The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-13 00:00:00

The Negro Insurrection in America.

Christmas passed over without any sign of the negro
"insurrection," which it was stated awhile ago had been
fixed for that period. A local disturbance at Alexandria,
Virginia, caused, it would seem, by ex-Confederate sol-
diers, is thus reported in the Washington Chronicle of
Doc. 27 :

"A serious disturbance occurred in Alexandria on Christ-
mas-day, which came near resulting fatally to a number
of coloured men, and indeed may yet so result. It ap-
pears that a large number of men, as nearly as we can
learn chiefly ex-Confederate soldier; took it into their
heads to celebrate Christmas by a general onslaught on
the negroes. They commenced by imbibing freely of
those beverages usually indulged in largely at this parti-
cular season of the year, and having attained a very high
pitch of Dutch courage,' resolved themselves into a
sort of volunteer patrol organisation, and started out on
a general reconnaissance around the city, many of them
armed with pistols and other weapons, and wherever
they met a man with a darker skin than their own instantly
declared war against him. These rowdies, for some time
during the forenoon, had matters very much their own way,
going about the streets singly or in squads, freely display-
ing their weapons and boldly hallooing for Jeff. Davis,
Gen. Lee, and other leading rebels. Three coloured sol-
diers, belonging to Battery Rogers, while standing at the
corner of Prince and Fairfax streets, were set upon by a
party of these ruffians and badly beaten. Another party
broke into Chappell Hall, corner of Duke and Washington
streets, where the coloured people were holding a meeting,
broke up the assembly, and inaugurated a general melee.
The coloured men 'defended themselves, and shots wore
freely exchanged, a white man named Mitchell receiving a
severe wound in the head, which it is thought will prove
fatal. The firing of pistols was heard in streets in diffe-
rent parts of the city all through the day, and a number Of
coloured men were assaulted and beaten, besides several
wounded with pistol shots. Among the latter were John
Anderson, shot in the head, and Robert E. Sanders, skull
fractured. They were both removed to the hospital, but
are not expected to recover. The riot having become
serious, about 1 pm. Mayor Ware applied to the military
for assistance. A telegraphic despatch was sent to General
Augur, who sent instructions to use as many troops as
were necessary to restore order and preserve the peace. In
pursuance of these instructions three companies of the Bth
Regiment, Hancock's corps, were called out, and some
threescore or more of the more conspicuous among the
rioters were arrested and sent to the slave pan. The affair
seems to have been arranged beforehand, if we may judge
from the accounts that have reached us, as it has every ap-
pearance of having been deliberately entered upon, and the
men appear to have come out in the morning fully prepared
for it, many of them wearing grey uniforms and carrying
pistols, as before stated. We could scarcely have believed
it possible that such madness could have existed almost
within the shadow of the capitol. The ruffians who
thus gave vent to their blind rage and prejudice
against the coloured race are the worst enemies the
South now has. It is to be hoped they will meet the
punishment they so richly merit, and be taught a lesson on
this subject which will not soon fade from their memories.
Every man convicted of participating in this disgraceful
affair should suffer the full penalty prescribed by law. It
may be that further information will place the matter in a
less unfavourable light; but so far as we can judge at pre-
sent, the disturbance was entirely the work of the white
men, and from no provocation whatever, but, on the other
hand, had every appearance of being premeditated and pre-
concerted.

The President's Message.

The New York Times of the 30th ult. has the following
article upon the President's Message :
The treatment of foreign affairs by President Johnson,
1 in his annual message, has been received with as general
favour abroad as was accorded in this country to his treat-
ment of domestic affairs. Its dignified, moderate, and
statesmanlike character is recognised, and its pacific tone
is pointed out and warmly praised. It is evident there
was an expectation that the message would have assumed
somewhat of a belligerent style in its discussion of our
English and French relations ; but neither with regard to
claims against England, nor Mexican intervention, can a
threatening phrase be found. President Johnson, as one
of the journals remarks, has been denounced in Europe as
a violent, sanguinary, restless demagogue, only eager for a
cause of quarrel with other nations ; but though no better
cause is likely to present itself than has been within his
reach, he exhibits no eagerness to plunge into war. Tho
Star philosophically sets forth a principle which we have
from time to time attempted of late to enforce, when it says
that the President " has apparently arrived at the con-
clusion that the refusal of national demands does not neces-
sarily require an immediate appeal to arms; that nations
may differ, even about important questions, without hurl-
ing their armies to mutual destruction, and striving to
crimson the sea with blood."

