The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-27 00:00:00

SPIRiT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

All the members of Lord Derby's Administration, with
smlrcely an exception, have, according to the Times, ex-
pressed their readiness to enlist under the new chief, and
Mr. Disraeli has been spared the necessity of filling any
posts except that of the Lord Chancellor and the office
vacated by himself. It would have been manifestly con-
vexilent could Mr. Disraeli have continued to discharge
the duties of the Chancellor of the Exchequer along
with those of the First Lord of the Treasury. Historic
precedents of great authority sanction the arrangement.
But with a reformed House of Commons, shortly about
to be again reformed, the increase of parliamentary
and departmental work has made impossible what
was once practicable, if not easy. Sir Robert Peel
himself, with all his appetite for work, did not ven-
ture in his second Administration to conjoin the

offices he held during the short Ministry of 1535.
The special care of the finances must necessarily pass

from Mr. Disraeli's hands. Popular opinion would pro-

bahly suggest Sir Stafford Northcote as his successor. Sir
Stafford began his political career at the Treasury ; he has
paid considerable attention to financial subjects, and has
published an intelligent critical survey of the great change
in our financial policy inseparably associated with the
name of Sir Robert Peel. Sir Stafford Northcote holds,

6~ ~•

--
removed to the House of Lords as Baron Stanley, it being •
impossible to leave their lordships to the gtidance of any
of the dukes, or of the Earl of Malmesbury. The Lord
Chancellor has resigned. He would not serve under Mr.
Disraeli. Lord Cairns accepts the Lord Chancellorship,
and the Lord Justiceship vacated by him is given by
rumour to Sir W. P. Wood, who is to be succeeded in the
Vice-Chancellorship, according to common report, by
Mr. Baggallay. The name of Mr. Grove is also men-
tioned for the Vice-Chancellorship. The Earl of Malmes-
bury, it believes, will not hold office in the new Ministry,
and there will be some diffictilty in filling his place. It is
understood that advances have been made to Lord Oran-
' borne, Lord Carnarvon, and General Peel. The two
former are said to decline altogether to join the new
Ministry, and even Mr. Gathorne Hardy's allegiance is
not secure. It is not believed that the arrangements will
be completed by Friday night. A further adjournment
to Tuesday is expected.
One thing the Advertiser declares to be certain. Lord
Chelmsford has resigned the Great Seal, and Lord Cairns
has m appointed his, successor. Lord Derby has said
that Lord Cairns's advice in the Cabinet is exceedingly de-
sirable. It is equally certain that Lord Derby yesterday
telegraphed to Lord Malmesbury to go down to Knows-
ley, which his lordship did by the first train after receiv-
ing the telegram. It is understood that Lord Derby is
exceedingly desirous that Lord Malmesbury should be a
member of the Disraeli Cabinet, because, from his having
been always a member of his own Ministry, he is better
acquainted with certain matters than any other peer. It
was confidently stated at the Carlton Club last night
that Lord Cranborne had been offered a peerage and
the leadership of the Lords, with the India Office,
I which he formerly held ; but doubts are expressed
as to whether he will accept the proposals of Mr. Disraeli.
In the event of his not joining the new Cabinet, it was
stated last night, and believed in well-informed circles,
that Mr. Hardy will be raised to the peerage, which it is
understood is an honour he has long coveted, and that he
will be the new Secretary for India, and leader in the
Lords. In the latter case, it is said that the Earl of Mayo
will succeed him as Home Secretary, and that Mr.
Gregory will be Chief Secretary for Ireland, in the room
of the Earl of Mayo. Mr. Graves, the member for Liver-
, pool, had assigned him, by the general belief in Conser-
, vative circles last night, some office connected with the
! Board of Trade or the Admiralty. Vice-Chancellor
, Wood will, it is said, succeed Lord Cairns, and Mr.
Karslake Vice-Chancellor Wood—in which case Mr.
Giffard will at once become a candidate for Colchester,
rendered vacant by the judicial elevation of its present
member, Mr. Karslake.

however, a pest of equal importance, and of possibly
greater independence, than that of Finance Minister, and
the public service would experience a loss were he to be
removed from the India Office immediately after he had
made himself master of the work there, and at a critical
stage of the Abyssinian expedition. It is probable that
the new Chancellor of the Exchequer will be found at the
Treasury itself, and it is certain that the ability with which
Mr. Hunt, during Mr. Disraeli's enforced absence from the
House, introduced the [supplementary statement conse-
quent on the Abyssinian vote last November, will recom-
mend him to the judgment of Parliament should
he be selected. The return of Lord Cairns to political
life will add a most important member to Mr. Disraeli's
Cabinet. Lord Chelmsford intimated in the Court of
Chancery yesterday morning that he was probably sitting
there for the last time, and Lord Cairns has, in fact, suc-
ceeded to the office of Lord Chancellor. Lord Chelms-
ford will carry with him into private life universal respect
and esteem for the frank cordiality of his kindness, the
shrewdness and honesty of his judgment, and the consis-
,,tency of his political career ; and it will be remembered to
his honour that almost his last act as Lord Chancellor was
to pace on the bench a judge chosen simply for his fitness
to be a judge, in spite of unusual pressure upon him to
make a less worthy choice. The elevation of Lord Cairns
creates for the fourth time in eighteen months a
vacancy in a court where there had been no previous
vacancy for nearly fourteen years. It is most desirable
that the high character of the Lords Justices' Court
should remain unimpeached, and we are glad to believe
that reports which have been freely circulated detrimental
to its future reputation are at least premature. We trust
Sir W. Page Wood will be induced to accept a post of the
highest judicial importance, yet affording, in its com-
parative freedom from the drudgery of routine, somewhat
of that relief from active labour which he is understood to
desire. Mr. Walpole, we understand, desires to be
relea el from his anomalous position as a member of the
Cabinet without office, and will become an independent
supporter of the Ministry. The public will be glad to
learn that our foreign policy will continue to be repre-
sented in the Commons, and that the vigorous intellect of
Lord Stanley will not prematurely rust by disuse in the
House of Lords. It cannot, however, be disguised that
the new Ministry will be thus left deplorably weak as
regards debating power in the Upper House.
It is understood, says the Post, that the new Premier is
very anxious to draw towards him those valuable adherents
who seceded on a late memorable occasion, and that he has
invited Viscount Cranborne and General Peel to join his
Administration. Should they accede to such a proposal,
Viscount Cranborne Will go to the India Office, Sir Staf-
ford Northcote will become Chancellor of the Exchequer,
and General Peel will be offered the post of Secretary of
State for War ; Sir John Pakington being raised to the
Upper House.

