
was well described by the Chief of the Ordnance
Department in one of his last reports. Speaking
of the Parrott guns h
had received said that the Department
information'etending to condemn them,
but as they knew no perfectth guns, or of any guns
more perfect than these, wouldf continue the
manufacture till they heardey mething better.
By this means America
obtBo'
ained her present
large stock, including thousands of 15 and even
20-inch cannon.
The following are the principal amounts appro-
priated by the last Congress for the services of the
Government, as appears by the acts already ,-mb-
lished, uch, it is believed, comprise nearly all the
appropriation acts :

I. .Livo, executive, and judicial 5ervic0.525,412,550
Civil and miscellaneous service
Collecting revenue from customs 4,200,000
Consular and Diplomatic service
Indian service

- -
Naval service
Military service
Pensions
Rewards for capture of assassins . .
2,600,000
Various acts of deficiency

Total $122,005,307
This does not include the amounts necessary to pay
the bounties under the recent bounty law, for
which
no amount is given, and there are numerous other
appropriations made to which no sums are a faxed.
The Treasury variously estimate the amount recfpired

under the bounty act at from $60,000,000 to
$200,000,000, and the other objects for which no
specific amounts are given at from $lOO,OOO to
$500,000. Among the items on the Civil Appro-
priation Bill is one directing the payment out of
the commutation fund arising from the draft, which
now amounts to about $12,000,000, the sum of $3OO
for each slave who either enlisted or was drafted
into the military service, to be paid to the loyal
owners of the slaves. As these same owners re-
ceived the $lOO bounty when the slaves enlisted
they will be pretty well compensated for their loss.
The benefits of the bill are confined to the Slave
States represented in Congress since 1864. The
amount necessary to make the payment will be
about $10,000,000. The Bounty Bill does not seem
to meet with much favour at the Treasury and War
Departments.
By the return of Lord Monek to England the
Government has temporarily fallen into the hands
of General Sir John Mitchel. This officer gained
great distinction in the Kaffir War, and commanded
a division in the Expedition to Peking. He has
great decision, energy, and daring, and well quali-
fied to deal with an enemy like the Fenians. A
large encampment has been formed at Thorold, on
the Welland Canal, garrisoned by regulars, volun-
teers, and militia. The Fenians threaten the entire
line, moving in squads between Malone and St.
Alban's. There are three gunboats on the St. Law-
rence, between Ontario and Cornwall, and others
on the Lakes. A second camp is about to be formed
at Farnham, south of Montreal. The Fenians at-
tack will be made, it is thought, in small parties.
The Canadians have freely tendered their services,
and the Government have only availed themselves
of a small portion of the Volunteer Companies.

The Nezo York Herald says :—" Preparations for
a final movement on Canada are actively pro-
gressing in this city. As matters stand it appears
that September will determine the fate of the
Roberts-Sweeney party:- The taking of Canada is
one of the most prominent articles in their creed—
try it they will, no matter what the result may be.
It is believed that from the experience of past re-
verses the leaders have a better idea of the amount
of opposition they may expect to meet with, and
that the Irish Republican army will be put into the
field on a more secure war footing. This much
may be expected, that the Fenian war will be of
longer duration the next time it commences."
The Philadelphia Inquirer says :--1" It is very
evident, from all we can learn, that our country is
to be well represented in the coming Exhibition in
France, commencing in April and ending in
October. Among the very many valuable me-
chanical inventions we hear of to be on exhibi-
tion is the justly celebrated " Improved Ex-
celsior Brick Press" of our fellow-citizen, Mr.
Isaac Gregg, for which sixty feet square has
been secured in the " Park," and five by ten feet in
the " Palace" of the Exposition, the space in the
former being for a full size press, complete and in
operation, Making brick, and room for kiln for burn-
ing the brick, and the space in the Palace is for
model and samples of brick. Among a number of
these machines now being built at the large machine
works of Messrs. Neafie and Levy, of this city, is
one for this purpose, which is to be highly elaborated
and tastefully finished; and the model is being made
by Mr. J. B. Smith, Second and Dock-streets, which
is also to be highly ornamental and designed of maho-
gany box and ebony woods, and silver mound,
with glass hopper, and operated by a spring
attachment or clock work when wound up.
We predict that this will be not only one of the
finest displays of mechanical genius and skill on the
occasion referred to, but we doubt if an invention
can be found there to compare with this one in
point of utility, from the fact of large sums of
money having been invested in various extensive
and successful brickworks now in regular operation
in this country, employing this machine, and for
which patents have been secured all over Europe,
and a company has just been formed by Messrs.
Gregg and Sons for the European territory, from
among our leading capitalists. A beautiful photo-
graph by Cremar, No. 18, S. Eighth-street, of the
Excelsior Press, may be sden hanging opposite the
office of the Continental Hotel, the head-quarters
of the inventor. Favourable accounts have been
received from the "Western portion of the country
with regard to the disposition which is manifested
in connection with a fair representation of its indus-
trial and productive facilities at the Paris Exposi-
tion of 1867. It is believed that great good will
result from a display of the great resources which
the wide domain of the West can furnish to the
great universal exhibition.

