Miscellaneous news.
The following extracts are taken from late Northern papers:
‘
English Sympathy with "Traitors"--The
Duchess of
Sutherland, we had a grand levee in
London a few days previous to the departure of the Persia, and among the distinguished guests present, it is said, was the rebel commissioner (ex-
U. S. Senator)
Mason, of
Virginia.
The
Duchess of
Sutherland, the reader need scarcely be informed, is now, and has ever been, the great patron of British Abolitionism.
She is the ‘"pink of fashion"’ at all the great Exeter Hall Revivals and an Anti- Slavery Fair, or an ‘"Aggressive Humanitarian"’ breakfast, in
Edinburg or
Glasgow, is put or thought of without first securing her distinguished cooperation and aid. It was this
Duchess of
Rutherford more than anybody else, probably, who brought ‘"Uncle Tom"’ and its authoress into notice on the other side of the
Atlantic; and whether regard be had to her services in that respect, or to the general interest she manifests in ameliorating the condition of down-trodden humanity the world over — provided it be far away from home — a place must be given to her in the highest niche of the
Anti-Slavery Temple in
Europe.
’
The Slidell family.
--A Paris letter pretends to give a graphic detail of the, plans and policy of the Slidell family, in their united capacity as a rebel embassy in the
French capital, down to the moment when
Napoleon decorate his latest — and very probably last — in review to
Mr. Slidell.
The meeting took place in a manner, at the residence of the
Count De Persigny during an afternoon reception of some of the most distinguished French statesmen and politicians.
Napoleon took
Slidell to a seat, and conversed with him during the space of an hour, winding up with an advice to the rebel leaders to lay down their arms, as their cause was hopeless."
Count De Persigny left
Paris for
London the next morning, and it was presumed that his journey was undertaken with reference to the new shape in which his Imperial master had produced his idea of intervention in American affairs.
Foreign sentiment.
--
Thurlow Weed, who has just returned from
Europe, says the state of public sentiment abroad was far from gratifying.--The French Government cherished no friendly sentiments towards us, and the people were little better.
But Prince Napoleon was our most sincere, earnest friend, and lost no occasion to do us friendly offices.
The British Ministry were divided.--Lord Palmerston and Earl Russell were averse to us; other members of the
Cabinet were warmly affected toward the
North.
The
Queen, whenever she could say a word, always expressed the most decided sympathy with us. Prince Albert had always been the devoted friend of this country, and his last public act had been to modify a dispatch which the ministry had prepared to send to Lord Lyons.
How the Yankees pay their way.
--
Colonel Warren, an old army officer, distinguished by his explorations on the
Plains, reports that the
valley of the Pamunkey is almost a Paradise.
The green fields of waving grain being so luxuriant that he was induced to inquire how long the ground was run without change.
He was astonished to find that once in six years was the reply.
The houses are built of brick, and the barns are of the most substantial character.
Upon one occasion he encamped in a clover- field, and, as was very natural, under the circumstances, the horses, being in clover, lost no time in taking advantage of it. The gentlemanly proprietor of the clover-field, having made serious remonstrance without effect, at last demanded pay therefore, when the following brief and satisfactory colloquy ensued:
Proprietor.--
Col. Marshall, I believe?
Col. M.--You believe right, sir.
Proprietor.--Well,
Colonel, you have trampled down my clover-field and completely destroyed it. Do you intend paying for it?
Col. M.--Well, sir, are you loyal?
Proprietor.--Yes, sir.
Col. M.--Are you willing to take the oath of allegiance to the
United States?
Proprietor. No, sir.
Col. M.--Then get
Jeff. Davis to pay you and get out of my tent, you infernal traitor.
The Missouri State Convention.
--In the
Lincoln State Convention, at
Jefferson, on the 5th instant, the special committee on the seats of absent members, reported in favor of expelling
Messrs. Price,
Crawford,
Hatcher,
Wright, and
Turner, from the
Convention, on the grounds of their actual participation in the rebellion, and declaring vacant the seats of
Messrs. Chenault and
Watkins.
It was moved to strike out the name of
Mr. Watkins, for the reason that he had renounced the rebellion and been pardoned by the
President.
After a discussion the motion was lost, as was also a motion to simply declare the seat of
Mr. Wright vacant.
The report of the committee was then adopted.
A petition, signed by seven hundred citizens of the fourth Senatorial district, was received, asking for the expulsion of
Price L. Hodings from the
Convention, as being unworthy to represent the
Union people of that district.
No better evidence, they say, was needed to prove his traitorous and contemptible conduct than that he had aided and abetted the rebellion, and has not dared to show himself in the said district since last September.
Mr. Hodings asked for the appointment of a committee to investigate the case, which was agreed to.
The consideration of the ordinance defining the qualifications of voters and civil officers was then renewed, and after several speeches for and against it, the motion of
Mr. Orr, made yesterday, to strike out the clause of disqualifying persons who have taken up arms against the
Government, or giving aid in encouraging the rebellion, was carried — yeas 44, nays 24.
The ordinance was subsequently recommitted.
A plan to get rid of the Contrabands.
--
Col. Raastoff, Charge d'affaires of
Denmark, has addressed a letter to the
Federal Secretary of State upon the subject of the advantages offered by the
Island of St. Croix for the employment of persons of this country of
African extraction, and negroes found on board of vessels captured by Federal cruisers.
The island, he says, has been checked in progress for want of manual labor, and he invites the
United States to enter into a Convention, whereby the contemplated emigration may be placed under the protection and guaranty of the two Governments.
The Governor of the
Danish West Indies has also appointed a special agent, who has arrived in this country, to make the necessary arrangements.
Free transportation is offered to all who will engage to labor on the sugar plantations for three years, at the same compensation as is given to the native population.
Recaptured Africans, being semi-savages, must, however, undergo apprenticeship.
Secretary Seward, in replying, says he is not authorized to accept the proposition, at this time, for a convention.
The disposition of recaptured Africans is now prescribed by law. It is probable however, that Congress may be disposed so to modify the existing legislation upon the subject as to meet the wishes of the
Danish Government.
He has submitted copies of the correspondence to the
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in each house in Congress.
Col. Raastoff, in response, says the place he had furnished would be entirely satisfactory from a Christian and humane point of view, and would moreover, relieve the
United States from a great moral responsibility and from the very large expense which, if he was correctly informed, is contracted with the present arrangements for the transfer of recaptured Africans to the republic of
Liberia.
--The salary which
Heenan receives in
England, for sparring and exhibiting his muscle, is said to be £100 a week, which is exactly the amount of the pay of the
President of the
United States.
Indeed, so popular is he with the people of
England, that even the glory of his name has been sought in the person of his younger brother, at an offer of some thirty or forty pounds a week, to spar for a rival traveling company, and whenever the
American Champion shows himself in the streets of English cities, crowds follow and cheer him as he goes along.
Indian insurrection in California.
--The
California papers relate that a formidable insurrection of Indians has broken out in the Oweas river valley, in the
Southeastern part of that State.
In two fights they are reported to have defeated the force of regular troops sent against them numbering one hundred, besides seventy-five volunteers.--An express was sent to
Los Angeles for aid from
Gen. Wright, who dispatched prompt assistance.--The old dispute about cattle stealing, encroachments, &c., is at the bottom.
