The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-01 00:00:00

Trial of Jefferson Davis•

Many of the leading Northern journals are discussing
the approaching trial of this eminent personage, for high
treason, with a great deal of earnestness. The views
taken by the various journals aro diverse and conflicting.
Some are willing he should go scot free ; others think he
should be formally tried and convicted, in order to stamp
judicial opprobrium upon the "so-called" right of seces-
sion, with a view to his immediate pardon and banish-
ment from the country; while the more virulent (we are
rejoiced to say they are few in number) clamor for the
blood of a frail, weak, debilitated old man, who possesses
as noble traits as ever adorned human nature, whose sands
of life aro rapidly running out, and whose pride of cha-
racter and fixedness of soul have kept him alive thus long
despite the tremendous cares, anxieties, and sufferings
that have pressed upon him more weightily than few
mortal men have been ever called upon to endure.
From all we can gather, the idea seems to be universally
entertained at the North that President Johnson will never
consent to the execution of Mr. Davis, even if he should
be tried, convicted, and sentenced to death; that, should
this event occur, he will at once interpose the presidential
pardon; and that what prevents him from setting Mr.
Davis free at once is his idea of a State necessity, which
demands that the first judicial tribunal of the land should
pass upon, define, and specify, for the guidance of those
who are to come after us, what penalty should attach to
the alleged crime of treason, as exemplified in the acts of
secession, which led to the unexampled and bloody con-
vulsions of the last four or five years.
There are a great many of us who believe that there
was no crime involved in the various acts of secession ;
but as that question has been decided by a power from
which there is no earthly appeal, and as the Southern
people have accepted the arbitration of the sword honestly
and in good faith, of course the idea of future acts of
the kind cannot for a moment be entertained without a
violation of plighted honor, which our citizens will never
be guilty of. Therefore we can see no necessity for a
court in the United States, the highest in the land, being
called to adjudicate upon a dead issue. Still, however, if
the President is determined upon it, we suppose the case
will be decided and a judgment had. Perhaps the Presi-
dent, knowing that there will be never more any secession
in the South, wishes the authoritative mandate of a judi-
cial decision for the benefit of some of the Eastern States !
it is well known that Chief Justice Chase has been con-
sulted by the President with express reference to this sub-
ject. The New York World, of a late date, holds out the
opinion that the Chief Justice, not being a thoroughgoing
lawyer, either by practice or inclination, is rather afraid
to meet the great men who, it is understood, are engaged
as counsel for Mr. Davis; that he feels his legal inferiority;
and that his refusal, according to uncontradicted report, to
hold a court in Richmond, which is in his individual dis-
trict, for the purpose of bringing on the trial, is based on
reasons like these.

The following is the conclusion of the World's article,
after azguing that the assumed right of secession had been
irreversibly settled by the sword, in which all are agreed,
and citing the various defences the counsel of Mr. Davis
may set up :

"The only other line of defence not purely technical is
that founded on the nature of belligerent rights. There is,
indeed, involved here an important question on which it is
desirable to have an authoritative judicial decision. When
a rebellion expands to such proportions that the usages of
war, as determined by the law of nations, come into play,
and the benefit of these usages are conceded to the insur-
gents by the Government rebelled against, are they there-
after individually liable to the penalties of treason ? This
question cannot be regarded as settled in any such irrever-
sible way as the assumed right of secession. If it is this
which the President wishes to have decided, we can under-
stand his solicitude."—New Orleans Delta.

GENERAL GRANT'S REAL NAME. —The Milwaukie
News says that a prominent and reliable citizen of Wis-
consin was told by General Sherman, when on his recent
visit to Milwaukie, that General Grant's real name is Hiram
S. Grant, and not Ulysses S. Grant, as he is usually de-
signated. General Sherman stated that the name by
which General Grant goes was acquired by the blunder
of the member of Congress, who recommended General
Grant for the military academy, when he handed in the
name of Gen. Grant to the Secretary of War. After his
appointment to West Point the embryo Lieutenant-
General endeavored to secure a correction of the error, but
the officers of the academy declined to do so for the want
of authority, and referred the matter to the War Depart-
ment, where, for some reason, it was neglected. The
modest student of military tactics finally flanked the
difficulty by assuming the name which accident and the
official record assigned him. His mother, however, never
forgot to call him " Hiram," and Ulysses never fails to
respond to the " call." Whatever of truth there may be
in the statement we cannot 'Ay

Singular Inquiry at Sunderland.

