EUROPEAN AND AMEEICAN NEWS VIA SYDNEY.

Southland Times, Issue 954, 20 May 1868, Page 3

EUROPEAN AND AMEEICAN NEWS VIA SYDNEY.

(From the " Melbourne Herald," 13th May.) Sydney, 12th May. By the Kate, which has arrived from California, with breadstuffs, we have two days' later news from America, and also from Europe by the Atlantic cable. London, 11th March. The most distressing poverty and privation still exists in the Isle of Dogs and in Poplar, Stepney, Bethnal Green, and the East End districts. Eelief committees are actively at work, and large sums are being raised in the city and elsewhere. In the House of Commons last night/ the discussion turned on the recent outbreak of Fenianism ; and the Secretary for Ireland contended that it was entirely of American origin, and sustained by American agitators — the majority of the people in Ireland being well affected towards the preservation of law and order. He said that a hill would shortly be introduced into Parliament for defining tenant-rights, and remedying the inequitable operation of the present law of landlord and tenant in Ireland. London, 12th March. The Government have announced their intentions to issue a Eoyal Commission for inquiry into the general condition Ireland, as a preliminary to some general measure for existing grievances. The commission* will also be instructed to inquire into the expediency of founding a new university, to be open to all religious creeds, After the debate in the House of Commons on the evening of the 6th March, the Irish question was again brought up ; and on the evening of the 11th, Lord Stanley delivered himself of a very temperate speech on the Alabama claims, and expressed a strong desire to arrive at an amicable settlement of the question with the United States Government. . "Washington, 13th March. This being the day on which the trial of President Johnston was to have commenced, there has been great excitement which has been constantly increasing for several days past, and crowds of visitors have arrived, including many public men not members of the Legislature. The crowd in the Capitol has been overwhelming, and it has been extremely difficult to maintain order ; the ladies' gallery in particular being densely crammed. The Senate, in its capacity as the High Court of Impeachment, is presided over by the Chief Justice in his judicial robes. The President has given in the names of his counsel, and an application was immediately made on his behalf for time to answer the allegations of the impeachment. Accordingly the Senate granted him till the 23rd of the month to file his j answer, and the trial ia expected to proceed immediately afterwards. The charges against the President are comprised in eleven articles, the majority of which arise out of the dismissal of Secretary Stantonj but they may be more conveniently classed as follows : — For violating the provisions of the Constitution and disregarding the law (citing especially the Eeconstruction Act) ; for distant violations of the Tenure of Office Act ; for conspiring with others to defeat the action

of Congress ; for the illegal attempt to remove Mr Secretary Stanton from his office over the War Department; for bribery, by corruptly giving promotion to officers as an inducement to second him in disregarding the law. Secretary Stanton remains at his office, and refuses to vacate. The President still persists in refusing all communications .which come through the Secretary's department, and insists upon being addressed direct through G-eneral Lorenzo Thomas, who is located in the "White House. It is generally expected that the impeachment will fail, and the President's friends speak confidently of its being thrown out by a large majority of the Senate.