The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-27 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

(From the Anglo-American Timm.)
Among the bills just passed by Congress is one
prolonging the existence of the Freedmen's Bureau
for another year. Another of interest has been
introduced to divide Texas into three States. On

this subject the Springfield Republican thus writes :
" The division proposed in the bill will follow the gene-
ral line of the Trinity and Colorado rivors ; the eastern

section, bounded west by the former rivar, to b© called
East Texas; the south-western, bounded north by the
Colorado, South Texas ; and the central; and much the
larger portion, retaining the name and presant State Go-
vernment of Texas. Tho reasou3 and advantages

urged in favour of the partition at this-time are that the
people of the State desire it, and have petitioned for it,
and that the State Constitutional Convention is already in
session and the preliminaries for the organisation of the
new States can be much more readily and satisfactorily
accomplished than at auy other time. The bill provides
that the present delegates shall' form the new constitu-
tions, which shall be ratified, and the States admitted in
the same general terms as the Reconstructing States. The
project of dividing Texas has long been ono of Thad.
Stevens's pets, and he has taken an oppertunity favour-
able for its success."

Three revolutionary movements are progressing
n Mexico against Juarez, and Queretaro, strangely

- -
enough, is the headquarters of that in favour of
Santa Anna. The tiro others who head the more
extensive movements are Ortega and Porfirio Diaz,
but besides these there are numerous minor rtvolts.
Diaz has been removed from his divisional com-
mand, and Santa Anna was reported to be organiz-
ing an expedition at Brownsville in support of the
rising in his favour at Queretaro. A band of 700
Juarists were cut to pieces in Campeache by the

Indians. Juarez, besides the internal troubles, has
to meet urgent demands made by the United States
creditors of Mexico, and the best way he can do

this is to adopt the spendthrift's system and ask for
more; and for this purpose we venture to say he
has sent Romero to Washington.
General Buchanan' announced on the 6th inst.
the result of the Municipal elections in Louisiana,
and directed the installation of the New Orleans
officials on the 10th instant, and those of other
cities on the seventh day after the receipt of the
order. But Mayor Heath, who was appointed by
Sheridan, refused to give up the office to Conway,
the Mayor elect. Heath was arrested, but paroled
on Conway being put into possession. He affirms
the illegality of General- Buchanan's, action as
Congress had confirmed his appointment. General
Buchanan has been flying at higher game in that
hotbed of political and municipal squabbles, New
Orleans. Ile is at open war with the Board of Re-
gistration, who, contrary to his orders, notified to
the newly elected State officials that the new Con
stitution requires them to take possession of their
offices on June 15, and also directing the recently
elected Legislature to meet on the 22d, without
waiting for Gen. Buchanan's promised order. The
Board was arrested, but released on orders
from Washington, and Congress will have to
settle the dispute. The Texas Constitutional
Convention has passed a resolution asking
Congress to allow it to appoint boards of registra-
tion, in order to avoid the interference of the
General, whom some of the members denounce as a
" Copperhead."- The full vote in the recent Florida
election was 24,319 in a total registration of 31,498,
and the Republican majority was 4,026. The
Republican majority in the Legislature on-joint
ballot is 30. Democratic State Conventions
were held in New Jersey on the 10th
instant, as well .as in Tennessee. The latter
declares for green-back redemption and for taxa-
tion of the bonds, but the former denounces all
forms of repudiation, insisting upon the good faith
of the Government being maintained both at home
and abroad, and demands the gold payment of the
public debt. Delegates were chosen to the New York
National Convention, and a resolution passed that
New Jersey would feel honoured by the nomination
of Judge Joel Parker for the Presidency. The
Democratic Conventions of Connecticut. and Now
Hampshire have also elected delegates. The Con-
necticut delegates are directed to vote for Hancock
