The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-09 00:00:00

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LONDON, 2110-YDAY, APRIL 9, 1866.

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The Prussian Ambassador at Vienna, Baron Von
WERTHER, has presented to Count MENSDORFF the
reply of the Prussian Government to the Austrian
Note of the 31st. In this communication, Count
BISMARCK states that there is no satisfactory ex-
planation given concerning the Austrian armaments,
and, indeed, that they admit of none. So far this
is a very unpromising commencement, and he goes
on to say that they cannot be accounted for by any
question of" internal policy," and that they give rise
to great difficulties between the two States. If

Austria had in reality believed she was threa
ened by Prussia, she had no reason to ac
after this fashion, because she could have
appealed to Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
This argument does very well to serve as a contra-
diction to Austria, but every one knows that very
little respect is paid in Berlin circles to the prin-
ciples of the Constitution. It is all very fine to say
that it provides for the disagreement which may
arise between members of the Confederation ; but
was it not it only the other day that Herr Bis-
mAlICK expressed a wish to see a Reform in the Con-
stitution, in order that the lesser States might be
able to side with Prussia in the event of a struggle
impending. The armaments of Prussia are caused
by the attitude of Austria, which has created
the present difficulty between the two States, is
another of Herr BISMARCK'S oracular remarks. How
absurd this is when we know that the position
position of the two States has been as awkward as
possible for some time past, and that the armaments
of Austria were the effect, not the cause, of the
confusion. Prussia repudiates the accusations of
Austria, and has no intention of attacking that
power. We learn from the Note, but perhaps it may
be intended to let things come to such a pass that
Austria may be compelled to strike the first blow
in self-defence
and
preservation of power. As for the
personal friendship said to be felt by the King of
PRUSSIA for the Emperor of AUSTRIA that is not of
much account if they are to Commence hostilities,
but it sounds well to
dilate upon it in
a despatch of State, and, therefore, great
stress is laid upon it in •
this Finally Herr Von BISMARCK declares that
it instance.
`will
be on the part of Austria to prove by „ her course
of action her friendship for Prussia." We presume
from this that it is meant that concessions are to
be made to the supreme will of Prussia, and that
her arbitrary demands are to be complied with forth-
with, if peace is to be preserved. It is not easy
to perceive any other mode by which this much-
talked-of friendship can be shown.
Meanwhile there are no visible signs or tokens of
relaxation in the military arrangements. The semi-
official Norddeutsche E.s2:tung states that the '• situa-
tion" has not changed, and that the armaments
are still going on. Many contradictory reports
are circulated, but the prevailing impression
is that the Prussian offer of mediation came too
late, which very probably may prove to be the case.
General RICHTER will soon leave Vienna for St.
Petersburg with an autograph letter from the
EIIPERopv to
the Cz.A, in reply to his commuuica-

tion. The journals of yesterday in Vienna all ex-
press irritation at the tone of Prussia in replying to
the Austrian Note, which is not at all to be won-
dered at, when we reflect upon its purport, and the
haughty terms in which it is couched, and the want
of concession that is evident from its style. The i
journals call upon the Government to appeal to the
Federal Diet in order to settle the questions
at issue. It is also rumoured that a dispatch
has been sent off to Count KAROLYI, the Austrian
representative at Berlin, in answer to the last Note
of llerr von BISMARCK. It is stated that, in this
communication, Austria reiterates the demand that
was contained in the Note of the :31st tilt., and ex-
presses a hope that Prussia will give explanations
respecting the meaning of her warlike preparations
as unreserved as those Austria has given concerning

.e " pretended concentration of her troops." If

this assertion be correct, it is not likely that affairs
will assume a more amicable appearance, and in all
probability such may be the contents of the reply,

for it is not likely that, having gone so far, the
Vienna Cabinet would relax in their efforts, and
allow the Prussians to carry the day against them.
Herr Von BISMARCK will find it more difficult to
reply to this Note than the other, and no doubt his
answer will be the crisis of the affair.

