The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-05 00:00:00

There is a great dearth of Southern news. Ad-
vices received furnish no additional intelligence of
importance concerning the progress of the work of
reconstruction. The people throughout that sec-
tion seem to be anxiously awaiting the action of
Congress, and, according to various correspondents,
experience great satisfaction at the hearty support
of President Johnson by the Democrats and Con-
servative Republicans.
The labour question is a source of great anxiety
among the planters in view of the approach of the
planting season. The freedmen are reported to be
generally averse to making labour contracts under
the present condition of affairs ; and it is said that
they persist in refusing work in a great many cases
on account of representations made to them that
the Federal Congress is vigorously legislating in their
behalf, and will probably either donate to them con-
fiscated or public lands, or establish high rates of
wages, and force the planters to pay the same. Ac-
counts from various sections, however, are more
encouraging. In Georgia, according to statements
of attaches of the Freedmen's Bureau, the negroes
are generally manifesting a disposition to work in-
dustriously, and the planters are much encouraged
in consequence. The mortality among the freed-
men in some sections is, however, said to be fearful,
the deaths in Macon being at the rate of 500 in a
given number against 25 before the war. Federal
troops have been obliged to be detailed to bury them
while all funeral appurtenances had become ex-
hausted, and the interments were similar to those of
the battle-field.

The negroes of several Northern and Southern
States were represented in convention in Washing-
ton yesterday, and resolutions were adopted oppos-
ing colonisation, advocating the continuation of the
Freedmen's Bureau, and the bestowal of the right
to vote upon all negroes.
Advices from Texas report that a squad of
soldiers of the 19th coloured regiment, under Lieutenant
Murphy, recently made an attack upon an Imperial gun-
boat near Brownsville, but were repulsed. Lieu-
tenant Murphy will probably be dismissed the service,
therefor.

All Government employes at Fortress Monroe,
who were connected in any manner with the rebel service,
have been discharged by order of the War Department.
This action grew out of the reported plot of a 'combination
to release Jefferson Davis.

The lowa Legislature has ratified the Constitu-
tional Amendment unanimously.
The Fenian Congress in New York has elected
a Central Council to take the place of the Senate.
The coloured troops are being removed from
Mississippi.

It is reported that the Senate Committee will
present a report in the New Jersey contested election case
adverse to Senator Stockton.

The gross expenditures of the United States
Treasury for the quarter ending December 31, 1865, were
$286,899,249.14.
Four of the parties concerned in the recent
robbery of the Adams' Express Company have been
arrested, and $250,000 of the money recovered.
The American Home League in favour of
protection have presented a remonstrance to both Houses
of Congress against the petition of the Free-Trade
League.

The Committee on the death of Mr. Lincoln
have investigated the brutal charges made by tho New
I'orlc News and other Democratic papers of thefts com-
mitted in tho White House by members of the late Presi-
dent's family, and pronounce them utterly false.

The Salt Lake City Union Vedette gives the fol-
lowing racy synopsis of Mormon sermons preached by the
bishops of the "Saints," on the preceding Sabbath, at the
Thirteenth Ward Church in that city :—" Three Bishops
of the Latter Day Saints' anointment entertained the illi-
terate audience as follows :—' Joseph •Young (brother to
Brigham) said :that there were good Mormons hero in
the church, but there were those that were not good
Mormons; them he shouldn't call Saints any more, but
bastards. Next followed brother Joseph W. Young, who
assured them that Brigham Young's credit to-day was
better than President Johnson, or any of the Congressmen,
and that his signature could got more goods than the
whole United States Senators put together. Next old
Bishop Woolley graced the pulpit, prefacing his text by
telling the congregation that throe stray pigs were
confined iu Brother Joseph's pen, and that their owners
were requested to call, pay pound rent, and pack the
porkers home.' "

It is now said that President Juarez, of Mexico,
is in San Antonio, Texas. Of course this is only a rumour,
the truth of which we have no means of ascertaining.
The Maine Legislature have passed resolutions
calling for the immediate trial of Jefferson Davis.
Hon. J. A. J. Creswell, Senator from Maryland,
has been designated to pronounce a eulogy upon the late
Henry Winter Davis before the House Representatives.
The guerilla Mosby has been arrested at
Leesburg, and is held subject to the order of Gen. Ayre,
commanding at Winchester.
Alexander H. Stephens, the late rebel Vice-
President, bears testimony in a letter to the fact that Union
men in Georgia are persecuted more at the present time
than during the rebellion.
George W. Kendall, the originator of the
New Orleans Picayune, and its leading editor for many
years, but for the last ten or twelve years a large planter
and sheep raiser in Texas, has returned to New Orleans
and again taken charge of the Picayune.
Miss Harriet Lane, the niece of ex-President
Buchanan, noted throughout the country as the most ac-
complished and elegant lady that ever presided at the
White House, was married at Wheatland, the residence of
ex-President Buchanan, a few days since, to Mr. Henry
Johnson. The bridegroom is a wealthy banker of Balti-
more.

Lieutenant-General Hardee, after a trip to
Mobile and New Orleans, had arrived at his home in
Savannah. In Mobile he was the recipient of a private
supper at the hands of Federal officers.
Major-General Gilmer, an ex-Confederate
office; is at his home in Savannah, doing nothing. He
was a graduate of West Point, and was a captain of Engi-
neers at the commencement of the war, on duty in Cali-