The President, during the reading of the address
to the Philadelphia Convention, requested the
delegates and spectators to manifest no sign of
approval or to make other demonstrations until the
reading was completed. This request secured
quiet until the speaker arrived at the following
paragraph :—" And the ten millions of Americans
who lire in the South would be unworthy citizens of
a new commonwealth, degenerate sons of an heroic
ancestry, unfit ever to become guardians of the
rights and principles bequeathed to us by the fathers
and founders of the Republic, if they could accept
with uncomplaining submission the humiliation
thus sought to be imposed upon them." The entire
audience then broke forth in an unrestrained burst
of applause, which lasted for several minutes. At
the conclusion of this enthusiasm a demand was
made that the paragraph quoted be read over again,
which was assented to, and again the applause
broke forth with redoubled effect."

The life-Sized portrait ofGeOrge Peabody, by
Mayall, has been privately exhibited in the artist's
studio in Regent-street. The picture is a wonder-
ful likeness, and does the highest credit to this
celebrated photographic artist. It has been painted
for the institute founded by Mr. Peabody at Bal-
timore, and in a few days will be on its way to the
place of honour it is destined to occupy. A fort-
night ago we published a description of this like-
ness of the great philanthropist.

The harvest prospects in the United States are on
the whole good, notwithstanding the bad effect of
recent storms. The greatest amount of fear, as
regards: grain and hay, was felt in Wisconsin,
-where the crops, being short of maturity, were more
subject to damage ism rain. In Illinois a new
insectpes t , i n
of the
theshape of an incursion of millions of an
grasshopper species, had compelled the
farmers to cut the oats green to save them from
total destruction. But the reports as to grain are
good from most of the Western States, and lowa is
gathering such magnificent crops as have never
been excelled. In the South, although the cotton-
worm has appeared here and there, most of the
States and districts report good expectations, and
in some parts the cane yield is said to be satisfac-
roptso;but
all
lands
Vir-
ginia is blessed with
satisfac-
tory. In Florida, Alabama, and North Carolina
drought had destroyedgo good prospects o stofth e
as e
•
of yields—cotton, corn, tobacco, &c. This varied
state of things is repeated in the Middle States, and
good prospects of all kinds are reported from New
England.
The news by the Damascus from New York is 7
not of much importance. The New York Herald
states that Mr. Davis will shortly be released on
bail. General Sheridan has revoked his order es-
tablishing martial law in New Orleans. lle reports
that the immediate cause of the recent riots was the
assembling of the Free State Convention, headed
by revolutionary agitators ; but he denounces the
manner in which the mayor and police suppregzel
the riots as unnecessary, atrocious, and amounting
to murder. Ile recommends the removal of the
mayor and governor. Cholera has almost disap-
peared from New York. Stephens has declined an
offer alleged to have been made by Sweeney for the
fusiod of the Stephens and Roberts factions of
Fen'.
'ns. Sweeney denies having
a
another
offer. Rroabiedrtsonis
Cr eapnoardtaed
into o
sbeep t ebpearr.i preparing for
made any such
Governor-General of Canada has left for QuebTehee,
en route for Europe.
The Chicago Tribune of August 23d gives a full
account of the great flood in Root River Valley.
On Monday the 6th the river was only up to the
banks. From dark, about 7 p.m., till midnight the
storm raged with the greatest fury. The rain de-
scended in torrents, the stream flooded its banks,
and spread through the valley, causing great de-
struction. The sad summary is sixteen lives ,lost,