There is little scope, the Daily News observes, for
Ministerial reconstruction. It is possible that the official
changes may be confined, for the present at least, to the
transfer of the Lord Chancellorship from Lord Chelms•
ford to Lord Cairns. Lord Stanley may elect to remain
in the Comm Ons. Mr. Disraeli may choose to follow
older rather than more recent precedents, and to unite
in his own person the offices of First Lord of the
Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer. If he
should come to a different decision, Sir Stafford
Northcote is his natural successor. But if we are to
judge from a celebrated speech of Sir Stafford
Northcote's— marked, as Mr. Gladstone pointed out,
by an almost unconstitutional use of the first
person singular—that right honourable baronet deems
his continuance at the India Office essential to the
success of the Abyssinian expedition, and to the prestige

of England in the East. Indian questions arc in a great
degree questions of revenue, and his special aptitude will
find abundant scope in the preparation of Indian Budgets.
Mr. Ward Hunt, who has been most useful as Mr.
Disraeli's financial fag, has been suggested as Chancellor

of the Exchequer. Mr. Hunt is a very efficient and
popular Secretary of the Treasury. He is a man of
business and details. But he scarcely possesses the politi-
cal standing for a first-class office, and has never yet
addressed himself in debate to those larger questions of
policy which a Minister of Finance should be at least
capable of entertaining. Mr. Disraeli's range of choice
is, however, very limited, and good service in a subordinate
office is a better pledge of fitness for a higher one than
ambitious theories or high-flown oratory.

DRAMATIC, EQUESTRIAN, AND MUSICAL
SICK FUND ASSOCIA7ION.

The changes in the personnel of the new Administration
are, the Herald and the Standard announces, not likely to
be numerous. It was known yesterday at an early hour,
that Lord Chelmsford would no longer retain the Lord
Chancellorship, and rumour was not very far out in the
nomination of his successor—Lord Cairns, who has, we
believe, accepted the appointment. Of the other posts in
the Cal vinet, only one will be vacant, that occupied by Mr.
D:sra, li, as C ha cellor of the Exchequer, who, as Premier
and leader of the House of Commons, would have found
it difficult to undertake the arduous duties of Chancellor
of the Exchequer. Various names have been mentioned,
but nothing at a late hour last night was decided as
to the actual successor of Mr. Disraeli. There can be
no doubt that at this moment the public interest would
suffer by the withdrawal of Sir Stafford Northcote from
the India Office ; and as no such inconvenience would be
felt by the elevation of Mr. Ward Hunt, it is generally
believed that this gentleman will fill the vacant post. It
is, however, rumoured in good quarters that the post has
been offered to Lord Cranborne, and the noble lord's
acceptance of the offer would undoubtedly be regarded
with satisfaction within and without the House of Com-
mons. In other respects the Cabinet is not likely to
undergo any change. We have reason to believe that the
Lord Justiceship vacated by Lord Cairns has been offered
to and accepted by Sir William Page Wood.

By the resignation of Lord Chelmsford, Mr. Disraeli is,
says the Telegraph, enabled to strengthen his Government
in a decided manner. Lord Chelmsford can look upon his
career with a complacency permitted to a very few, even
in the fortunate profession of the law ; but debate has
never been his strong point. He had a smooth, placid
style, which, beneath the majestic wig of the Chancel-
lari ata, was occasionally constitut:onal ani w ell-nigh digni-
fed ; but he was never strong in a party fight, and, to use
a metaphor with which his early life would familiarise him,
" sailed best on a wind." As a leader of the I-Tome Cir-
cuit, and then as Solicitor and Attorney-General, his clear
statements won a good many causes ; but in Parliament
we doubt whether Sir Frederick Thesiger, after-
wards Lord High Chancellor of England, ever in-
fluenced a vote. Few speakers can, perhaps ; but,
now that Lord Derby is absent, it is certainly important
to Mr. Disraeli to reinforce himself in the Upper House;
and the retirement of Lord Chelmsford gives him the op-
portunity of elevating to the seals the hardest and ablest
lawyer in the Tory camp. Lord Cairns is a gladiator of
the parliamentary arena ; throughout the battle of Reform
no speaker did better service to his party ; and, even after
his advancement to the Upper Chamber, he performed
valuable work for his own side, and gained one of the few
victories of the Cabinet. The Lord Chancellor, it is true,
sits somewhat apart from the full brunt of senatorial com-
bat ; but, as the rules of the peers allow him to slide down
from his cushion and share the debate, the new appoint-
ment will secure for Mr. Disraeli a considerable advan•
Lige ; and while a most able man succeeds to be "Keeper
of the Queen's Conscience," the first change in the Cabinet
is undoubtedy one which fortifies the Ministry, and to a
certain extent supplies even the heavy loss of Lord
Derby.

