The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 8, 1866

functionary by the Secretary of the Treasury with
respect to the proposed revision of the tariff at the
next session of Congress :—'• WASHINGTON, Sept.
14.—Hon. David W. Wells, United States. Com-
missioner of Revenue.—Sir,—ln view of the fact
that the revision of the tariff is certain to engage the
attention of Congress at the next session, I consi-
der it especially desirable that the Treasury Depart-
ment should be prepared to furnish as much infor-
mation pertinent to the subject as can be obtained
and collated within the limited time available for
the necessary investigations. You are, therefore,
hereby instructed to give the subject of the revision
of the tariff especial attention, and to report a bill
which, if approved by Congress, will be a substitute
for all acts imposing customs duties, and which will
render the administration of this branch of the
revenue system more simple, economical, and effec-
tive. In the discharge of this duty you will consider
the necessity of providing for a large, certain, and
permanent revenue, keeping in view the fact that
the existing tariff has proved most effective in this
direction. You will, therefore, endeavour, first, to
secure for the Government a revenue commensurate
with its necessities ; secondly, to propose such modi-
fications of the tariff laws now in force as will
better adjust and equalise duties upon foreign im-
ports with the internal taxes upon home productions.
If this last result can be obtained without detriment
to the reveille by reducing taxation upon raw
materials and the machinery of home production,
rather than by increasing the rates of imports, it
would, in my opinion, by decreasing the cost of pro-
duction and increasing the purchasing power of
wages, greatly promote the interests of the whole
country. In the prosecution of this work, you are
authorised to call upon any officer of the revenue
for such information as you may require and he
may be able to furnish.—l am, with great respect,
yours, HUGH M'CULLOCH, Secretary of the Trea-
sury." -
The Cincinnati Commercial, of the 14th September,
has the following despatch from Columbus:—
" General Grant, while in Columbus, did not hesi-
tate, in conversing with those with whom he is
intimately acquainted, to express his utter disgust
with the whole performance of the Presidential
troupe, with which he is in company by command
of the President, as his superior officer, but with
the political aspects of which he has not one par-
ticle of sympathy. He has been excessively bored
by the persistent efforts of John Hogan and other
Copperheads to identify him with themselves or
their political prospects. While in Cincinnati this
man Hogan proposed to introduce to General
Grant a gentleman connected with the Enquirer,
mentioning as a reason the fact of such connection,
and that the Enquirer was an ardent supporter of
the General. He responded that he had no sym-
pathy with the Enquirer. He remembered its
course during the war, and it was very obnoxious to
bim. But,' said the persistent Hogan, this is
one of the editors of the Enquirer.' That,' replied
the General, might have prevented me saying what
I have, but it is out now.' He complained that the
Enquirer had published a garbled account of his
remarks in Cincinnati. The General says that he
accompanied the expedition, feeling that the manner
with which he was invited and pressed by the Pre-
sident to do so amounted to an order from his
Commander-in-Chief. He expresses extreme dis-
gust with the manner in which it has been con-
ducted, and that he feels, though physically strong
enough, as tired as though he had been absent from
'Washington six months. These statements are not
derived from rumour, but are entirely trustworthy
and reliable, and their publication is believed by the
military and personal friends of the General to be
due and acceptable to himself. Admiral Farragut
was equally outspoken upon the subject, and con-
demned the whole affair as unworthy political fili-
bustering, for which he had r.o taste."
The Philadelphia Inquirer tells the story of the
loss of two men over the Falls of Niagara on the
12th of September, as follows :—" This afternoon,
while a terrible wind was blowing up the gulf, two
men were discovered in a small boat in the rapids
south of the Three Sisters. They were struggling
desperately with the waves, but human power was
utterly unavailing. Hundreds of persons were on
Goat Island and saw them, but of course were un-
able to render any assistance. The terror-stricken
men rowed with frantic efforts to the very verge of the
precipice, and finally went over, still clinging to the
oars. It seems Mr. Coopers_ the Postmaster at the
town of Chippewa, on the Canada side, two miles
above the Falls, started with Frank Leutze, the
ferryman, to cross the river in a small boat. Usually
the course is to pull about two miles up the river
before attempting to cross, but on this occasion the
unfortunate men seem to have imagined that the
heavy wind blowing up the stream would counter-
act the force of the current, and consequently at-
tempted to cross in a direct line. The result was
the same as it had been on three former occasions
when similar attempts have been made, and their
lives paid the forfeit of this mistake. The sad end-
ing of this last mad attempt should teach a lesson
of carefulness to all who live along the river's bank.
The rapids of the Niagara are too awful in their
power to be trifled with. It is singular that Leutze,
the ferryman, who bad crossed and re-crossed a
hundred times in all kinds of weather, should have
so sadly misjudged the force of the current, and
over-estimated to such a degree the strength of the
wind.

