UNITED STATES.

West Coast Times, Issue 261, 25 July 1866, Page 3

UNITED STATES.

THE PBESEDENt'S POIICY.

There has been a lull in the strife of American politics. Each party has been waiting upon the other, and both now know pretty well the measure of their strength. Other subjects have stirred the public mmd — the near approach of cholera, and a terrible tragedy in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where, for the flake of some 70 dollars, a German laborer murdered eight persons — his master, a grazier, and his whole family. A crimo so appalling has naturally caused a wide excitement. Meanwhile, President Johnson has accepted calmly, and in apparent good faith, his defeat ; but lie stands firmly by his position, and loses no opportunity of enforcing his views. In an interview with The Times' correspondent, he has spoken freely of his policy. " I am not discouraged,)' he said with reference to the exclusion of the Southern States from Congress ; " either these states must be brought; back, or they must be kept out. Itris like doing a sum in addition — some sums want figuring up more than others "before you can get the answer, but I believe it will all come out right at the end." The machinery of the Freedmen's Bureau, he affirmed, was " now being used to get negroes conveyed from the North back to the South, by the very men who were asserting that the lives of the freedmen were not safe in tho South." The issue of the radical policy, he declared, would be a war of races. As for the veto powor, it could never be an instrument of oppression ; and as for himself, he had no personal ambition. "My convictions," ho added, " are firm and strong, and strong convictions aro a great Bource — the best source — of courage to a man. I have fought disunion nearly all round the circle, and if I am called upon to complete the circle, I will." In a speech addressed to some sailors and soldiers, a few days subsequently, Mr Johnson spoke in the same strain, but, as fitted tho occasion, with much more vehemence, laahhvg his opponents in no meaaured words. So also when some colored troops gathered round the Executive Mansion, on tne anniversary of the Emancipation Act, he spoke of those who made the negro their hobby and pretence for the sake of obtaining power, and of those who like himself were the true friends of freedom ; and he urged the colored people to give proof to tho world that they appreciated the boon conferred upon them. These speeches in their free outspokenness do not quite comport with our notions of presidential dignity, nor do they please all the President's supporters ; but they evince unmistakably his determination. This has been further shown by his removing from office many civil servants of radical politics, and appointing democrats in their place. It is probable that the first case in which the new Civil Rights Bill comes into contact with existing laws will be referred to the Supreme Court, «md thus the question of its constitutionality be raised in another arena.

EECONSTBTCTIOS.

In Congress more than forty constitutional amendments have at different times been introduced ; and the stream ot talk flows fast as ever, sometimes over some impediment freshening into angry noise. The most important feature of the month is the plan brought forward by the Reconstruction Committee for the government of the South. It recommends a joint resolution, "proposing an amendment to tho Constitution, guaranteeing equal protection for life, liberty, and property to all classes of citizens ; apportioning representation in Congress according to tho number of voters, and not according to population ; forbidding the payment of the Confederate debt ; and depriving all persons who took part in the late rebellion, or afforded aid and comfort to tho rebels, of the right of voting at Federal elections until 1870." It also recommends two bills, " one excluding representatives from Southern states from seats in Congress until this amendment has been adopted as part of their state constitutions ; and tho others declaring, all persons who filled high offices under tho Confederate Government for ever incapablo of filling any office whatever under tho Government of the United States." As yet this scheme has not met with much favor. It does not go the length of the Radicals, who claim universal suffrage. It raises many practical difficulties incident to the administration of govornmont over a people the great masses of whom may thus be brought under the ban of exclusion from all political rights ; and its severity leaves no ground for a reconciliation of interests such as tho Presidont has been striving to promote. There is again some proipect of Mr Davis

being brought to trial. His health is said to be fast failing. Meanwhile . his wife and daughter have been permitted to Bee him. Mr Johnson inclines to an amnesty.

FENIAN TACTIC 9.