CONGRESS.
--
SENATE.

--o-..

The members of the theatrical profession, as well as the
supporters of the drama generally, assembled in consider-
able numbers on Wednesday evening at Willis's Rooms, to
celebrate the 12th anniversary festival of this association.
Mr. B. Webster occupied the chair. Several ladies were
present. Few festivals in the metropolis indeed are more
numerously attended, and few are merrier. Among the
company were Mr. 0. Stock, M.P., Mr. J. L. O'Beirne,
M.P., Colonel Addison, Mr. A. Swanborough, Mr. B.
Webster, jun., Mr. H. G. Neville, Mr. W. Robert-
son, Mr. Billington, Mr. J. T. Burnand, Mr. J.
W. Anson, Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. A. Swanborough, Miss
Nellie Burton, Miss Oliver. and Miss Laidlaw. The
healths of the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales,
and the other members of the Royal Family, together with
the toast of the Army, Navy, and Volunteers, were given
in succession immediately after dinner, and were cordially
received. Then followed the toast of "Prosperity to the
Association," in proposing which the chairman observed that
he had three cases to plead, and that he must therefore
take as his motto the well-known words Tria juncta in
uno. Dwelling, in the first place, on the claims of those
who pursued the dramatic art as a profession, he pointed
out that, while many attained to eminence in the calling,
there were a greater number still who lived to discover that
penury and misery were their doom. The case of the poor
comedian, who caused his audience to roar with laughter,
and then suddenly failed to amuse the m, and was hissed
because he had just received the intelli6enee that the child
whom he had left ill at home was dead, was but of too
frequent occurrence. So it was also with the members of
the musical profession. They, as well as actors, were
liable to great vicissitudes. Their continued success de-
pended on the strength of organs which were of the most
delicate construction, while in the case of equestrians it was
but too often found that " vaulting ambition o'erleaped
itself." They who succumbed in the struggle to gain a
livelihood in those several callings but too uften had others
to depend upon their exertions, and, as Joey Ladle said,
the institution of men and women was a very serious thing.
He hoped, therefore, that those whom he addressed would
liberally respond to the appeal which he made to them on
behalf of the three institutions whose claims upon public
attention he had the honour to advocate. The toast
having been responded to by Mr. Anson, Mr. Stock pro-
posed " The health of the Ladies," remarking that he
had advocated the insertion of the word "person" instead
of " man " in the Reform Bill of last session, so as to
include members of the female sex within its
provisions. Mrs. Stirling, in returning thanks for the
toast, said she did not mean to quarrel with the chairman
for having been tempted by him to occupy her present
position, for their quarrels were quite numerous enough
in their relationship as actress and manager. She hoped
as one of those " persons " whose cause the great West-
minster Mill advocated, that the ladies would be enabled
to take before long as prominent a place in the House
of Commons as they were permitted to do on the
present occasion, and that they would be entitled to sit
side by side with the lords, or as perhaps they might then
be more properly termed the ex-lords, of creation. If that
happy state of things should come to pass, she could pro-
mise the gentlemen that their influence would survive only
in the character of partners, she meant sleeping partners,
whom it would he the duty of the ladies to wake up as
usefully and effectually in the House as they had hitherto
been accustomed to do in their homes. She would
further observe that one of the first bills which the
ladies would introduce into Parliament, if they had power,
would be one for the abolition of all public dinners to
which they were not admitted. Mrs. Stirling concluded a
speech which was received with cheers and frequent
laughter, by advocating very earnestly the cause of the
Dramatic Fund Association. " The health of the Chair-
man" was afterwards proposed by Mr. O'Beirne, and was
very cordially drunk. Selections from music were given
in the cours of the evening, under the direction of Mr.
F. Kingsbury, by Miss R. Isaacs, Miss Poole, Mrs. Howard
Paul, Miss Kate Gordon, and other artistes. The festival
terminated with dancing.

The Hon. Seymour Egerton is composing an
opera for which Mr. White Melville has consented to
write the libretto, and in which Madame Titiens and
Mdlle. Nilsson will appear.