The National Union Executive Committee have
issued a lengthy address to the American people.
It is signed by Governor Ward, of New Jersey,
Chairman, and the Representative of every North-
ern State, West Virginia, North Carolina, Mis-
souri, Virginia, and Florida. After reviewing
the cause and course of the rebellion, and the Pre-
sident's plan of reconstruction since the rebellion
was suppressed, the Committee recommend and
support by argument the following five condi-
tions of reconstruction : —First, That all persons
born or naturalised in this country are henceforth
citizens. Second, That representation shall here-
after b,3 based on the number of people, of what-
ever race or colour. Third, ex-rebels shall not
hold office till Congress remove disability. Fourth,
The National debt shall not be repudiated. Fifth,
Congress shall have power to enforce the above.
The committee find encouragement in the recent
elections in Maine and Vermont, and urge their
friends in other States to go and do likewise.
Madame Ristori is creating a great furore in New
York. The theatre is crowded, and speculators
have succeeded in raising the price of box tickets. to
£2O each seat. The season is to comprise 18 per-
formances at New York and six in Brooklyn.
It appears that the liabilities of the Bank of Up-
per Canada are placed at $2,700,000, the assets
$4,600,000. $1,200,000 are due to the Govern-
ment, and $750,000 to the public. The Toronto
Globe attributes the suspension to the coercive
policy commenced by the banks of Montreal. An
„application was made by Mr. Cassell, manager on
the Bank of Upper Canada to the Government for
assistance. The knowledge that such an applica-
tion had been made got abroad, and the public
rushed to the bank to get its notes turned to gold,
and the bank stopped:
UNITED STATES MINT—EX-GOVERNOR POLLOCK'S
LETTER OF RESIGNATION.—Ea-Governor James Pollock
has addressed the foll3wing letter to President Johnson :
—" Philadelphia, Sept. 14, 1866.—His Excellency Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States.—Sir, —I hereby
tender to you my resignation of the office of Director of
the United States' Mint, which I hold under the appoint-
ment and commission of our late and ever to be lamented
President, Abraham Lincoln. I cannot approve your
policy,' as defined by yourself in your late public speeches
and practically illustrated in deeds of violence and blood by
its advocates and defenders in Memphis, New Orleans, and
elsewhere. I cordially and unhesitatingly approve of the
constitutional amendments proposed by Congress. They
embody the true policy of conciliation and recon-
struction—are just and more magnanimous than trea-
son had any right to expect or in justice to demand.
Their adoption, in my opinion, would at once restore
harmony and peace to every section of onr country.
I desire the earliest possible reconstruction of the Union
upon the basis of truth, honour, justice, liberty, and
equality. This will be done ; and I will labour earnestly
for its accomplishment ; but in the name of the patriot dead
of the late war, and the living and loyal children who then
stood and still stand by the nation's flag, I protest against
giving to the late rebellious States a premium for treason
and rebollion, by increasing their political power, or grant
ins to unrepenting rebels the right to make laws for their
Itntagoniets to soma the true frionde el the Onion ;

whilst in their hate of freedom they disregard the rights of
emancipated millions, and deny to the loyal citizens of the
States the ordinary privileges of American citizenship. I
cannot sacrifice my manhood for office, nor will I approve
under any circumstances that which every sentiment and
feeling of my heart condemns. I regret the necessity that
compels me to address you thus. I could say more, I can
say no less. Longer silence would be dishonour. I will
delay sending this until your return to Washington.—
Very respectfully yours, JAMES POLLOCK."
Intelligence has been received at Trieste from
Bombay, dated September 8, confirming the news of peace
between Russia and Bokhara. The King of Burmah has
been deposed, and a conflict was being carried on between
four different princes for the possession of the throne.
The Lowestoft-Norderney telegraph cable was
successfully completed yesterday afternoon, and is in per-
fect working order. The insulation of the four wires com-
posing the cable is said to be excellent. Direct communi-
cation is established with London, and the line will be
opened for traffic immediately.

