The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

Mr. Johnson and the Civil Rights Bill.

The Times, in commenting on the passage of the
Civil Rights Bill over the President's veto, says
that the anxiety of the American public and of the
world will be directed to the action of the President.
Mr. Johnson is the elected of the people as much
as Congress is ; he is the Chief of the Executive, or
rather he comprises the Executive in himself ; he is
immovable for nearly three years longer, and
during that time he has complete comman of the
military force by which alone the Civil Rights
Act can be enforced. Except by impeachment
Congress cannot effectually control him in any
course which is within the limits of his authority.
He knows this, and he also knows how far he may
venture on using his powers negatively to prevent
the enforcement of the Act. it may be that the
President has not public opinion at the North so
much on his side as is believed by some of his
friends. Though the Atlantic cities are, for the
most part, enthusiastic in his favour, yet through-
out the States, and notably in the West, the Re-
publican party is most powerful, and is likely to
remain so. There is probably a steady set of the
tide in favour of the President, but it will take
time for this movement to bring to his side a clear
majority of the people, and to enable him to with-
stand the action of Congress. We may then watch
his proceedings with interest, and observe how far
he aids or permits the action of the machinery
which this Act will shortly establish in every
Southern State. It must be remembered that the
Act will give the District Courts of the United
States exclusive cognizance of all offences eommitted
against its provisions, and concurrent jurisdiction
with the Circuit Courts of the United States in all
civil and criminal cases affecting negroes who are
denied their new rights in the Courts of the State.
According to President Johnson's interpretation of
the measure, " Members of a State Legislature who
should vote for laws conflicting with the provisions
of the Bill, Judges of the State Court who should
render judgments in antagonism with its terms,
and Marshals and Sheriffs who should execute pro-
cesses sanctioned by State laws, and issued by
State Judges in execution of their judgments, could
be brought before other tribunals, and there sub-
jected to fine and imprip.onment, for the perform-
ance of the duties which such State laws might
impose." We may assume that Mr. Johnson will,
as Chief of the Executive, give as little assistance
as he can to a law which thus invades the judicial
power of every Southern State. Yet, on the other
hand, he may not think it constitutional to nullify
such a law by any overt act. His course most
likely will be to leave those who have made the law
to
population,enfor coand t
o hold it, if they can,idh
against the will of the
naself neutral in disputes
which are not of his making.

We understand that her Majesty has been gra-
ciously pleased to place Bushey Park (formerly the resi-
dence of Queen Adelaide) at the disposal of his Royal
Highness the Duke de Nemours and family.

ON THE TESTI3IONIAL TO THE GEORGE CRUM-
SHANK COMMITTEE French literature and art aro repre-
sented by MM, Fourrier and Michel, and 41M, Dore and

Nadar.

THE MEMORIAL TO TIIE LATE MR. KEBLE, it
is said, will be the foundation of a new college at Oxford
bearing his name.—The Reader.
MACREADY AND THE MURDERER.—At a re-
hearsal of the banquet scene in. 66 Macbeth," the
"first murderer," spite of Macready's adjuration; per-
sisted in walking down the centre of the stage, and thereby
entirely hiding Macbeth from the audience. The trage-
dian impatiently called for a carpenter, a brass-headed
nail, and a hammer. The carpenter came. "Do you see
that plank there ? Drive the nail into that spot." It was
done. "Now you, sir," (this to the "murderer ") "look
at that nail. Come down to that spot, not au inch further
—and wait there till I come." Mr. Utility did as ho was
desired, and Macready's mind was easy. Night came,
and with it the banquet scone. The " first murderer
afupdaireennetelybegan to titter. Macready looking for something he
enters, walks down the stage, stops suddenly, then turns
hado
rou
dndr
oapnpde d .
round,T h
stalks to the man's side : "In Heaven's name, what are
you about ? " " Sure," exclaims the 4 murderer,' " ain't I
looking for that blessed nail of yours ? " The effect of
this speech upon the audience may be imagined. The
" first murderer " had to give his royal employer a wide
berth for the rest of the evening.—Chambera's Journal.

MISS BIFFIN ALIVE AGAIN.—The Berlin jour-
nals contain the following curious paragraph :—" A Hun-
garian girl, born at Oodenbourg without hands, now 20
years of age, has been giving some curious representa-
tions in the Prussian capital. She performs with her
mouth the functions of hands. She sews, embroiders,
executes the most delicate work with pearls, even threads
her needle and makes knots, all with the tongue, appa-
rently without difficulty, and certs,inly without the wid-
ance 9# any can,"