For a considerable period (says the Northern
Express) rumours have been wafted about in shipping
circles as to the prevalence of flash lights on Whit-
burn Steel, which some persons, in fact, have been
bold enough to assert were intentionally placed there
as decoys for unwary mariners. From what cause
they arise, or by whom exhibited, cannot at present
be determined ; but certain it is that during the last
few months an incredible number of homeward-
bound vessels have been decoyed in-shore by these
lights, and, before they could again be " hauled"
round to sea, have been dashed upon the fatal spot
where the fury of the waves speedily rendered them
total wrecks. Two or three wrecks might fre-
quently be seen lying together, and the reports
raised being greatly detrimental to the fishermen of
Whitburn, a full and complete investigation was
demanded, not only by them, but by the pilots
of Sunderland as well—the latter actually petition-
ing the Trinity-house to place a flash light on
Souter Point, as that was deemed the only effectual
remedy. With a view to clear up this mystery,
Rear-Admiral Collinson, C. 8., and Captain Lam-
bert, elder brethren of the Trinity-house, visited
the neighbourhood on Wednesday, and made every
possible inquiry concerning the matter ; but at no
definite conclusion could they arrive. They also
visited Sunderland North Pier in the evening, ac-
companied by Capt. Kirby, 'R.N., master of the
coastguard, in order to view the gasworks, near
Whitburn, which some one had alleged to be the
cause of the lights ; but their glarefailing to be dis-
tinguished, the idea was somewhat reluctantly aban-
doned. An official inquiry, conducted by Mr. W.
Wilcox, collector of customs and receiver of wrecks,
was held before Admiral Collinson, on Thursday,
in the Sunderland Custom-houde. There were also
present Capt. Lambert ; Capt. Kirby, R.N. ; Mr.
Joseph Jerome, chief officer of the coastguard ; Mr.
Robert Blair, Tyne Pilotage Board ; Mr. J. R.
Hodge, Sunderland pilot master ; Ald. Givens ; Mr.
Cooper Abbs, Rock-lodge ; Rev. G. C. Abbs, Clea-
don ; and Rev. C. Hutchinson, of Whitburn ; the
four last named gentlemen having attended in com-
pliance with a request made by Sir Hedworth Wil-
liamson, M.P., in order to watch the interests of
the fishermen. Mr. Frank Mills, a coastguards-
man, was the first witness called, and he stated that
one night about three weeks ago he observed in a
field south-east of Whitburn what appeared to be
two lights flashing upon the banks. He was pre-
paring to follow when they suddenly disappeared.
Mr. Robert Morrison, master of the Monkwear-
mouth Dock, said he was in the habit of going along
the North Pier at all hours of the night when any
rough weather was apprehended, and at such times,
in looking towards Whitburn, had frequently
seen a revolving light, which, but for the distance,
might easily have been mistaken for that of
Tynemouth. Mr. C.Abbs was the next witness, and
remarked that his residence, Rock-lodge, was about
two-thirds of a mile above the North-pier, and in
close proximity to Whitburn, consequently his win-
dows commanded a full view of the entire bay from
Souter Point. The house was about the same height
above the level of the sea as the North-pier Light-
house, 'viz., between 70 and 80 feet, and, during the
10 or 12 years he had resided there, it had been his
constant practice to observe the appearance of the
weather, note objects along the coast, and daily
glance at the sea ; but he could safely aver that he
never observed anything resembling a light that
could be mistaken for that on Tynemouth Castle.
He had, however, frequently seen a light shining
from a window of Mr. Wilcox's house at Whitburn,
which looked directly south, and could not be seen
any distance out at sea. When vessels were round-
ing Souter Point from the north their masts were
visible long before the hull, and consequently when
they carried a white light at the masthead it might
easily be mistaken for a flashing light, particularly
when passing the irregularities on the shore about
that spot; therefore it is probable that that might
account for the flashes alleged to have been seen at
Souter by parties on Sunderland North-pier. He
did not think any one could go to the beach with a
lantern withoutbeingoverhauledby the coastguards-
men, who kept a sharp look-out at that spot. Mr..
N. Cooke, mas ter of the steam-tug Vigilant, and
Mr. P. Saunders, master of the Tom Bowline, de-
posed to having seen lights exhibited on Whitburn
Steel, which they believed were intended to decoy
vessels. Captain Jerome Major, of the schooner
Test, of Southampton, which went ashore on Nov.
24th, said he observed two lights, which he first
thought resembled those at Tynemouth, but after-
wards imagined them to proceed from two vessels at
anchor. On approaching them, however, he dis-
covered he had allowed his vessel to run close in
shore, and she struck before he could bring her
round. Capt. C. Adams, of the brig Token, which
went ashore Oct. 15, while running from Amsterdam
to Shields, said he first made the land about six in
the morning, when a little off Whitby, and all went
well until he made for what he supposed to be Tyne-
mouth light, when he unfortunately ran his vessel
ashore at Whitburn. When the vessel struck he saw
a light brought along the coast in that direction,
and after being over his decks, was taken away to-
wards the village. Two cobles attempted to put off
to his assistance, but were unable to do so in con-
sequence of the force of the waves, and the lifeboat
had ultimately to be manned. About three quarters
of an hour after his own vessel struck he observed
another one drawing rapidly in the same direction,
but he fortunately apprised the captain of his danger
through a fog trumpet, and she stood out to sea. Mr.
C. Hutchinson, who resided in the easternmost house
in Whitburn, was in the habit of being on the shore
and on the sea all hours of the night, but had never
seen any light likely to mislead homeward bound
vessels. Mr. Hodge, pilot master, said the Sunder-
land pilots wished to make no further statements to
what they had already made, and declined to be
examined. They had frequently stated, however,
that they had seen a strange light atWhitburn for 30
years, but never so frequently as during the past
few months. They had been misled by it on many
occasions, but on nearing the coast to discern
whence it proceeded, had lost sight of it entirely.
in consequence of their representations, he had rid-
den over to Whitburn to try and unravel the mys-
tery, but had failed to discover anything. Mr.
Jerome, chief officer of the coastguards, observed a
bright light in the direction of Whitburn on Tuesday
night while walking near Roker battery, but on
walking in that direction it disappeared. He had
been five years in the neighbourhood, but, with this
exception, he never saw any revolving lights before.
The gentlemen from the Trinity House then said their
inquiry was merely preliminary in order to see if any
lights were to be seen at Whitburn which could be
dangerous to shipping, and, if so, to suggest a pro-
per remedy. They had not assembled for the purpose
of endeavouring to criminate any one. The inquiry
was then for the present concluded, after a pro-
tracted sitting of nearly four. hours.