One of Lord Derby's last official acts as First
Lord of the Treasury was to direct that a recommenda-
tion of the late Sir David Brewster in favour of Fraessnr
M`Gaveley's widow and children should receive practical
effect by a grant of £6O from the Royal Bounty Fund.
An inquest has been held in the City of London
respecting the death of an old woman named Eleanor
Bird. The deceased was the wife of an old soldier, now
blind, and they resided at St. Mary-at-Hill. Whilst she
was sitting by the fire the flames caught her clothes, and
spread so rapidly that before assistance could be obtained
she was so burned that she died :n great agony a short
time afterwards. A verdict of accidental death was

returned.
The Crown has consented to grant a renewal of
the lease of the premises and site now held by the National
Society, in the Sanctuary, Westminster, and arrange-
ments are being made for removing the present two-storey
building and erecting commodious premises, with board-
room, chapel, &c., for joint occupation and separate offices
for the National Society and the Society for the Propaga-
tion of the Gospel.
Upwards of 2,000 persons were present at a
town's meeting held in Blackburn, called for the purpose
of petitioning the Legislature to stop the Sunday traffic in
intoxicating drinks. The Mayor presided, supported by
many of the local clergy. The speaking was confined to
ratepayers of the borough. There was a strong opposition,
but the promoters of the meeting carried their resolutions
by a large majority.
The Poor-law Board have just issued a general
order with respect to the qualification of guardians. The
Poor-law Amendment Act of the last session enacts that
" the qualification of a guardian described by the Poor-
law Amendment Act of 18J4 shall be determined with
reference to the annual rateable value of the property in
respect of which his qualification is claimed, instead of
annual rental or annual value." The Act has annexed to it
schedules for the instruction of the parish officers of the
requisite forms of " notice of election" for unions and for
parishes and townships.
COMMITTAL OF PRIZEFIGHTERS. —At the Barnsley
w the
ere :set charged
hiding with assaultingConstabulary,
Court-house, Benjamin Chappell and Thomas Ibbetson
police
-tomffinc,
eorfs
, in
Saunpde roi nt
ltiee p nr
dent
o li
execution of their duty, on the 11th of February. On the
day named a prizefight for £5O took place on the moc
r
near llolmfirth, which the officers bad orders to prevent
and to take the principals into custody. While they lvere
going towards a vehicle in which one of the pugilists was
supposed to be, they were assaulted with a shower of
stones, and had to beat a retreat, several of them being
seriously injured. The defendants having been seen
throwing stones, they were committed to the sessions for
trial, as was also a third man named Marsden, their own
bail being accepted for their appearance,

It was at first supposed, remarks the Star, that Mr.
Disraeli would remain Chancellor of the Exchequer while
assuming the headship of the Government. For such a
course there were precedents. But it is believed that the
duties of the Finance Minister are now too heavy to allow
of the two offices being combined. Naturally, under such
3, report laid hold of Sir Stafford Northcote's
name as the new Chancellor of the Exchequer. But the
.Abyssinian war, it is understood, puts difficulties in the
way of this arrangement. Just at this time it would be
inconvenient to put a new man into the India Office.
Therefore Sir Stafford, it is believed, will retain the
post ho now holds. Failing him, the name of Mr.
Ward Hunt, the Financial secretary of the Treasury,
is put forward as the probable Finance Minister. He
Las shewn great self-possession in the House, and his
friends assert that he is a most capable man in deal-
ing with finance questions. It may be, therefore,
that Mr. Ward Hunt will be the new Chancellor of
s!•10 Exchequer. It is asserted that Lord Stai:ley will be

circumstance-

Feb. 4.—After some business, Mr. Buckalew
moved to amend a resolution calling for informa-
tion relative to instructions given to Generals
Pope and Meade of the 4th Military Division, and
for copies, votes, and opinions in Cabinet meetings
relative to the Reconstruction Acts, by striking out
the part calling for the proceedings in the Cabinet,
which Mr. Sherman considered was unprecedented
to call for. The amendment was agreed to, and the
resolution passed. The bill, in addition to the Act
regulating the Tenure of Civil Offices, the question
being an amendment limiting the number of Secret
Service Agents of the State Department to five,
Mr. Sumner asked for the reading of a letter from
Mr. Seward, urging the importance of that service to
the Department. lie called the attention of the
Senate to the trials occurring of persons denomi-
nated as Fenians, and he understood the
State Department had employed agents to be paid
out of the Secret Service Fund to defend
these parties, and the expenses of some of these
cares were very great. In addition to all this,
special agents were often required in the trans-
mission of important despatches. There is a
United Stated despatch agent in Loudon to whom
all the despatches are first addressed, and whose
duty it is to distribute them. In addition to this,
there is a despatch agent, at Boston and one or more
at New York. He (Mr. S.) hoped this branch of
the State Department would not be interfered with.
Mr. Hendricks opposed Mr. Seward's amendment
continuing the Secret Service, as also Mr. Came-
ron, who did not see the necessity of continuing
such service —The amendment was rejected. Mr.

States. He was opposed to prying into the conver-

sation of any gentleman, still less a Judge of the
Supreme Court, and would therefore vote against
the resolution. Mr. Scofield said he would now

yield to Mr. Johnson for his amendment. Mr.
Johnson declined to offer such an amendment, and
Mr. Scofield demanded the previous question. Mr.
Robinson, of New York, moved to lay the resolu-
tion on the table. Not agreed to. The bill was
then passed by a vote of 97 yeas to 57 nays. Mr.
Stevens, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported back the Executive, Legis-
lative, and Judicial Appropriation Bill for the year
ending June 30th, 1869, and it was ordered to be
printed and recommitted. The committee have cut
down the estimates about $6,000,000, leaving the
total amount $17,119,478.32, distributed as fol-
lows :

Legislative, expenses... . 52,253,3G4.67
Public Printing 1 2715 721.79
_ _

Library of Congress
Court of Claims

33,616.00
139,800.00

Botanical Gardens

7,874.96

189,700.00
71,500.00

State Department
Surveyor General and clerks
Mints, with their branches, and the
Assay Office of New York 522,907.69
Independent Treasury .. 290,200.00
Territorial Governments 258,500.00
Judiciary 196,600.00
Treasury .... 2,760,146.00
Internal Revenue 6,100,000.00