In Paris the chances of the approaching war form
the chief topic of conversation in all circles, chances
that seem more than ever likely to become certain-
ties in consequence of the reply of Count
BISMARCK. The Crown Prince of DENMARK
is in Paris at present, and is being paid great
attention to by the Court of the Tuileries.
Another significant circumstance connected with
this affair is that Marshal NIEL, who commands one
of the great military divisions of France, has been
in Paris for some days incognito, and has had several
interviews with the EMPEROR. The conclusion
drawn from this is that, iu the event of war break-
ing out between Austria and Prussia, Marshal NIEL
would have the command of a " corps of observa-
tion," that would be formed on the Rhine. No doubt
this is true enough, and notwithstanding the ap-
parent indifference of the French Government to
the affair, it is quite certain that France
will not long remain inactive should hos-
tilities really ensue between the German Powers.
Prussia would certainly rue the day yhen she was
led away by the ill-advised policy of Herr von BIS-
MARCK to make war with her former ally, for she
will be opening the door to others to enter in and
assert their claims, real or imaginary; and it is far
easier to keep peace than to make it, especially
under such a complicaticn of circumstances as those
now surrounding the States of Germany. Among

,he other rumours prevalent it is stated that Count

WALDERSER has been arrested at the Prague railway
station upon suspicion of being a Prussian spy, and
that in his pocket-book was found a plan of the
fortifications of Prague. This certainly looks as if
the Berlin Government were in expectation of
speedy hostilities.

The Africa, from llalifax and Boston, brings us
intelligence from New York to the 29th ult. The
PRESIDENT has fulfilled the general expectation by
vetoing the Civil Rights Bill. Having once thrown
down the gauntlet to his quondam allies he is not
the man to hesitate or flinch from the conflict. He
was willing to temporise, to act quietly and mode-
rately, to avoid open collision so long as it was pos-
sible, but ever since the opening of the session in
Congress it has become quite evident that he must
either submit unconditionally to the dictation of
THADDEUS STEVENS and his party or strike out for
hiyn.Flf ;n n. totally opposite direction. Great ques-
tions of grave national importance pressed for
settlement, and it was impossible to go on longer
without deciding whether the vast Southern States
were to be treated like a conquered country, kept in
subjection under the iron heel of military govern-
ment, or ruled wisely and justly in accordance
with the fundamental doctrines of the American
Constitution. The transition state of the negroes,
too, imperatively demanded attention. Their ex-
citable imaginations had been influenced by
political agitators, with visions of equality
and influence which to their minds signified
chiefly living without working. A party com-
posed of those who had always earnestly ad-
vocated the cause of the negro in the days of his
slavery and oppression, and also of those who for
their own ends desired to make political capital out
of his rights and wishes, were ready to propose the
wildest and most impracticable schemes for his
benefit, without any regard to the claims of the
white population to consideration, or to the
ultimate effect of their propositions upon the
negroes themselves. The immense majority of
the Republicans in Congress gave to the ex-
ponents of these theories an importance they
would hardly have secured out of doors, and before
very long questions of vital importance were thrust
upon the PRESIDENT for decision. The manner in
which he accepted the position and unmistakeably
declared his determination of ruling a free people in
accordance with the principles of free government
all over the world excited, as we know, the
warmest demonstrations of popular approval, and
for the time startled his opponents into
comparative silence. They have now, how-
ever, returned to the charge, and the Civil Rights
Bill has given the PRESIDENT another opportunity of
asserting his independence. The terms of his Mes-
sage to the Senate are straightforward and decisive,
while at the same time his arguments are incon-
trovertible. lie carries the war into the enemy's
camp, asking them plainly how far it is consistent
to make all the excepted classes ciiizens of the United
States, while eleven States are wholly excluded from
the representation. " Can it reasonably be sup-
posed," he asks, " that your millions of negroes, who
have just emerged from slavery, possess the neces-
sary qualifications entitling them to all the
privileges of citizenship, while intelligent
foreigners undergo five years' probation beore
becoming citizens?" To such an answer rea-
sonable men can hardly, one would think,
give any reply but one. Let the negroes at least

be subjected to the same probation as intelligent
white men would be in a similar case, and do not
let the hatred of slavery lead men to believe that
slaves are necessarily better, wiser, more prudent,
more trustworthy, more disinterested than other
men, simply because they are, or have been, slaves!
Mr. JOHNSON shows the Senate that the bill, in-
stead of encouraging real equality between the
races, is in reality in favour of the black against the
white man, and he also points out the extreme
danger of centralising the Government.
The
bill, he says, assumes powers which, if
acquiesced
limitede in, would destroy the Federative system
Powers, and would be another stride
towards the
Concentration of the legislative
not ceased to wavitrenrlnnhmei
by the political ex:
perceive the real tendency excitement
hasretcnootif; n
the
hrc :fmmet
nhoimisv
moment,
,nbgflPaienoirldweltelode
in the national G
y of the course which they
are so eagerly
~ Pursuing, Moreover, the bill would
no doubt, as Mr. jon
oalthough
he
tend
has
defend
to resuscitate rebellion °e ::
e
, asendN
h
he openly declares hisresolve
and protect the civil rights of the
put the Presidential veto upon this uncalled-for and
mischieyous measure. It is thought the Senate will
freedmen,tb sl
thus,