CALCULATIONS OF SOUTHERN POLITICIANS.—" Agate,"
of the Cincinnati Gazette, asked soma of the Georgia
politicians why they so confidently counted Presi-
dent Johnson on their side, and this was the answer :
"We think him on our side because of what he has
done, and what we know him to be. Last spring you can
form no conception of the utter, abject humiliation of the
Southern people. We were all prostrate, helpless, and
abased to the dust, but out of this abject condition Mr.
Johnson has partly lifted us. He has made us feel that
we have some standing ground, some chance still to battle
for our rights ; and for this there has new sprung up
throughout the whole South a warm feeling of regard and
gratitude. Johnson knows this. He knows that if he
continues in this way, he will be able in 1868 to count on
the South as a unit for his re-election. There would be
no thought of contest : he would be nominated by accla-
mation. Now, he is a man of strong will and boundless
ambition. Of course he wants to be re-elected. He does'nt
want to quit the stage as an accidental President. And he
knows perfectly well that, with the South as a unit at his
back, his enormous patronage will enable him to carry New
York and Pennsylvania, and defy the whole black Repub-
lican pack. Those States will be enough to elect him
and a blind man could see the game, and Andy Johnson
has got plenty of nerve to play it."
GENERAL Ii‘CLELLAN AT DRESDEN.—The hero of the
Peninsula and Antietam compaigns, who vexed the soul
of Lincoln and became the idol of the Peace Dem•cracy
at Chicago, is now basking in the rays of royal favor at
Dresden. The King of Saxony recently granted him a
special interview and audience at the palace of Dresden,
and at a grand party given by M. Von Beust, Minister of
Foreign Affairs for Saxony, on the 14th inst., in honor of
the King's birthday. General M'Clellan and Consul
Cameron were the only Americans invited.

THE GALE.

-

Yesterday morning a violent storm of wind and
rain from the south-west broke over London. At 2
o'clock it was very severely felt in Camberwell and
Clapham, where considerable damage was done to
property. The gas was blown out in the lamps and
the district was left in darkness. On the Thames
several boats were forced from their moorings. A
barge laden with grain, in charge of a lighterman,
was forced against a buoy near Hermitage-pier, and
turned over, but fortunately the lighterman was
saved as well as the cargo. The roofs of several
houses in the vicinity of Woolwich were partially
blown off, and the inhabitants assert that they never
experienced such a violent storm. Boats and barges
were driven ashore and much injury done.
At Portsmouth the strong south-westerly gale
which set in on the south coast on Friday continued
to blow with undiminished strength from the same
quarter until early on the following morning, when
the wind veered to the north-west, and moderated
from a gale to a strong wind, with a clear atmo-
sphere, up to nearly sunset on Saturday. After
sunset the wind broke out again from the south-
west. As the night closed in it rose to a furious
hurricane, which, accompanied with rain and sleet,
continued through the night and until noon, when
it slightly veered westward and very much mode-
rated. Several large vessels, outward-bound, ran
into the Motherbank, St. Helen's, and Spithead an-
chorages from the Channel for shelter, but no serious
casualties seaward were reported. The Victoria Pier
barometer (Negretti and Zambra's seacoast) ranged
as follows during the past five days, the readings
having been taken at 10 a.m. Dec. 27th, 30.38 ;
28th, 30.0 ; 29th, 29.50 ; 30th, 29.82 ; and 31st,
29.50. On the 31st at 4 p.m., the reading was
29.50.