Interior Department..
Department of Agriculture
Navy Department _ _

700,000.00
151,993.00
156,098.0)

Ramsay moved to amend by increasing the number
of Special agents of the Post-office Department
to 25. The effect of the bill, he stated, will be to
turn the mail agents out of office in ten days.—

In the appropriation for the Court of Claims a pro-
viso is inserted that no judgment for a sum over
$5,000 should hereafter be paid until approved by
Congress and an appropriation made therefor. The
Senate amendments to the bill in relation to whisky
metres were taken up and agreel to, and the bill
passed. The House resumed the consideration of
the bill reported yesterday from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs in relation to the rights of American
citizens abroad. Mr. Banks, of Massachusetts,
amended the bill by adding to the clauses excepted
from the privileges of the bill, such as had fled from
any military or naval conscription actually ordered
by a foreign State ; or of any naturalized citizen
who shall have removed from the United States and
shall have failed to make return of his property for
taxation. Mr. Banks then entered a motion to re-
commit the bill. Mr. Donnelly, of Minnesota,
addressed the House in favour of the bill. Mr.
Woodward, of Pennsylvania, took the ground that
this country cannot question other Governments
regarding relief from citizenship without first
defining its own position, and he would therefore
suggest an amendment, that when any citizen of the
United States should remove and become natura-
lized in a foreign country, he shall have been con-
sidered denationalized in this country. Mr. Wilson,
of lowa, said that those persons who came to our
jurisdiction from foreign States, and complying
with our laws, acquire citizenship, should find the
shield of the Republic as firmly held for their defence
as it is for those who are born upon our soil. At
the conclusion of Mr. Wilson's remarks, the further
consideration of the question was postponed until
Tuesday next. The House resumed the considera-
tion of the bill in relation to forfeiture of public
lauds South, and speeches were made by Messrs.
Kelley, of Pennsylvannia ; Lawrence, of Ohio; and
Burr, of Illinois. Mr. Julian gave notice that he
would call the previous question to-morrow, at four
o'clock, and the house then, at 3.55 p.m., adjourned.
Jan. 31.—After some business, Mr. Eggleston,
of Ohio, said he had an unpleasant duty to perform
in presenting the resolutions adopted by the Legis-
lature of the State of Ohio, withdrawing its assent
to the proposed 14th amendment to the Constitu-
tion of the United States,
and requesting the Pre-
sident of the United States to transmit to the State
of Ohio all records in possession of the Government
relative to the ratification of the amendment. The
resolutions were reported in full, after which Mr.
Eggleston moved their reference to the Committee
on the Judiciary, which was agreed to. On motion
of Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts, the House pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the contested election
case from the second district of Kentucky. The re-
solutions were to the effect that John Y. Brown having
aided armed hostility to the United States cannot
hold a seat as Representative from Kentucky. That S.
E. Smith, not having received a majority of votes,
is not entitled to the seat, and that the Governor of
Kentucky be notified that the vacancy still exists
for the second Congressional district of Kentucky.
A long discussion followed, when the resolution was
laid over, and the bill to repeal the internal tax
on cotton was taken up, and Mr. Allison, of lowa,
reported the results of the Conference Committee
agreeing to the amendment exempting from duty
cotton imported after Nov. 1, 1868. This the House
agreed to by a majority of 104 ayes to 43 nays, and
the bill goes to the President.
Feb. I.—The Kentucky contested election case
was resumed. Mr. Beck spoke at length in advo-
cacy of Mr. Brown's right to the seat. Mr. Cook,
of Illinois, replied in favour of the report of the
committee. Mr. Knott, of Kentucky, supported
his colleague in opposition to the report, and its
further consideration was laid over till Monday, to
give Mr. Kerr, of Indiana, an opportunity of sup-
porting the resolution of the majority.
Feb. 3.—Among the bills offered was one by Mr.
Poland, of Vermont, to provide for the payment of
contracts made payable in gold and silver coins.
(It provides that in any suit for the recovery of an
amount of money contracted to be paid in gold and
silver, when judgment is rendered for the complain-
ant, the judgment shall be paid in gold and silver
coin, and the court shall direct the collection of
the same specifically in coin.) By Mr. Robinson.
of New York, joint resolution upon the subject of
the naturalization laws. Foreign Affairs. (It pro-
vides that any alien may become a citizen of the
United States upon application to any common law
court of record in the United States, on giving
proof of good character and of his intention to re-
main in the United States, and upon taking an
oath to support the Constitution of the United
States.) By Mr. Williams, of Indiana, bill to pro-
vide for an additional issue of 150,000,000 of Legal-
Tender notes, to supply the place of notes hereto-
fore withdrawn. Ways and Means. By Mr. New-
comb, of Missouri, bill to provide for the removal
of the national capital to St. Louis county, Mis-
souri. Ways and Means. By Mr. Loughridge, of
lowa, bill in relation to the taxation of United
States notes, Treasury notes, and fractional cur-
rency notes, for State and Municipal purposes. Bank-
ing and Currency. The following resolution, offered
on Dec. 16, by Mr. Pile, of Missouri, was then taken
up :—Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury
be directed to report to the House whether, since
the Ist day of July last, any national banks have
changed their securities held in the Treasury to
secure their circulation and Government deposits ;
and if so, what banks have so changed their secu-
rities, what changes have been made, the date,
amount, and kind of such changes specifically ;
and that he be required to make no further changes
in the funded securities of the United States by
payment or otherwise, except interest, until further
orders or legislation of Congress thereon. Mr.
Butler, of Massachusetts, said this resolution did
not seem to be perfectly understood, and he wanted
to have it passed, and would, therefore, explain its
purport. It was for the purpose of preventing the
funding of Seven-Thirty .Notes into Five'Twenty
Bonds, by which process the Government of the
United States was losing a large sum in interest.
'Fen-Forty Bonds were also being changed by banks
to Five-Twenties, simply for the purpose of getting
as much of the gold loan as possible out before this
House can take action, and it was also for the pur-
pose of taking from the Secretary the discretionary
power of converting these bonds. Mr. Blaine, of
Maine, said the 7-20 bonds bore their terms upon
their face, and they say they may be converted into
5-20 bonds, and this resolution was simply for the
purpose of annulling that contract under the ope-
ration of the thumb screw of the previous question.
Mr. Butler said it was not so, but the resolution
was intended to get the public funds out of the
hands of sharpers. It does not change the funded
debt of the United States. The Secretary is play-
ing into the interests of sharpers in this matter.
Mr. Blaine replied that he was acting in the inte•
rest of common honesty and simply allowing to
be done what the contract requires shall be done.
Mr. Butler demanded the previous question, and