or Chase, but not for Pendleton.
The Western Union Telegraph Company sub-
mitted their case to Judge Porter, who, after a
thorough examination of the law on the subject,
gives it as his opinion that the powers of Congress
are supreme and indisputable, an 1 that, therefore,
legally, the Impeachment M tnagers had the right
to seiz and use private telegrams. Now, knowing
such to be the• law, it is proposed to introduce a
system for the protection of customers from the
seizure of their private messages. Tue plan is to
give receipts from the sender and receiver, to secure
the company against litigation ; the sender then
withdrawing the confidential message, instead of, as
before, leaving it in the eomp3.ny's possession, when
no evidence of the contents of the despatch would
remain in the office. It is strange to find private
corporations devising schemes to protect their clients
from the despotic acts of Congress.
A discussion has been carried on in America re-
garding the right of criticising the vote of the Senate
as a Court of Impeachment. The constitution of the
Court is so unusual and exceptional that much might
be said on both sides, but we hold to the ruling of
Chief Justice Cockburn in Risk Allah's case versus
the Daily Telegraph, that the public are bound to
accept the verdict of a jury in a criminal case, as
people at a distance who do notsee the examination of
witneeses as well as hear, cannot be fully informed
by any report, and therefore, presuming the brains
to be equal, they cannot be so well qualified to
deliver an opinion. It is clear from this case that
a man whose in locence was conclusively proved
may be represented to all England as a murderer,
simply because a correspondent of a very powerful
organ conceived the idea that he was gisilty. Now
this is manifestly unfair, for the man is then tried
by two tribunals. It is useless also to discuss the
verdicts of acquittal in criminal cases unless it be
susceptible of proof that the jury was bribed, and
we cannot see what good is likely to result from
abusing the Republican Senators who voted against
conviction. Until they are shown to have had cor-
rupt motives the presumption is that they had not
only pure motives, but were making a great sacri-
fice to conscience and duty, and for once we ap-
prove of the New York " m)b of roughs" who
compelled the Tribune to take down the list of
these Senators' names which had been pasted up
under the head of " Traitors."
We have so often allu led to ;the Colorado River
that those who read this paper cannot fail to have
some knowledge of its hitherto obscure course. The
citizens of California and. Nevada have lately been
working earnestly to utilize it for the development
of the Pacific States. Steamers were placed on its
waters, and now a company has been formed with
a capital of $1,500,000 to construct a railway from a
point in SJutheru Nevada where the Central Pacific
Railroad runs along the valley of the Humboldt
to the head of the river navigation. This will open
a Southern exit for ore and bring rising localities
into comparatively easy communication with the
world. We regard the project as one of vast im-
portance, and as. calculated to give a great spur to
the industrial progress of the mining States. The
rapid growth of that portion of the world may be
gathered from the fact that during May 6,000 pas-
sengers arrived at San Francisco from New York,
the largest number ever known during an equal
period.
Talking of Nevada, there is a pretty little propo-
sition before Congress for a Government grant of
$8,000,000 for a seven mile tunnel, the much-
talked of Satro, to reach the famous Comstock lode.
Massachusetts exelaima—Take warning by the
Iloosac, and beware of tunnels ! The proposal is
for the Government to issue Wade to the extent of
$5,000,030, to be paid at the rate of $15,000 for
every hundred feet completed and accepted. Every-
thing appertaining to the tunnel will be mortgage 1
for the redemption of these bonds, to be made pay-
able in twenty years. It is calculated that the
tunnel will be completed in four years, when the
revenue will be so large that in less than another
four years the whole can be refunded.
Secretary Seward has returaed to Sweet Auburn
after making as much capital as he could out of his
Chinese "lions." He is annoyed with Count
marck, who, acting pn his suggestion to mark the
displeasure of his Majesty at Berlin, recalled Baron
Kusserow for. fighting the duel, but promoted him