four mills, four houses, several barns, and all the
outbuildings, appurtenant to thrifty farms. Fences,
crops—all are gone. The valley is almost a ►waste.
Save a few spots of high land, the surface is dark
and naked with the ruin of the flood. Some of the
inhabitants who have survived will seek higher lo-
calities ; others will try again in the same place ;
but it will be a long time before the valley is again
so busy and prosperous. This valley is about
fourteen miles south of Rushford. From here we
passed in an easterly direction toward what is
termed the South Branch of the South Fork. At
the town of Dedham, a grist mill, distillery, and
store, with stock of dry goods and groceries, were
carried away, involving a loss of $B,OOO or $4,000.
Fifteen miles above this point a widow named
M'Cabe, and her two boys, aged nine and two
years, were drowned. These, with the sixteen in
the other valley, make nineteen lives lost. All the
bodies, with the exception of two or three, have
been recovered.

The Chicago Tribune informs us that the improve-
ment of the rapids of the Mississippi is about to be
vigorously resumed, in compliance with the recent
act of Congress. Major-General J. H. Wilson, who
gained such distinction as a cavalry officer during
the war, and who is also one of the most energetic
and competent members of the United States Corps
of Engineers, has been assigned to the charge of
the work, with Colonel P. C. Harris, of the same
corps, as his principal assistant. These gentlemen
are now in this city, on the way to the scene of their
labours, which will be commenced immediately.
General Wilson has alsobeen ordered to conduct the
survey of Rock River, with aview to the construction
of a canal along its channel. In this he will be aided
by Mr. Worrell, of Pennsylvania, who is well known
to all persons interested in public works, from his
long connection with the canals of that State. The
people of the North-Vest have good reason to be
satisfied with the appointment of an engineer of the
character and capacity of General Wilson to duties
of such importance to them. We presume that we
owe this appointment to General Grant, upon
whose staff General -Wilson served until he left it
to take command of a division of cavalry.
The same journal thus describes the " Pic-nic" :
—" The Fenians bad a monster gathering at Haas'
Park, about ten miles west of this city, on Wed-
nesday last. It was a magnificent success, greater
than was promised or even anticipated. The at-
tendance was one of the largest gatherings ever
seen in the North-west. The day was fine, the
atmosphere balmy, thermometer not too high
for comfort, and the fresh country air put every-
body in the best of spirits. Notwithstanding the
immense crowd there was ample room for all, ex-
cept in the cars, where there was a little squeezing,
but that was suffered in the best of humour. The
occasion was a memorable one, an event sui generis
out of the range of all past experience. There
were not wanting people of other nationalities on
the grounds, but the great bulk of the excursionists
were Irish—it was to all intents and purposes an
Irish gathering. But for what purpose ? Princi-
pally to listen to heart-stirring speeches from the
friends of Liberty and Right, not only in the
Emerald Isle, but all the world over. Speeches
were made by Governor Oglesby, General Logan,
Speaker Colfax, and General O'Neill. The speeches
were all eloquent, patriotic, and radical, and eli-
cited the most enthusiastic applause. We have not
the room for even a synopsis of the splendid efforts.
The President's Speech to the Philadelphia Dele-
gates has been severely animadverted on by the Re-
publican Press. Under the head of Julius Csar
Johnson, the Chicago Tribune has an article from
which we extract the following passage :—" It will
take the American people by surprise to learn that
the only thing that stands between them and a
military despotism is the virtue of Julius Caesar
Johnson. It is rather startling to be informed that
our liberties hang upon so uncertain a tenure as the
caprice of one man, and he not always sober. It
will be news to the soldiers and sailors of the Union
that they are such dumb beasts that they could be
used to subvert the Constitution, wad reduce them-
selves,
their neighbours, and their posterity to sub-
jection to the dynasty of Andrew I. It will be com-
forting to the Tories and tyrants of the Old World
to receive au official assurance from the President
of the United States that he could set up a mon-
archical government in this country by simply
issuing a few orders to the army and taking a few
dollars out of the Treasury. The revelation is alto-
gether new and strange. It is well calculated to excite
a smile, but there is a serious feature in it which should
not be overlooked. It proves that the matter of
executing a coup d'etat has been running in Mr.
Johnson's head. The subject is too grave for jest-
ing. It is a =mentions theme for a President
to discuss in the presence of a delegation of rebels
and rebel sympathisers. The very suggestion of a
dictatorship, established by military violence, shows
that he has committed the crime in his heart already.
The man who, holding the chief executive office of
the nation, has calculated the means at his command,
measured•the force at his disposal, and the force to
be overcome, and then deliberately announced that
he could, if so disposed, subvert Republican insti-
tutions in the United States, is a dangerous man.
He is one against whom all patriots should band
together, as against the common enemy of his race.
He has already paltered with bis conscience, and
having contemplated the possibility of applying
the torch to free institutions, he may do anything."
Early this month the elections will come off in
Vermont and Maine. On the second Tuesday in
October, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and
lowa will vote, and early in November, Maryland,
New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. It is
thought that the Republican candidates will suc-
ceed in all these States, but not by the last over-
whelming majorities. The contest is likely to be
bitter, as the Philadelphia Convention, and the
earnest support of the President, has strengthened
the Democratic party, and the battle has become a
war between the Executive and Legislative powers.
Both parties display a fertile genius in fixing nick-
names on their opponents. The title of National
Union Party, though so strongly in the ascendant
for a few days, has been cast aside. The Repub-
licans are termed " Dis-Unionists," the Democrats
" Traitors." " Black Republicans " are also styled
" Woolley-Heads." The " Sess-Seschs " have had
their name of Copperhead amalgamated with that
of the President, and are now designated " Copper-
Johnsons."