Agreed to. Mr:Edmunds offered an amendment
excepting from the provisions of the Act the regu-
lar route agents of the Post-office Department,
and such agents as are temporarily employed by
the Comptroller of the Currency to examine into
the condition of the national banks, which gave
rise to considerable discussion.—The bill was then
recommitted, and the Senate adjourned.
Feb. s.—Mr. Howard introduced a joint resolu-
tion authorising the Secretary of War to employ
counsel to defend the Generals of the Army, Major-
General George G. Meade and Brigadier-General
Roger, Provisional Governor of Georgia, in any
suits which may be brought against them in the
pursuance of their official duty. Mr. Hendricks
wished to know the necessity for the resolution.
He thought the Secretary of War had already the
power to appoint special counsel. Mr. Howard
asked that a letter from Secretary Stanton should
be read from the desk. The Secretary states that
Governor Jenkins, of Georgia, is, as he is informed,
about to bring a suit in the Supreme Court against
the officers named, and he asks the passage of a
resolution giving him the power to employ special
counsel to defend them. Mr. Howard said that
it was notorious that the Attorney-General had
already declined to appear for the Govern-
ment in a case involving the Reconstruc-
tion laws of Congress. It was the duty of
this officer to defend the Government, but that
officer had declared these Acts null and void, thus
placing himself in such an extraordinary attitude
that the Government was compelled to seek else- I
where for counsel to defend it. It seemed strange
to him (Mr. H.) that the highest law officer of the
Government should, in advance of the decision of
the Supreme Court, express the opinion he did. He
(Mr. H.) condemned these partisan decisions. Mr.
Sherman expressed the opinion that the Attorney-
General had been conscientious in his action. Mr.
Johnson thought the Senator (Mr. Howard) did
the Attorney General injustice. The President, in
pursuance of his undoubted authority, had called
upon the Attorney General for an opinion on the
Reconstruction Acts, and that officer, in accordance
with his duty, had furnished the opinion asked for.
He (Mr.J.) had no doubt the Attorney-General had
given the opinion that he did conscientiously, and it
would be a singular spectacle for him to appear in the
Supreme Court, where his own opinion might be
cited against him. Mr. Howard had no desire to
impugn the conscience or the sincerity of the At-
torney-General, but there was a simple and easy
method to get rid of the whole difficulty. If the
Attorney-General was unable to appear in the de-
fence of the law-making power of the Government,
let him resign and allow his place to be filled by
some one who has no conscientious scruples on the
subject. The joint resolution was then passed. (It
authorizes the Secretary of War to employed coun-
sel to defend the above-named officers, and all
other officers of the Government in any suits aris-
ing out of the Reconstruction Acts. On the mo-
tion of Mr. Fessenden, the Committee on the
Judiciary was instructed to inquire into the pro-
priety of repealing or modifying the Act of Feb. 20,
1865, " to temporarily supply vacancies in the Exe-
cutive Department in certain cases." The Supple-
mentary Reconstruction Bill being taken up, Mr.
Morrill, of Maine, said Congress was arraigned upon
this floor in precisely the same strain as it was
arraigned by rebel sympathizer's during the war. It
was now charged with disrobing the white race and
clothing the black race with all power. What was
this white race that they were charged with dis-
robing ? It was the same people whose hands were
imbrued in the blood of our children ; the same
people who had usurped exclusive control of the
States in which they lived ; who had for 200 years
revelled in lust and dominion. Congress was slan.
derously charged with establishing a military des-
potism in ten States of the Union. Congress, in
the exercise of the great police power conferred on
it by the Constitution, had gone into those commu-
❑ications, and established law and order in the place
of despotism. It had created equality in the place
of despotism. It had created.equality in the place
of oppression. If the theories of those who opposed
the legislation of Congress were correct, then all
that had been done was a nullity; the Government,
after four years of bloody war, had come out of the
contest with nothing settled—all the sacrifices that
we had made went for naught.

