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

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
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 Ilea von BisimzeK. It is stated that, in this
communication, Austria reiterates the demand that
was contained in the Note of the 31st ult., 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
the " 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, in 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 DT.'
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 when 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
the other rumours prevalent it is stated that Count
WALDEnsEn 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 no

the man to hesitate or flinch from the conflict. lie

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
himself in a totally opposite direction. Great ques-
tions of grave national importance pressed for

ort-edeit lire % &IMF keIIFTII
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
Iwildest 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 PeEsIDEN-soanother 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. He carries the war into the enemy's
camp, asking them plainly how far it is consistent
to make all the excepted classes citizens of the United
States, while eleven States are wholly excluded from
the representation.
"C
he asks, " thatyouarn it
millioreasonably be
nsofnegroe sup-
posed,"s,
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 before
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 aro 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
acquienced •I n,
would destroy the Federative system
of limited
powers, and would be another stride
towards the concentration of the legislative power
in the
national Government. Of this danger he has not ceased
to warn his countrymen who, blinded
ex
by the political •
nitdeerztooffthtehecomurosme elsn,hti,cfhaitlhet3o
Perceive the real tee
,
are so eagerly pursuing. Moreover, the bill would
no doubt, as
to resuscitate rebellion,
Mr. j
and thus, although
eccilvairl des
rights
oh histupon
p 00
fn
WINS ON observes, tend
resolve to defende
freedmen,
the freedmen he has
put the Presidential veto upon this uncalled-for and
openly
yt
t hde
has
ahne
d tpohrpeoe
mischievous measure. It is thought the Senate will