NAVAL. —Th e United States' steam sloop Canan-
daigua, Capt. R. N. Stcmbel, from Cherbourg and Lisbon,
arrived at Gibraltar on the 20th, and proceeded to the
eastward on the following day.

In a lead mine in 'Tennessee, on Thursday, Sept.
13, some specimens of red sandstone were broken open, and
one was found to contain a petrified human hand, in a
perfect state of preservation. In other cases parts of
animals were found, and one black snake, some five feet
long, was found, of the consistency and weight of the
stone.

Eminent Catholic clergymen are already arriving
in New York from the Pacific coast, to attend to the Second
Catholic Council, which is to be held in Baltimore during
October, and over which Archbishop Spalding has been
delegated by the Pope to preside. The object of this
Council is to regulate the discipline of the Church in this
country, and to arrange some systematic plan for the edu-
cation of Catholic youth. Forty-one bishops and other
prelates, and 100 priests will take part in the delibera-
tions.

Jos. C. Butler and Lewis Worthington, wealthy
Protestants of Cincinnati, have purchased the U. S. Marine
Hospital in that city for 870,500, and presented it in fee
simple to the Sisters of Charity.
Rev. Norman. Macleod, the missionary of the
American Society at Great Salt Lake City, has been
preaching a course of lectures on polygamy, attacking the
system in its stronghold. The Mormons have attended in
considerable numbers, though the leaders threaten the
preacher's life.

At Portland bricks and pieces of iron taken from
the ruins sixty days after the firo was almost too hot to
handle.

A Massachusetts paper company is dividing one
hundred per cent. out of the profits made from newspaper
publishers. The
price of paper is too high. The Boston
Transcript is now printed on paper imported from England.
It is a significant comment on the manufacturers in this
country that paper can be imported at a saving to con-
sumers.

A PIRATE ARRESTED.—Oar readers have not for-
gotten the circumstances connected with the seizure of the
steamer Chesapeake, on a voyage from New York to Port-
end, in December, 1863, by a party of disguised Rebels,
headed by one John 0. Braine, who came on board in the
character of a passenger, and consummated the act of
piracy, killing Oran Shafter, assistant engineer, and wound-
ing the chief engineer while at sea. .The ship was
eventually recaptured in Nova Scotia, where the bucca-
neers had gone. The whole party were assisted to escape
by a mob at Halifax, and afterwards warrants of extradi-
tion for them were refused to the United States. Braino
was allowed to run free, and leaving Nova Scotia, he under-
took, in the succeeding year, a similar enterprise against
the steamer Roanoke, plying between Havana and Nell
York. He also came ou board of this ship, with others,
as pretended passengers, seized the vessel at sea, and
headed her for Bermuda. Hero they sent the crew and
passengers on shore by another vessel, took out a portion
of the cargo, and set fire to the steamer. After this feat
they went on shore, where they swaggered immensely
upon the strength of the exploit. In orderto make a show
of justice, Braino and his associates were arrested, and the
farce of a trial was performed, the result being of course
au acquittal to all the offenders. There was some corres-
pondence upon the subject between Mr. Adams and Earl
Russell, but the latter defended the outrage upon the plea
that the pirates had a Confederate commission, and were,
therefore, to be treated as belligerents. The same man,
Braine, is believed to have organised the attempt to take
the steamer Salvador, on the Pacific, in a like manner,
an enterprise which was foiled by the activity of American
naval officers at Panama. The acts of Braine were so
ligitious, and opposed to the "ordieary licence of war, that
it would have been thought that he would have imitated
the caution of Waddell, of the Shenandoah, and kept away
from the United States. But he supposed he could come
and go, just as ho pleased. Unfortunately for him he was
discovered in New York, by James Johnston, the first
engineer of the Chesapeake, who had been wounaed when
the steamer was seized. The latter swore out a complaint
against him for murder and piracy. The United States
Marshal found the bold buccaneer, and he is now in
durance vile. Wo do not think that his Rebel commis-
sion will avail him now. lle committad his crimes in the
disguise of a peaceful citizen ; was not in command of any
vessel, and was acting under false pretefices in order to ac-
complish his object. His offence is clearly piracy, and
justice will nut be done to hint if he is not banged for his
transgressions.— The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Alabama Question and our American
Alliance.