" There is no shame to our manhood if we distrust
our own ability to endure the anguish of the body. . . It
lgo
is no secret that of late local anxthesia has been produced to
such a degree that the patient, retaining his consciousness,
can t
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e stheulilgys
slightest
sgeltosns.
sensationkn..iTf eo asonf
none
tnhecyusitions
stlthosea.epueurrbei
public
suffering
Teil
'telegraph,
ea and yet be
s
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than
horrors, Danady towh ne
think Mr.
succeeded
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15t8:0,n5tIapya2ink.
No chloroform, and perfectly
extracted
teeth,nsnta l combininginesn
an nt h;e maybelates t
procuredy inventions e.
nnd Every
improvements description
in
t
aDirro.svDeAnyor,
.deetnretiest!
(late principal, assistant to Mr. Eskell,irf ElB,
W.), 221, Regent-street (3 doors from the Polytechnic).
[ADVERTISEMENT.] Dyspepsia (indigestion),costnninstispnan-
tion, debility, consumption, and all nervou bilious
s,
and liver complaints in every stage, are only aggra'vated and
acceleraced by drugs of every description, but perfectly u
a:ble by Da Barry's health. restoring Itevalenta Aracbicra-
pond, as proved by thousands of cases which had been con
sidefed hopeless, such as- cough, asthma, also diarrhea;
hunt rrhoids, liver complaints, flatulency, nervouin(
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hysteria, neuralgia, irrit bi lity, sleepless
°pl3:l'pasi ti 1. onns.
alieeas heartburn, rns
i,ckhneeasda a, eel ee,
in debility,p r
aces,pi nu iueineaszc,sic,drit;;:
n
iking fits, bronchitis. scrofula, tightness of
eg.
:he
conft
,3sOnydears
adraonpcsyyo,
rcrsatmsepas:
as;
chest. pains ;a the pit of the stomach and between the
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latiamgba,erapmitsunrelgtaonft,bolofodF,
rini
liverl t Ycie derangement,
ex-
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lieut. of Waterford,
of many years' dyspepsia. —No. 49,832.
Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness,
asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and
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In tins, 11b, 2a 9d ; 21b, 4s 6d ; 51b, lls ; 121 b, 22s ; 211 b,
los.—Barry Du Barry and Co., No. 77, Regent-street,, London ;
also Phillips, tea dealers, 8, King William-street ; likewise
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54, Upper Baker-street ; 103, Tottenham-court-road ; 96,
Upper-street, Islington, IV.; Harvey, Notting-hill; Close
Brothers, 65, High-street ; and Stubbs, Queen's-terrace, St.
, John's-wood, London; and all respectable grocers and dies
mists,-Beware of spurious imitations.