THE SUN, LONDON 1 HURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 27, 1868,

pending he question on seconding it the morn-
ing hour • expired, and the resolution _went over.
Mr. Rot Anson, of New York; offered a preamble
and res 3lution reciting, that Stephen J. Meany,
John Ivirarren, and other American citizens, were
confineGl in British prisons without having been
permitted a proper trial, and without having com-
mitted any offences in Great Britain, &c. ; and
directing the President of the United States to in-
stitute an examination of the facts of the arrests of
such pc mesons, and if it is ascertained that they were
arrested -for offences committed outside of Great
Britain, to demand the immediate release of all
persons at rested and committed for words spoken
or acts done in the United States; and if not re-
leased upon. demand, that the President be autho-
rised to arrest and hold in custody any subject
of Great Britain in this country, and to with-
draw all intercourse between the Government
of Great Britain and the United States. Mr.
Bingham, of Ohio, said the resolution was a
very important one, as it in its terms involved
a declaration of war. Besides he was opposed to
authorizing the arrest of any subject of Great Bri-
tain, for by that language Ambassadors could be
arrested, while in all civilized nations the persons of
Ambassadors were held secure from arrest. Mr.
Robinson modified his resolution to meet the views
of Mr. Bingham in the respect referred to. His
only desire was to have some action on the part of
the House. Mr. Maynard objected to the recep-

tion of the resolution. Mr. Robinson moved to
suspend the rules, which motion was agreed to. Mr.
Banks said there was no official information in posses-
sion of the House upon which to predicate the reso-
lution or to justify its passage by this House. The
Secretary of State has informed the Committee on
Foreign Relations that the papers in these cases are
very voluminous, but it was expected that they
would be sent to the House within a week, and he
thought it would be most advisable to delay action
until that time. Mr. Robinson said the reason he
asked action now was that something might be done as
soon as possible to relieve those who were now suf-
fering in British dungeons, and who are now incar-
cerated for no known crime except the utterance of
sentiments in a country distant from tLeir own.
The resolution simply authorized the President to
take measures if he found the facts as stated to be
true. He wanted this House to so express itself on

this subject that the British nation should under-
stand that the time has passed when these outrages
can be perpetrated upon American citizens ; and

hat the British lion should no more be permitted

to trample upon the rights of American citizens.
Mr. Bingham viewed this question as one of the
greatest importance, and which should be approached
with great care. It touches the dignity of the na-
tion, and as Representatives it is due to the people
of the American Republic that hasty action should
not be taken ; and he would, therefore, advocate
the reference of the resolution to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs for full examination and investiga-
tion. After some further discussion the resolution
was referred by a vote of 80 yeas to 37 nays, and
the House then, at five minutes past five o'clock, ad-
journed. Thebillintroduced to-day by Mr. Boutwell,
of Massachusetts, in relation to the public debt, and
to provide for the payment thereof, was the same
that he endeavoured to introduce last week, and
which was then published in full. It provides for
two loans, one of $600,000,000 at six per cent.,
payable in coin, to be issued to citizens of the United
States only, payable in sums of fifty millions of
dollars annually, commencing on the Ist day of
January, 1878. The other loan is for $400,000,000,
at 4rper cent., and payable in coin, in sums of
$50,000,000 annually, commencing on the Ist day
of January, 1900, to be subject to the State or
United States taxation, and made exchangeable for
5-20 bonds. In the House to-day Mr. Williams
introduced the following joint resolution, which
was referred to the Committee on Banking and Cur-
rency :—Be it resolved, &c., That the Secretary of
the Treasury be and is hereby authorized and re-
quired to issue $1.40,000,000 of Legal-tender notes to
supply in part the deficiency in currency, caused
by the cancellation of Legal-tender and compound
interest notes taken up by the Secretary of the
Treasury.
Feb. 4.—The House resumed the consideration of
the bill heretofore reported from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs in relation to the rights of Ame-
rican citizens in foreign countries. Mr. Bailey, of
New York, addressed the House in favour of some
stringent measure upon the subject, but he opposed
the pending bill as not going far enough, and
being sufficiently explicit. Mr. Butler, of Mas-
sachusetts, bad read what he proposed to offer at
the proper time as a substitute for the pending bill.
The substitute declares the right of a citizen of any
country to expatriate himself, and that any
foreigner may become a citizen of the United
States, and have all the protection at home and
abroad which the Government gives to any native-
born citizen—and when any citizen of the United
States is deprived of his liberty or despoiled of
his property by any foreign Government, and is
held for trial for a crime not committed in such
foreign country, his release shall be demanded by
the President of the United States, and in case of
a failure to release him, all diplomatic and com-

mercial intercourse between the United States

compelled to yield without concluding his remarks.
On the motion of Mr. Koontz, of Pennsylvania,
the Senate Bill for the temporary relief of the
destitute people in the District of Columbia was
taken from the Speaker's desk and referred to
the Committee on the District of Columbia.
The House then resumed the consideration of
the bill reported from the Committee on Public
Lands, declaring forfeited certain lands hereto-
fore granted to the Southern States for railroad
purposes. Mr. Eldridge, of -Wisconsin, opposed
the bill. Mr. Mungen, of Ohio, opposed the bill
as not being what it purported to be upon its face.