- -

A writer in a contemporary says :

It is but a few short weeks since I took occasion to call
the attention of the public to the question of the liability
of the British Government in reference to the Confederate
cruisers. At that time exceptions were taken by two or three
of your correspondents to some portions of that letter. But
if you will remember my main argument was, that whether
right or wrong, according to direct technicality of intn-
national law as interpreted by Wheaton and Mattel, yet
the American people would ever consider that England
was morally responsible for the building, equipment, and
manning of the Confederate cruisers. That whatever
apparent friendly and social intercommunication might
take place, whatever might be the extent of commercial
relationship, there would never be that entente cordials
7
which was at once desirable and necessary. In address-
ing that letter to you, Sir, I had but ono object in view—
an honest, practical, and lasting alliance. I know the
Athrenierrincaantionpealoppe
people, their sensibilities, their jealousies,
and, at the same time, their im-
pulsive, generous nature ; and I know that though half
a century may elapse, when once they are convinced,
whether erroneously or otherwise, that they suffered
a wrong, or that an advantage was taken of them
in the hour of the nation's peril, it is a bitter memory,
which at any moment may set the whole body politic in
such a fever of commotion that the danger-signal may be
hoisted. If you may remember, I directed attention to
the fact that President Johnson, and General Grant, and
the army, by their prompt action at the last threatened
Fenian outbreak, had saved Canada ; or, at least, if they
did, not save Canada, they saved an invasion, nipped
Fenianism in the.bud for a time, and showed their respect
for international law and the comity of nations. Can we tell
what might have been the result to the British possessions
—what loss of life and property, what an expense entailed
in the support of the military, what fright it would have
caused the community, what stagnation—yes, utter cessa-
tion—of all business would have resulted if their action
had not been prompt and decisive ? I will not draw a
darker picture. I will not paint in colours dramatic the
scenes thiit such men as those composing the Fenians
would have enacted. It is only necessary to read the
threats they have published and spoken. Fenianism is wide-
spread; it is an organisation that in the peculiar position
of the: present political parties of the United States acquires
increased importance, and, sorry am I to state it, increased
countenance. I do not believe that either the Radical
or Conservative party, if firmly in power, would coun-
tenance the acts of any marauders, but if I read the sign
on the political horizon aright, the coming battle is one in
which fusion and partizanship will overrule all thoughts
of settled platform or Principle. Therefore, every element
which can give either one side or the other strength will
be flattered, cajoled, and wheedled into the ranks. There
it is where Canada's danger lies now; while the Govern-
ment and the people of the North are engrossed in their
elections there will be no restraining agents placed on
Fenianism. I do not believe, for one moment, that the
sensible portion of the American people would threaten
England, through Canada, with an invasion. But unfor-
tunately elections are miniature revolutions, and words
aro spoken, threats are made, and deeds committed during
a campaign which astonish even the perpetrators
after the storm has blown over. The English
people do not understand this ; they take all the
outpourings on the hustings, all the harangues from plat-
forms, all the phillipics from the rostrum, all the lam-
poons, denunciatory leaders, and sparkling attacks and re-
torts as the dignified, laboured utterances of a deliberative
body. Many think the Americans, now they have tasted
war, cannot do without it. This is a grand mistake. The
Alabama hobby is a good excuse, a capitarone for the Fo-
nians to arouse a certain class of people, and it is a dan-
gerous one, or it may ultimately be. How easy to disarm,
then, that class ?

