LATEST AMERICAN NEWS.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 214, 9 February 1866, Page 2

LATEST AMERICAN NEWS.

(From the Southern t Cross) SAN FRANCISCO, 4th December. NEW YORK, Ist December. By the arrival in Auckland of the barque Constance, Captain Elliott, we have San Francisco papers of the 4th December, with New York and Washington news of the Ist December, inclusive. We extract from the Evening Bulletin : — - Washington, 28th Nov. A few additional members of Congress arrived to-day. No delay in the organisation of the House is anticipated. Instead of an extraordinary turbulent time, as predicted, the present indications are in an opposite direction. "Wilmington, 28th Nov. An order has been issued removing all colored troops to posts on the coast. . New Yobk, 28th Not, A despatch says : — Some important in* formation regarding Mexican affairs has just been received by the Government. A report is revived that a civil trial of Jeff. Davis is near at hand. Among the prominent questions before the next Congress will be the increase of the regular army. Greneral Grant is Understood to be in favor of mustering out the volunteers, and making such additions to all arms of the service as to make the" nominal strength of the regular army about 75,000 men. I Richmond, 27th November. I G-en: Grant freely expressed his opinion" I in regard to Mexican affairs here. He I said emphatically that the advent of Maxi- I milian to the pretended throne of Mexico i was part of the rebellion, and his immediate expulsion should be a part of its history. As France did not ask consent j to establish him on his throne, we should I not consult that power in re-establishing / the Republic. < Despatches from New Tork announce/ a collision between the Federaland French!, troops on the. Rio Grande. The press reports do not confirm it. j c Havanna, 22nd Nov. I * The steamer Hendrick Hudson arrivee to-day from Philadelphia. While enter ing the ■ port a Spanish man-of-war rai into, her, striking her amidships and cuiting her down to the water's edge. I The Legislature has adopted a bill permitting negro testimony in all cases except where only whites are interested. Washington, 29th Nov. The Virginia Legislature meets on Monday, It is believed the constitutional amendment, abolishing slavery, will be passed, and the rebel debt repudiated,

New Toek, 30th Nov. Rio Janeiro dates of 24th September state the Paraguyans had received another defeat at Harranztos, ten miles above Zagunete at Cora. Another slight engagement occurred on the 20th of September, near Luisgolles, in whioh the Paraguayans were defeated, and in revenge for this the Paraguayans burned some 30 villages on their march. It is positively asserted that General Butler has prepared a legal argumentshowing how Jeff. Davis and General Lee can be tried by a military tribunal. George Thomas, son of Sir William Thomas, Baronet, of England, has been arrested and locked up in the Tombs to await trial. He is charged with forging bills of credit on Duncau Sherman and Co. of this city. The President hss issued a proclamation, dated Ist December, restoring the writ of habeas corpus in all the States and territories, except Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida. Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, the district of Columbia, and the territories of New Mexico and Arizona. Judge Terrill, of Texas, received pardon to-day by order of the President. ton being made to the National banks throughout the country for subscriptions for the purpose of securing an amendment by Congress to the National banking law, by which the profit and loss circulation shall accrue to the banks instead of Government. The Times special says there is positive information to the eflect that the relations of our Government with France and England are entirely satisfactory. There is no probability of a serious disturbance. Napoleon's speculation in Mexico is very unpopular with the French. He will withdraw as soon as he can without compromising his dignity. The Spanish Minister to-day read to the Secretary of State, under instructions tram his Government, a despatch concerning the slave trade, which was replete with mose emphatic expletives, expressing opposition to the outrageous traffic, and pledging the most earnest efforts of the Spanish Government for its suppression. Toeonto, Ist Nov. The Fenians are quiet, excepting occasional demonstrations with rockets and firearms. New Yoek, Ist Dee. A special despatch to the Times says the report of the Secretary of War is ready for delivery. It will satisfy the country that the same vigor characterises that department in putting the army on a peace footing which marked its action in the prosecution of the war. On the Ist May last we had in the field and hospital 1,500,000 men. This number is already reduced to 175,000, and the process of reducing is still going on. The Herald's Toronto correspondent says the number of Fenians enrolled now and drilling in Canada, is stated to be nearly 82,000, nearly one-half of whom are already armed. New Obieaks, 30th Nov. - The work of re-building the levees is to be commenced immediately. The Legislature is engaged in the discussion of the constitution of 1864. The Texas debt, including all items, with interest completed to May 1, 1866, is 8,700,000 dols. Gbekai>a, Miss., 30th Nov. There was a collision here last night between a party of State militia searching for arms among the freedmen and a squad of negro soldiers. Several militia were wounded — one severely. New Yoek, 28th Dec. The Commercial's Washington special says there are good reasons for believing that Secretary M'Cullochwiil recommend a steady funding of the floating debt, with regular withdrawal of greenbacks, which must cause a contraction of the National Bank circulation. It is officially announced that the Government has received no information of any difficulty on the Bio Grande.