Once more the ffenidri excitement seems Subsiding. • Its threatening bluster and brag have resulted only > in contemptible failuro ; and troublesome arid dangerous Ha have been • the movements of tho past few mdnthSj they have helped to show the hopeless absurdity of its schemes, and make clearer tho selßsh aims of its leaders. But the wounded snake " though scotched, is not killed," and has still some venom left. Our last intelligence is that James Stephens has made his way across the Atlantic, and arrived at New YoA, where Jio has been 1 enthusiastically received by the Irish, and elected General Head Centra"; that ho has set about healing dissensions ; auddeciares that " the objective' point of tho Fenians is not Canada or Japan, but Ireland," where, indeed, if they will cease their discords, " they can be fighting British troops on solid front within tho present year.". Prior to tho arrival of Stephens, your readers will remember that the Fenians' had congregated in large numbers ou the borders of New Brunswick, making Eastpori their head-quarters, a small town on the coast of Maino. Watched by the British authorities, and surprised by the arrival of d-erieral Meado with Federal troops to suppress any outbreak, they were speedily compelled to draw in their horns ; and the tremendous expedition which was to annihilate the British power in,CHnada ha 3 returned to New York in, a, condition of mutiny, after firing, we aro told, " one leadless pistol, aud stealing one small flag from an unprotected spot." Mr-Doran Killiau, "treasurer," and leader of, the detachment, has since, however, issued a circular, declaring the failure to be but temporary ; that the money has been well spent ; that existing complications have been increased, " the British fleet, with shotted guns, having been brought within 100 yardo of the American forts ;" that the north-west frontier is the gateway to Irelad ; and — O, far-seeing sophist — that, as the confederation scheme gains strength by these charms. Sir Seward may soon have cause to oppose the establishment o:f Jloyal. blood on tho throne of the North, as well as of Mexico ! A first consequence of this ignoble retroat has been the deposition, or forced resignation, of Mahoney, the collapse of other schemes, the destruction of confidence, and wide-spread demoralisation among the Fenian circles. Ono later incident suggested the possibility of action in another direction, in a modest piratical way. A party of Fenians, ■ returning from Ea9tport in the schooner Friend — it may be,disgusted with the turn affairs on thefrontier — hoisted the flag of the " Irish Eepnblic," aud captured the British schooner Wentworth, to which they transferred themselves after scuttling their own vessel.. A Federal steamer which" went hi pursuit, overhauled the Wentworth, but, deceived by her" nfeme aud appearance, allowed them to escape. Subsequently they were reported to havo made a descent upon the island of Menau. Now we learn that, contont with their inglorious pretence of war, they in a few hours restored the Wentworth uninjured to its captain, and landed themselves on the east of Maine. It is doubtful' whether Stephens will be able to resusc tate the zeal which these follies have broken, and to organise any united movement. The action of the American Government, though tardy, yet goes far to render his endeavors hopeless. There are rumors of another attempt to be made ffbm Buffalo, and thither General Meade has accordingly been ordered.

BOMBABDKENT OF VALPABAISD.

The Spanish Admiral Munez has taken a pitiful revenge for the disasters which have befallen some of his ships along the Chilian coast. After brief notice, and in spito of tho remonstrances of the consuls of almost every nation, he has bombarded Valparaiso, a purely commercial city, without fortifications, and from which not a gun was fired in return. This act of atrocity appears to have been in consonance with his instructions from Madrid, and has been boldly defended there — so low havo fallen the honor and civilisation of Spain. For three hours tho fleet poured in its destructive fire ; happily, the inhabitants had escaped to the hills, and not more than four lives were lost ; but the town was set in names, and an immense amount of property consumed. Tho loss falls chiefly on foreigners, whoso goods wero stored in this emporium ; and the British property destroyed alone is estimated as worth twenty millions of dollars. The squadrons of England, France, and the United Sthtes were compelled to remain inactive by the injunctions of thoir respective G-o-vernments to preserve a strict neutrality. It is understood that the Spaniards will pui'sue this abominable policy, and bembard tho other chief ports of Chili and Peru. Possibly the united fleets of the two countries may prove a hindrance.