It is too much the habit of many of the English news-
papers to assert that Americans dislike us as a nation. I
do not believe this. The constant current of travel be-
tween the two countries, the social intercourse which takes
place as a result, must impress both with the conviction
that there is no real antagonism ; but, on the contrary, an
assimilation not only of language, but of ideas and views.
Remove the irritating cause, and see how soon the inflam-
matory state of the American mind will subside. Manifest
a generous disposition in reference to a subject of irri-
tability to them, and see how soon they will ac-
knowlege and reciprocate the act. If it is not thought
compatible with the dignity of the -British Govern-
ment to retrace their steps, to withdraw from their
positive at this moment, let them do what the

Times suggests in its leading article to-day. And
here I may, perhaps, be excused from stating that the
views which I enunciated two months since are exactly in
unison with those of the Times of to-day. " The Alabama
would never have gone to sea but for the inopportune ill-
ness of the Queen's Advocate, and this consideration,
though it may clear the Government from the charge of
neglect, does in some degree affect the moral aspect of the
case. The loss sustained by American commerce in con-
sequence may bo daninurn sine injurid, and therefore no
ground of legal action ; andyet it may be a wise act of cour-
tesy to waive the benefit of this plea. The time has come
when such a concession is no longer open to misconstruc-
tion, and would be accepted by the United States as a
spontaneous act of goodwill. At all events there can be
nothing derogatory to the honour of England in offering
to.submit her Neutrality Laws together with those of the
United States to revision by a mixed commission. No
country has more to lose by a lax interpretation of
these laws, and justice compels us to acknow-
ledge that, had the United States Government
connived at their evasion, the Fenian expedition might
have inflicted much greater mischief on Canada." And
now I ask was not this substantially the line of argument
which I maintained in my first letter ? And I do hold that
it seems impossible, in all fairness to the United States,
that England can refuse to submit this case to arbitration.
Here is an opportunity of deciding the justice of the claims
on one side and the defence on the other. But Igo fur-
ther, and say that England can afford to pay this claim ; the
money does not go into the coffers of the United States
Treasury. It is of no national benefit; but the persons
who would benefit by this act of justice. or liberality,
whichever people chose to call it—l will not cavil about
technical phrases—l say the persons or parties who would
be benefited would be those who aro closely allied to the
mercantile and commercial community. The present
sufferers, many ruined, aro those who wore engaged
in the peaceful avocation of commerce ; besides nearly all
the valuable prizes were ships bearing grain as food to our
shores.

The amicable settlement of this most unpleasant sub-
ject of controversy would not only be received by the
American nation as a proof of our desire to do them right
and justice, but it would be recognised and accepted as a
compliment to their own honourable conduct in reference
to the Fenians. Once let this claim bo settled, and what
is there to stand in the way of a perpetual alliance ? When
1 hoar people preaching about the approaching alliance
between Russia and America, and the terrible results
which will ensue to Europe ; when I read all the fine plans
about the mapping out of the world, and how America will
help Russia in Europe, and Russia America on her own
continent; I simply call to mind that ono represents the
freedom of peoples, and the other is an antagonism so
great that oil and water in mixing would be as nothing.
America wants peace; she wants the few remaining bil-
lows of the late storm smoothed down ; she wants the last
echo of the thunder to die away in the far-off valleys
of passing time; she wants the last whisper of the frightful
tempest to gather itself together and to be no more; she
wants the last memory of the sad, sad days that were so
mournful to be forgotten; and, finally, she wants to be true
to herself, that each and all may comprehend each other,
that embittered feelings may give place to words of for-
givenness and promises of mutual support. Yes, America
wants no alliance for purposes of self-aggrandisement. She
has a mission to perform, she has a God-gifted natural
theatre to perform it upon, such as earth has no equal.
There she stands, stretching from ocean to ocean, and
from lake to gulf, with a world of inherent wealth surpass-
ing that of even the old Roman Empire. If she wants al-
liances, they should be those of the olive branch ; and I
trust there may be ever an alliance between people of the
same tongue, between Great Britain and America, and
their aim, their object, and their purpose may be the ad-
vancement of the arts of peace and everything that apper-
tains to the progress of man.
Gresham House, Oct. 4. T. RAWLINGS, F.R.G.S.