The few sentences devoted to Mexico in the message were
of course scanned with the most eager interest ; for this
was the question, above all others, on which the opinions of
the American people were known to bo at once unanimous
and decided, and the question upon which several high
military and civil officials had expressed themselves with
most vigour. What the President said on this subject was
found less easy of exposition than other parts of the mes-
sage ; but the London writers do not regard it as in auy
way menacing. It would of course be more interesting to
know what is thought on the subject in France ; but our
dates from Paris do not reach to the time at which the
message was there received. It is.gratifying to see by the
general scope of the European press for the last few months
how rapidly the impression is passing away there that we
are a quarrelsome and bullying people. We do not wish the
idea removed that the Americans are a high-mettled people,
ready to defend the national honour against any assailant,
and we do not fancy there is any danger of this being called
into account anywhere ; but far as this spirit differs from
that of the braggart, so far would we have our policy differ
from that which has been so generally attributed to us in
Europe. The change abroad may bo attributed to two
causes—firstly, a better knowledge and estimate of Ameri-
can. character; secondly, to the better tone of our public
documents and the public press. There has been a thou-
sand times more intelligence circulated inEurope about
America during the last five years than during the whole.
of the previous period of our national existence ; and tilt
simple.. It is our fortune
circumstance will contribute much to
.thnee.malivnetehnaavnecefewof
mutual respect and of our pacific relate)
demands to make of the Governments of Europe.. Our
or to
or. to have any antagonisms
re-
lationsnotto bewitnthtethreeemtedshionutldhobire
dvyein•yasties,
elshire the despotism of some
be capable of
withtrenching
h their r °n their
interests.b
nations or the manners of others, we do not propose to at-
oulnfdiarycli,
tempt the overthrow
of the one or the reform of the other.
dealings
All we ask of them iu their with us is the merest
justice ; and while they concede this there is no danger
whatever of our insulting them, or seeking for a war with
any ono of them.
In another article the same paper says
:
The eminently conservative and conciliatory first annual
message of President Johnson to Congress had been received
and published in England only one business day preceding
that on which the Australasian left Liverpool for this port.
Yet it was so favourably interpreted, and so generally re-
garded as "highly satisfactory" on all the important issues
of which it so clearly and cogently treats, that a prompt
and marked increase of orders for American securities in
London and Frankfort, and a 'decided improvement in
prices, were the immediate results. This sudden revival
of the foreign demand for our public funds found the prin-
cipal sources of supply abroad inadequately provided with
the favourite stock, the original issue of the Five-twenties,
which private letters from London to the latest dates quote
up to 65 and 651 on a steadily advancing market. When
the news reached Wall-street yesterday government bonds
and notes stiffened up sharply, and few largo parcels were
obtainable at even the improved figures, partly because the
floating supplies had recently been much reduced by pur-
chases for home investment, and partly because the lead-
ing holders anticipated a further decided rise in prices,
both at home and abroad. An effort to execute the fresh
orders in season to make shipments by this day's outward
bound steamers led to an appreciation of 1 to 11 per cent,
in the market value of the Five-twenties of 1862 and of s to
1 per cent, in the latter issues of the same. class of bonds,
all of which were quite scarce in the open market. The Six
per Cents. of 1881, and Ten-Forty-Five per Cents. also par-
ticipated in the improvement, though rather less noticeably.
Seven-Thirties were in very brisk request, and decidedly
dearer. Some two weeks since, on the revival of the demand

for these notes, which were then selling as low as 96 to 96f
we predicted that they would approximate par before the
close of the year. The sales of yesterday were on the basis
of 981 to 98i, and the firm closing quotations were 981 to 99,
the first series leading, of course. As the inquirygains rapidly
on the supply, prices tend strongly upward. Compound inte-
rest legal tender notes were in active request and quoted on
the advance —the older issues being now very rarely offered
in the open market, at any price. The growing ease in the
money line fosters the disposition to invest in thelucrative
and reliable national leans. The January dividends on
Government stock, bank and railroad shares, and other in-
terest bearing and paying investments, will be unusually
heavy, and at the opening of the new year will be seeking
profitable employment. It is anticipated that a very liberal
portion of them will be re-invested in the public bonds and
notes, as these afford the safest and—all things considered
—most liberal income. With the assurance of an active
home and foreign cmpetition for the national stocks, of a
rigidly economical administration of the national Anances,
and of judicious legislative action on revenue and other
measures—our people can look forward with confidence to
the future of the public credit, to maintain which, without
stain or blemish, has been their steady aim, and uniform
purpose, from the foundation of the Government, as now
"by law established."