At Chatham, for several hours during the early
part of Saturday morning, the force of the wind was
unusually great, the pressure, as shown by the pa-
tent anemometer kept at the Government establish-
ment, being as much as from 251 b. to 301 b. to the
square foot. In anticipation of the gale having
abated, many of the vessels which had taken refuge
during the previous night inside the Isle of Graine
put to sea, but on Saturday afternoon many had
returned with loss of spars, bowsprits, &c. Yes-
terday there was an unusually large squadron of
colliers and other merchant vessels lying safe at
anchor at Blackstakes, and near the entrance to the
harbour, riding out the gale. The Great Eastern
suffered not the slightest damage on Friday night,
and during last night steam was again got up in
anticipation of the gale continuing. With extra
anchors down, and every precaution taken for her
safety, the great ship will, no doubt, ride out this
gale, as she has hitherto done all previous storms
since she has been at her present anchorage ground
in the Medway. At dusk last evening the force of
the wind had sensibly abated as the weather mode-
rated, the mercury standing at 29.15, showing a rise
of 3.loths since the morning. Many of the vessels
have already put to sea, and others are preparing to
get under way. During the height of the gale some
new houses which were in course of erection at
New Brompton had their roofs crrried away and the
fronts blown in, while in Rochester several roofs
were stripped of lead. The gale raged with great
fury in the neighbourhood of Rainham, two large
elms being uprooted and some damage done to
several houses.

The weather was so rough in the Channel yes-
terday that the South-Eastern Railway Company's
passenger boats between Folkestone and Boulogne
did not venture to sea.

The Scotsman states that on Friday afternoon a
very severe gale of wind passed over Edinburgh.
The weather in the forenoon was mild and pleasant,
but shortly after noon a strong wind rose, which in
the course of an hour had attained the violence of a
hurricane. The gale raged with great fury for seve-
ral hours, and when at its height it was as fierce as
any that have been experienced in this quarter for
a considerable time past. The streets during the
prevalence of the high wind presented a most un-
wonted appearance, and foot passengers were ex-
posed to great danger. The extreme force of the
wind may be imagined from the fact of several cabs
and carriages having been overturned while being
driven through the town. Towards evening the gale
moderated, and the night, although cold, was clear
and beautiful.

The American Press on the President's
Message.

-

Probably no executive document was ever awaited with
greater interest. It is safe to say that none ever gave
greater satisfaction when received. Its views on the most
momentous subjects, domestic and foreign, that ever con-
cerned the nation, are 'full of wisdom, and are conveyed
with great force and dignity. . . . The whole docu-
ment is one of which every American may well be proud,
for its elevation of tone, its practical wisdom, and its quiet
exhibition of the national strength and glory. It will be
admired not only at home, but cannot fail of making a
most favorable impression all over the civilised world.—
New York Times.

It is a pleasure to read his clear, striking sentences, the
undisguised utterances of a man who thus appreciates his
position and duties. The style of the message places it
very far above anything of its kind for many years. It is
able, vigorous, and, as it approaches the conclusion, rises
to eloquence seldom equalled, perhaps never surpassed, in
any American State paper. It will take rank among the
noble documents of our history ; and we may be pardoned
the expression of a hope that it is the inauguration of a re-
turn to that style of message which has not for a long
period been in use at Washington, but which will be
acceptable to all cultivated men who admire and cherish
purity and elegance in the English language.—New fork
Journal of Commerce.
The President's message will commend itself to the
special attention of the reader and to the general approval
of the American people. It is a smoothly written State
paper. It embodies a clear, frank, and unreserved exposi-
tion of the views and purposes by which he has been
guided in his policy of Southern restoration, an encourag-
ing exhibit of the state of the country and various recom-
mendations to Congress upon the leading questions of the
day which mark the earnest patriot, the sagacious and
experienced statesman, and the steadfast and consistent
man of the people.—New York Herald. 0