to be first Secretary of Legation to the Embassy at
London. That there might be no mistake about
the intention, Count Lothun, who took the part of
second in the affair, gets the post vacated by Kus-
serow. This is what the North Germanic Govern-
ment thinks of dueling. Baron Holstein was Baron
Kusserow's predecessor at 'Washington, and he was
recalled on account of his intimacy with the family
of a leading Senator.
Cyrus W. Field dined with the Cobden Club, as
a guest, at the Ship Hotel, Greenwich, last Wed-
nesday evening. The arrangements for the Grand
Banquet to this celebrated gentleman have pro-
gressed in a way highly satisfactory to his friends
and his admirers. Lord Raesell, Sir John raking-
ton, and Sir Stafford Northeote, have signified their
intention of taking part in the proceedings. The
names give the best proof of the estimation in which
\lr. Field is held, embracing as they do not only
those renowned in. every path of science and.litera-
lure, but known to li.)11 every sh Ida of opinion.
file Banquet takes place next Wednesday at Willis's
Rooms, and for many days applications for place;;
have been refused for want of acco:ntnylation, some
350 having been taken.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue, E. A.
Rollins, has written a letter to the Secret try of the
treasury, which shove a deplorable position of
affairs in that Department. In resigning his office
he states as the reason, that while he remains he is
made responsible for the failures of revenue officers
whose incompetence and dishonesty he has fully
shown, though he is powerless to remove them or to
check their acts. Hb intimates that after the Phila-
delphia Convention of 1866 there were numerous
removals of assessors an I collectors of internal re-
venue throughout the country for political con-
siderations, which struck a sad blow to the reputa
Lion and effieiency of theservice as commissioner. Ile
would have resigned bag ago, but yielded to
the judgment of friends who theright that
the public interests would be promoted by
his remaining in office. All the nominatiom
since have been made without reference to
his opinion of their fitness, and his recommenda-
tions for removals, even for the grossest miscon-
duct, were almost universally disregarded. Assistant
assessors and inspectors were appointed in accord-
ance with usage by the Secretary upon nominations ;
assessors and collectors, either dishonest or incom-
petent, and their removal he sees no hope of
securing. As he closes with an acknowledgment
of the personal and official kindness of the Secre-
tary, his remarks must point towards the Pre-
sident. It is distressing to see what Mr. Schenck
terms " the soul of- his bill" burked by Congress.
It has struck out the part erecting the Government
bureau into a Department, with the appointing power
in the Commissioners. No reform will be effective in
the United States that does not make permanent all
the civil posts below the heads of Departments
conditional only on fitness and good behaviour.
Even since the settlement oflmpeachment many clerks
have been dismissed from some of the Departments,
and more are expecting to be discharged ; a-low,
spiteful, mad system, retaliation being taken against
innocent Democratic clerks, on the inauguration of
a Republican President ; thus, to the injury of
the public service, this vile see-saw is kept up. If
clerks were discharged for having anything to do
with politics there might be some sense in it, but to
make them active agents, and then to reward them
by promotion for success, and punish them by dis-
missal for failure, is to demoralize a service on
which must hinge the well-being of the nation.
Senator Grimes, not content with the letter
we last week published, though so complete an
answer to all the slanders circulated against him, is
about to sue the New York Tribune for its libellous
charges of corruption on the Impeachment Vote ;
and the Cincinnati Gazette for similar libels relating
to acts during and since the war, alleged against
him as chairman on the Committee for Naval
Affairs. There are many who think it would be
more advisable to drop the subject, as no one for a
moment believed the insane allegations of the New
York Tribune, or the vicious ones of the Cincinnati
Gazette, or those of any the smaller fry who joined
in the howl. Boston, the city of literature, the
leader in the formation of American opinion, the
abode of science and art, of theology and of juris-
prudence, was about to mark its sense of the con-
duct of Senator Fessenchn, by tendering to him
the compliment of a public dinner. Governor
Bullock, ex-Governor Washburne, President Hill
of Harvard College, James Russell Lowell, Cliarles
E. Norton, Mr. Dana, Peleg W. Chandler, and
A. G. Browne, jun., are among his inten led hosts.
The Senator from Maine is held in high esteem
throughout New England, and it is the Republicans
who desire to pay this mark of respect, not because
they have arrived at the same conclusion—for most
of them deeply regret the vote he gave on Impeach-
ment—but to indicate their appreciation of his inde-
pendence, ability, and good intention, and to condemn
the attacks made on his character. Senator Henderson
boldly proclaims that he and his six associates are
in advance of their party, and, having saved it by
their judicious conduct, do not intend to leave it.
Putting judicial questions aside, and taking up the
political one, as so often insisted on by the as-
sailants, he squarely meets the charge on this issue,
using much the same argument as we have re-
peatedly done. He says had the President been
removed and Wade inaugurated, an attempt would
have been made to supplant Grant at Chicago, and
certainly Colfax's name would not have been on
the ticket. The " War-horses" would have been
installed in all the offices, and a control obtained
over Grant's administration to its detriment, and to
the ruin of the party. The ticket which has given
such satisfaction to the country could not have been
carried at Chicago had the Senate voted the other
way, and what has tended so materially to unite
the party would in that event not only have been
lost, but been a fertile means of division and discard,
ending in political defeat.
The Pall Mall Gazette yesterday published some
nonsense about a deputation of printers who waited
on the President with an address. It appears they
told Mr. Johnson that in America the highest office
is within the reach of the working man, a remark
he received in silence. The Pall Mall says,—
"He knew the secrets of life a little better
than his visitors, but perhaps the thoughts
which must have arisen in his mind are not
inaptly expressed by the New York Times. Our
contemporary insists that no working man reaches
high
_office iu America or anywhere else. It was
not-a tailor that got into the chair of the. President
in the person of Andrew Johnson. It was the
clever lawyer, the active politician, the governor of
a Sovereign State, the loud voice in the land, heard
above the roar of cannon. It is always so. No
mere mechanic- or worker, however good and
worthy, need try for the Presidency unless he
first win distinction in the court-room, the
caucus, or the camp.'" Commenting on this
the Pall-Mall writes :—" No American would
think of contradicting the statement of our contem-
porary, but we understand American affairs here
better than they do across the Atlantic, and conse-
quently we may hope to see the misrepresenta-
tions of the New York Times scattered to the winds."
Of coarse a man rises step by step. The printers
did not mean that they were to draw lots for the
Presidency, but that their position in life was no
bar, and that most of the leading men in Wash-
ington were instances that working men might
aspire to any post, though, the men being many
and the posts few, thegreat prizes are rarely gained.
Whoever states that no working man reaches high
office in America talks nonsense. The complaint
is of English ignorance of America, as well as of
English indifference, not of the pretension to know-
ledge, and the sneer is therefore quite out of place.
What does the Pall Mall say to this argument—no
private soldier can become an officer--but here is
the Coumander-in-Chief who was a private? Yes;
but he became a corporal, a sergeant, a colour-ser-
geant, &c., so we maintain that no private can be-
come an officer. It would have been rich in Mr.
Johnson, the successor of Mr. Lincoln, and who
himself will be succeeded by General Grant, all
once poor unaided .boys, who had to carve their
own way in the world, to deny that " the working
man never reaches high office in America."
The Canadian authorities have taken active mea-
sures to repel the threatened renian invasion.
Camp are to In formed at the exposed points, and