AMERICA.

Evening Post, Issue 226, 28 October 1865, Page 2

AMERICA.

The Louisville (Kentucky) Democrat estimates that over 60,000 slaves have crossed over the Ohio river under General Palmer's passes, since the Ist of May. At this rate the whole slave population of Kentucky would pass away in less than one year. Mr. Seward has sent a dispatch to the American Ambassador in France, intimating that the I'nited states Government has left itself at liberty to deal with the Mexican question at a suitable opportunity. A report has reached Washington from the mouth of the Rio Grande, which, if true, is of the most serious importance. The federal forces had their picquet line extending a long distance up the river on the Texas side, and were confronted on the Mexican bank by the pickets of the Imperial forces. A very unfriendly feeling existed, and it was feared that open hos* tilites might ensue. It was reported that the Federal commander, General Brown, had recently had an interview with Juarez, to whom he had promised military assis- j tance, and that the Fourth Indiana i Regiment had been ordered to cross the river ; but General Steele, the commander of the department, had sent a dispatch boat up the river to counteract the order if possible. It was reported at Brownsville that General Kirby Smith had been captured by Viesca, the Juarist governor of Saltillo, the supply train of 75 waggons, 900 rifles and four pieces of artillery being taken by the Mexicans, and the party all paroled. General Smith was en route to join Maximilian. Only about 1,700 deserters from the draft availed themselves of the pardon offered them in the late President Lincoln's proclamation. The thousands of others still absent are liable to arrest wherever found in this country, and to be subjected j to punishment for the offence. The Navy Department has directed the reduction of the Mississippi squadron to five vessels, including those at Mount City, and Admiral Lee has gven directions for carrying the order into effect. The ordnance material of the squadron will be collected at the new naval ordnance depot at Jefferson Barracks. A large number of enlisted men will at once be discharged from the sqadron. Admiral Radlord has sailed from Hampton Roads to take command of the Atlantic squadron, with orders to reduce it to ten vessels. The Malvern is his flag-ship. Several serious riots have occurred, and a spirit of lawlessness seems to be alarmingly prevalent. A party of some 300 ruffians from Albany landed from an excursion boat at the city of Hudson, and, after killing two and severely beating a large number of citizens, demolished several stores, and, overpowering the local authorities, finally escaped. Several of them have since been arrested. In Concord, New Hampshire, a party of about 200 returned soldiers demolished a store, whose proprietor had some altercation with one of their number. They were finally dispersed by some citizen soldiers. A force of 1,000 Indians, cotfßsting of bands from five different tribes, attacked Platte Bridge telegraph station in Dakota territory, which was garrisoned by 250 soldiers. On the 25th ult., after two days' fighting, the Indians, having lost heavily, retreated westward, destroying the telegraph. The soldiers lost a lieutenant and one man killed, and 34 wounded. A note, purporting to have been written by a white prisoner in the hands of the Indians, was subsequently found on the battle-field, stating that the Indians intended to continue hostilities, and were expecting reinforcements. The garrison had been reinforced and had started in pursuit of the Indians. A banquet was given to General Sherman at Indianopolis on the 26th inst. by officers and ex-officers of the army. The General, responding to a toast, made a lengthy argumentative speech, in which he said his ancestors, being in the seafaring line, contributed largely to the importation of African slaves, and he felt it his duty as far as possible to atone for the sins of

his ancestors. He considered the slaves free by the action of the secessionists. It was the duty of the Government to protect and educate them. They might, be colonised in Florida, and admitted to representation in Congress. He opposed negro suffrage and indiscriminate intercourse with the whites ; his observations in Mexico and South America led him to this conclusion. He believed the whites must have the governing power, and the Omnipotence inaugurated this rebellion to break down the legal hedge which had protected slavery from the just indignation of the civilised world. He thought plenty of Southern States would vote to ratify the constitutional amendment. As to the subject of military power, he did not feel there was any usurpation ; it was the natural law of self- preservation; but when the necessity was past he hoped the civil power would resume its sway. The whaling barque Milo has arrived at San Francisco in twenty-eight days from the Arctic Ocean, with the crews of several whalers destroyed by the pirate Shenandoah last month, the whalers Edward Casey, Hector, Abigail, William Thompson, Sophia Thornton, Jere Smith, and Swan, were captured and most of them burned. The Milo was boarded for the purpose of taking off the crews. The Shenandoah was continuing her wholesale destruction of whalers, and|would'probably soon destroy another fleet, numbering 60 vessels. ______^__