On all his topics the President is frank, dignified, direct,
and manly. We do not recall a single ambiguous sentence
in the whole document. He is not as strong and decided
as we expected from the energy of his character, or as the
circumstances would warrant, in his treatment of recon-
struction. He defers more to the opinion of Congress than
we supposed ho would. His previous course had led us
to hope that he would insist upon as rapid a restoration of
the political relations of the South as might be compatible
with safety. The passage of the constitutional amend-
ment, which really removes the whole ground of contro-
versy, we imagined, would be made his single condition,
sine qua non, his test of loyalty, his means of general con-
ciliation and settlement. But he abandons the entire mat-
ter to Congress, with a simple history of what he had
himself done.—New York Evening Post.
No intelligent citizen will fail to read, thoroughly and
thoughtfully, the message of President Johnson. It is
marked by clearness and simplicity, compactness and force
of style. The President will carry;the people with him in
the manifest spirit as well as the logic of the document,
and his frank appeal for support and confidence will have
a hearty response. —Springfield, Massachusetts, Republican.
The message, as a whole, will, we feel contidint, be ap-
proved by the supporters of the Administration generally,
both in and out of Congress.—Cincinnati Gazette.
The general tone of the Message may be described as
politic, cautious, patriotic, and dignified. Altogether it is
able, and will be read with considerable satisfaction by
nearly the entire people.—Chicago Tribune.
In its errors in doctrine and errors in fact, its unsound
ethics and its unsound politics, its partial views and its
extreme ones, the Message is a very accurate representa-
tive of the prevailing intellectual and moral confusion of
the times.—Cincinnati Enquirer.
The reader will not learn any more of the purposes of
the Executive than he knew before, as far as Federal
power and state rights are concerned. Ho scribbles about
republicanism, State rights, and all that, but he does not
mean anything particularly.—Louisville Democrat.
There is throughout the document such a vein of good
sense, such sterling patriotism, such deference to the con-
stitution, and so much conscientiousness in the discharge
of Executive duties, and the whole country will rejoice
that a man so worthy of the high duty was proposed by
the people to take upon himself the duties that the law as-
signed him on the death of Mr. Lincoln.—Louisville Press.

The President dwells in an atmosphere o1;;;;;;;;on:
He dismisses all passion as utterly unworthy of the great
occasion, and yet it is easy to perceive howardent, intense
even, are his feelings, buthow perfectly he controls them.
The first message of Andrew Johnson to the Congress of
the United States will place him upon a higher pedestal
than he has ever before occupied before the country and
the world. Louisville Journal.

The President meets every question unflinchingly, and
with a frank manliness that eminently characterises the
Man. The heresy of Mate severoignty, ao attempted to be

taught and practised by the leaders of the South and the
Democratic party, is pretty thoroughly exploded. The
great problem of reconstruction is argued, and the present
policy justified ; but the President cheerfully yields to Con-
gress the right and province to determine the whole
matter.—Leavenworth, Conservative.

His defence of the policy, is terse, clear, and ingenious.
He brings it and its results to Congress, and leaves with
that body the responsibility of accepting or rejecting it.
He enters into no discussion of the consequences of rejec-
tion. He makes no intimation as to what his course will
be should Southern members be denied admission. As
we have said, it was much to be desired that he should, in
connection with this subject, have made some reference to
the future as well as the past.—Chicago Times.
-Upon tho whole, we think the country, in view of the
doubts and uncertainties of the past six months, will
feel veiy grateful for the message. It is exceedingly well
written, and betrays that earnest thought and deliberation
which is characteristic of the President. It will prove
more gratifying because of the total absence of any spirit
of resistance or defiance to the well-known wishes of the
people in the matter of reconstruction ; and because,
therefore, it promises the utmost harmony between the
Executive and the National Legislature.—Chicago Repub-
lican.

COUNTRY MARKETS

NORWICH-SATURDAY.

The market to-day was fairly supplied with wheat, and
prices barely supported. Malting barley maintained late
rates, other descriptions ruled dull.
White wheat (weighing 631 b to 641 b), 50s to 54s ; red
ditto (weighing 631 b to 651 b), 50s to 52s ; best malting
barley (weighing 551 b to 561 b), 30s to 33s ; runs ditto
(weighing 541 b to 551 b), 28s to 30s ; distilling ditto (weigh-
ing 521 b to 531 b), 24s to 26s ; oats, 24s to 26s ; beans, 37s
to 39s ; peas (maple), 36s to 38s per qr ; flour, 33s to —s
Od per sack.