The Sun. — 1869-01-26 (London, England)

SOUTHERN AFFAIRS.  Arkansas is in a nice state ; but what that state is cannot be so easily told. On one side black militiamen, without uniform orbadgesto show the nature of their employment, drag their white fellow-citizens to gaol, and shoot them without going through even the form of a trial. They throw up entrenchments and threaten to burn down the town if attacked. On the other hand, the Hon. Thomas Boles, Congressional Representative from the Third District in Arkansas, has published a statement to show why the Governor organized the militia. political murder had for months been reduced to an art, 20 prominent leaders and over 200 negroes having been assassinated in cold blood. Constables and Sheriffs who interfered were themselves killed, and the men who did these deeds publicly boasted of them while threatening others. The Governor finding it impossible to arrest the murderers and to save the loyal citizens in any other way called out the militia, arrested those accused of the crimes, while be fortified and guarded the gaols against a rescue. According to Mr. Boles, the cry on this is raised of military persecution. We hope to have better tidings from Arkansas after the inauguration of Grant, although that event will not be a universal panacea. But if the right and the wrong is doubt• ful in Arkansas, there can be little question who is in fault on the Ogeechee River, Georgia. The Standard's correspondent who may be relied on for the most Copperhead aspect, writing from New York on New Year's-day, says " that country is alive with gangs of negroes who murder the plantation watchmen and carry off the crops. On Tuesday a sheriff and two constables left Savannah furnished with warrants for the arrest of 17 negroes accused Of shooting watchmen. Five of the blacks were captured and placed on a railway train. The train was stopped at an obscure station by about 100 negroes, who rescued the prisoners, robbed the sheriff, taking from him his arms and warrants, and promised that death should be his portion should he ever attempt to execute another process upon a negro in that vicinity. The blacks then marched away, crying out, ' The war has commenced. We will have the heart's blood of every white man on the Ogeechee River.' Hearing of these threats the white citizens of the vicinity hastened to Savannah, not supposing that their wives and children would be molested. But the negroes drove the women and children into the woods, and now hold them as prisoners. The greatest indignation and excitement exist in Savannah. The news from Savannah, up to Dec. 31, is as follows :—" The Ogeechee troubles still continue. Mr. Middleton's house was burned last night and his crops ruined. All the whites came to the city except one man, who has not been seen since the trouble. The Sheriff, with a posse, went out this morning, but returned without making any arrests. The negroes are fully armed and in large force, and are determined to resist the authorities. Scouts sent out this afternoon were stopped six miles from the city. All six of the roads leading to the city are picketed by negroes. A public meeting was held to-day at the Court House, and affairs were discussed by General Jackson and others, and tomorrow they will decide upon what course to pursue." It is reported in Washington that a coloured delegation from Georgia will submit a memorial against the admission of the Senators elect from their State, their argument being that the admission of the Senators will be regarded by coloured voters as an approval by Congress of the action of the Democrats in expelling coloured members from the Georgia Legislature. Ex-Governor Joseph E. Brown is leading the movement against any interference by Congress with the affairs of Georgia. The Freedman's Bureau ceased to exist on the Ist inst., and 711 clerks and others were thrown out of employment. Their salaries alone, since the inauguration of the Bureau in 1865, amounted to $2,517,240.