AMERICA

West Coast Times, Issue 34, 22 August 1865, Page 2

AMERICA

New York, June 14.

The news is of a painful character. The accounts from all parts of the South depict a condition of deep distress. There was a scarcity of provisions. Disorganization and idleness prevail • among tho negroes ; poverty and disappointment among the whites.

On tho 10th, a party of 200 soldiers attacked a settlement of negroes in Washington, drove them from their homes, beat them, destroyed their furniture, and appropriated whatever of value could be found. The negroes subsequently rallied, when a fight ensued, in which firo-arms were used on both sides, and several persons were injured. Tho riot was only quelled by a millitary force. Expulsion and beating of negroes are of daily occurrence in New York and Philadelphia.

An opinion has been given by AttorneyGeneral Speed, to tho effect that paroled prisoners of war are not exempt from indictment and prosecution by the civil courts for their acts during the war. Ho declares General John Morgan's men .subjects for arrest and trial for robbery in" Kentucky ; and that the courts and the Federal Government ought not to interfere with the execution of such process,

Mr Davis is still confined at Fortress Munroe, but there is a report that General Brcckenridgo has escaped to Cuba.

The grand jury of Norfolk had brought on indictment of treason against Generals Lee and Longstreet, Governor Smith, Fletcher, and forty others. An explosion occurred on the 9th of Juno at the Government ordnance repository'at Chattanooga, containing several tons of ammunition. Shells flew in all directions, and exploding, killed many persons, and set fire to buildings. The estimated loss is 400,000 dollars. This explosion occurred almost simultaneously with a dreadful conflagration at Nashville, and another at Gallotin, which leads to tho suspicion of incendiarism.

A recent explosion took place in Mobile, by which several lives were lost, and immense property destroyed. It is believed to have originated with a torpedo, several having since been discovered in the Custom house of that city, adjusted to explode upon tho opening of doors, or secreted in desks or piles of rubbish.

Tho trial of tho conspirators is still proceeding. The witnesses for tho defence aro in course of examination, but no new or startling developments have taken place, The Washington correspondent of tho " New York Herald" writes as follows : — " A formal demand has been made on the Spunish Government for the surrender of tho rebel ram Stonewall. It is not the intention of our Governmet to abandon or abate their demands on England for damages upon our commerce by the rebel pirates. Enough of our armies will be retained to enforce any demand upon foreign Governments. It is understood that preliminary measures have already been taken to enforce the Monroe doctrine, and a notification has been sent to Napoleon that ho must not only send no more troops to Mexico, but must withdraw those ho has there, and leave the pcoplo of Mexico to decide for themselves whether they will have a republic- or an empire." General Kirby Smith has surrendered, but the Federal Government has nevertheless sent troops into Texas, it. is thought with a view to Mexico.

Tho negroes in the South are likely to give great trouble, and have excited so much bad feeling in the North that in some places they are harshly treated. In the South they demand tho franchise. In Kentucky, tho whites refuse to employ them, and have appealed to the President. The following description of their conduct is brought by the mail which left New York, June 10th : — Tho condition of tho freed men at tho South is said to be far from what their friends desire. They arc flocking to tho cities and lai'gc towns in such numbers that employment even for thoso seeking work cannot be secured, while from tho same cause labor in the agricultural districts is becoming scarce. The negroes hang about the military, camps, a fact which has called forth from the military commanders a numbor of orders requesting tho blacks to work, and refusing to issue them rations to bo eaten in idleness. In some sections, tho negroes nre perpetrating gross outrages by organised bands. In South Carolina, tho people ore in fear of a general insurrection among the blacks, and isolated plantations without millitary guards were m many cases abandoned. Jefferson Davis is now charged with being concerned in a conspiracy to murder Fodoral prisoners by starvation. The oxrebel Senator Footo is tho prinoipal witness against him. He assorts that at a Cabinet meeting, it wm decided to reduce tho prisoners' rations so as to weaken their constitutions, and make thorn worthless when cvohangod.

Proof-sheets of tho amnesty proclamation were before the Cabinet for several days. wao finally settled.

On the 9th, Davis divided the specie plundered from the banks amongst his personal escort, and the party separated to secure their personal safety. He was trying to reach the sea coast when he was arrested.

Kentucky claims still to retain slavery, in accordance with Lincoln's proclamation.

The rebel iron clad Stonewall had arrived at Havannah, and was ordered immediately to leave the port. Avig.rous retrenchment is progressing in the national expenditure. A large number of the navy vessels are announced to be sold. The number retained in commission is (o be reduced to actual requirements. Most of the iron-clads are to be laid up out of commission in the Delaware River. The home squadron is to consist of 160 vessels.

Public feeling in the North is strongly is favour of putting down the Mexican monarchy, and of insisting upon the demands made upon England respecting the Alabama.