He denied that it was intended as a measure to
give land to the landless and homes to the home-
less. Mr. Niblack, of Indiana, spoke in opposition
to the bill. Mr. Hopkins made a speech in favour
of the land grant bill; and was followed by Mr.
Arnell, of Tennessee, who advocated an amend-
ment to exempt the Tennessee and Alabama, and
Nashville and Decature roads from the operation of
the bill. Mr. Shanks, of Indiana, spoke in favour
of the bill. Pending further consideration, the
Speaker laid before the house the following commu-
nications :—From the Secretary of War, trans-
mitting copies of correspondence between the
President and General Grant, in relation to the
suspension of Secretary Stanton and the course
pursued by General Grant in surrendering the
portfolio of the office. Mr. Wilson, of lowa, moved
the reference of the papers of the Committee on
Reconstruction, and that they be printed. So
ordered.

Feb. s.—General John Beatty, from Ohio, took
his seat. The bill declaring forfeited lands granted
to the Southern State 3 for railroad purposes was
discussed, amended, and finally laid on the table,
when the House resumed the consideration of the
bill in relation to the rights of American citizens
abroad ; and Mr. Judd, of Illinois, continued his
remarks commenced yesterday. He opposed some
of the features of the bill as reported by Mr. Banks.
Ile contended that the remedy proposed, that of
arresting and holding a citizen of another State for
no crime, except because his Government had
arrested an American citizen, was barbarous, as
it neither punished the offending party nor
asserted a principle, but simply punished an
innocent man, who may have come to the
United States for the most innocent purposes.
The Senate Bill authorising the Secretary of
War to employ counsel to defend Generals Grant,
Meade, and Luger, in suits pending against them
in the State of Georgia for their enforcement of the
Reconstruction Acts, was then taken up. Mr.
Garfield, of Ohio, moved to put the joint resolution
on its passage, and he urged the necessity of passing
the bill, so as to confer this authorityupon the Sec-
retary of War. Mr. Scofield, of Pennsylvania,
thought we had an Attorney-General who was paid
a high salary, and he wanted to knew why he did
not attend to the defence of these Generals. Mr.
Garfield thought the question a pertinent one.
We had an Attorney-General, but his time
was mostly employed in writing veto messages
and making speeches at Democratic dinners. Gen.
Meade has removed the Governor of Georgia,
who was an obstruction to Reconstruction, and
the Secretary of War bad been asked to defend
him in a suit against the General for effecting such
removal. Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, opposed
the bill only because this employment of special
counsel was one of the greatest sources of fraud and
expense to the Government. It was the duty of the
Attorney-General to attend to this matter, and he
should do so. Mr. Upson asked if the Attorney-
General had not refused to attend to these cases ?
Mr. Washburne—Yes, he has. Mr. Randall had
no reference to this special case, but he thought
there should be some limit to those expenditures,
and he suggested that an amount of compensation
be stated. The joint resolution was passed by a
vote of 115 yeas to 37 nays.

and such foreign country shall cease, and the
President shall at once communicate the
facts to 'Congress, together with the detailed rea-
sons for such cessation of intercourse. ➢Zr. Jenckes,
of Rhode Island, also gave notice of a substitute,
which he proposed to offer at the proper time. This
substitute provides, in the first section, that the
right of expatriation, and the right of naturaliza-
tion under the conditions imposed by law, shall be
declared a part of the public law of the United
States, and the Executive Department of the Go-
vernment shall insist upon the recognition of these
principles by all foreign Powers. If the rights of
American citizens are infringed, it shall be the duty
of the President to report the facts to Congress
without delay. Any citizen of the United States
may lose his rights as an American citizen : First—
By becoming a naturalized citizen of a foreign Go-
vernment. Second—By entering into a foreign
service without the permission of the Govern-
ment of the United States ; and, Third—
By making a domicile in a foreign county with-
out intention to return to the United States.
Any citizen of the United States, when engaged in
a lawful business abroad, shall be entitled to the
full protection of the Government, whether such
citizen be naturalized or native born. The pro-
visions and protection accorded by the bill shall
not apply to the following classes of cases : First_
Those who have renounced citizenship by any of
the modes named above. Second—Those who have
been guilty of crime against the laws of a foreign
State in such foreign State. Third—Those who
have been convicted of treason, and have thus for-
feited their right to the protection of the Govern-
ment. Fourth—Those who have absented them-
selves from the United States for five years con-
tinuously, and have not in that time made returns
of property for taxation, as required by law. Fifth
—Those who have engaged in the service of a
foreign belligerent in contravention of the military
laws of the United States. Sixth—Those who have
connected themselves with organizations in foreign
Governments, the terms of membership to which
require a nativity of the country in which such
organization may be located. Seventh—Those who,
having become naturalized citizens of the United
States, afterwards return to their native country
with the intent and purpose of being domiciled
there. Eighth—Such as have procured naturalization
in this country by fraud. Ninth—Those who have de-
serted theactual service of a foreign country, or have
left to avoid an actual military order already given.
It is provided further that any citizen of the United
States who may lose his citizenship by any of the
modes above named, may regain it by again de-
claring his intention to become a citizen of the
United States. Mr. Rigby proceeded to address
the House, and argued the necessity of adopting
some measure at once. Mr. Judd said he had not
opposed the motion for a night session because he
wanted to cut off debate, but because these evening
sessions were very little advanced above debating
societies, and he thought the question of sufficient
importance to demand the attention of a full House.
'.Che morning hour haying expired, Mr, Judd was