AMERICA.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 219, 21 February 1866, Page 2

AMERICA.

The thirty-ninth meeting of Congress opened on the 4th of December. The President's message states that the reconstruction of the Union must be. effected by the North's forgetting past disorders, and the Southerners adopting the constitutional amendment, abo__hirig slavery for ever. Treasonable charges are to be tried in the civil courts, and. judicially settled. No state can secede froifi the Union. The army is to be reduced to 50,000 men. The army estimates show a reduction from 516,000,000d01. tar 33,000,000d01. currency. The debt is to be reduced, and a plan devised to pay it off in thirty years. Peace and amity aredesired wit_ all foreighn nations. The claims against England for compensation for the depredations of the Alabama, Shenandoah, &c, are not primarily for money, but to establish important principles of international law. The above message is pacific in tone, and created a good feeling between North and South,; especially affecting the conservative republicans, causing the adoption of a more conciliatory course to the South. Jefferson Davis is in good health, at Portress Monroe. Nothing further is> known about his trial. It is considered that the Americanconsul's acceptance of the surrender of the* Shenandoah precludes thePederal Govern*ment from complaining again&ttbe Britiilf l for discharging the. crewr

There are no prospects of friendly relations being disturbed between America and England and France. A committee has been appointed to decide on the claims of the Southern representatives to seats in Congress. " English Two The Eenian Senate has deposed President O'Mahoney, for misappropriation of funds, and elected "W. R. Roberts. A bill has been introduced to pay Mrs. Lincoln 100,000 dollars. Money is easier. Gold, 147.