University of South Carolina Libraries
COLUMBIA. -. -.$ Saturday Morning, April li, 1366, The Conflict at Washingtub. ?6 The contest at Washington bet ween ' the Executive and Congress presents one of the most important issues ever presented to the people of this country, and the crisis, which is rapidly approaching, is looked for .with intense anxiety hy all who feel an interest, in tho perpetuity of the Government. In this fierce contest, the people of the United States, as a mass, are on the side of the Executive, simply be - cause he has taken the Constitution 88 his ?-aide, and manfully, thus far, has resisted the fierce onslaughts of its assailants. But the dominant fac? tion in Congress have succeeded in passing over his veto their most radi? cal measure. True, but it now be? comes a question whether the Presi? dent will regard the majority which i passed this bill as the constitutional *-majojrity of the Congress proper. He has been persistent, and on many occasions luis so expressed himself, that the Senators and members elect from the Southern States are entitled to their seats in the National Legisla? ture. In his recent proclamation, he has restored the States which these men represent, and by this important promulgation not only endorses by action his expressed opinions, but fortifies himself for a line of future action, which, addressing to his policy, he may think proper to adopt. The line of action we allude to is even taken by the radicals into their calculations. One of the ablest writers for the Northern papers is George Wilkes, who, as it is stated, having access to the interior circles of the extremists, has the opportuni? ty of knowing their temper and pur? pose. In the last issue of his paper, after enumerating the several acts of the President in opposition to the radicals, and charging him with hav? ing deserted his colors, he adds: KL J'Mr. Johnson having thus polit? L caDy changed front, it must not be supposed he will remain idle at the head of his new army. On the con r trary, it must be expected that he [will advance in his campaign, at the ?first favorable opportunity; and we rs?ppose that opportunity will come I when Congress shall have adjourned, I and when Texas shall -have elected rRepresentatives under her new Con? stitution. L "It is supposed that the President [ will avail himself of the latter event ^ to officially proclaim that peace is re t stored throughout the land; and that following it np, he will then formally summons the Representatives and . Senators of all the States tb meet at I Washington in extra session. The ^present majority of the two houses, . which will then be in minority, will, t of course, dispute the right of the [ Representatives and Senators of the I eleven un-admitted States to meet I with them in council; whereupon, it I is expected that the President will ? recognize the new majority as the I true Congress of the United States, \ and assign to them the official chain - bera of the Capitol ? "The then minority, deprived of a President? deprived too of their sta ft&torylorums and even of Presiden? tial recognition, will perforce be driven to convene apart, in some tmofficial place. Assuming, never? theless, BtUl to be the true and only ^Congress, and as such to have ma? jority enough within itself to be in? dependent oi the Presidential veto or I approval, it will go on with its legis L lation, and endeavor to establish its Lututhority under the auspices of the . Supreme Court. Here will be two separate, distinct and rival Govern? ments in operation ; not divided be? tween the sections, as was projected L by the overthrown rebellion, but an *"grily confronting one another within j the narrow circle of the Capitol." i Whether this will be the future R policy of the President in completing phis work of restoration, is not yet de - f veloped; but tho writer we have ^<?noted, in speaking of referring this difficulty to the Supreme Court, seems to have forgotten that this depart? ment of the Government has reoog . niz?d the Southern States as mem? ber? of tho Union. During the war, """even, they tried eases from Florida and Louisiana, and have retained about seventy cases from the South? ern States, which, we believe, were (assigned for a hearing at its next term. Thus tho judicial is in full accord with the Executive depart? ment jf the Government, in recog? nizing the late seceded States as Stabs of the Union. It is, therefore, ole/r that it is Congress, and not the Plaident, that is usurping the whole ?Fwers of the Government. Taking into consideration, there re,'the situation of affairs at the I present juncture, and the firmness and consistency hitherto manifested, by the ^Preaideni/ wc come to the con? clusion that the contest has reached that point at which he will tako his final stand iu defenoej pf tfce Consta, tntion. Tlie civil right? bill Ira* been passed over his veto since his procla? mation restoring the Southern States to the Union was issned; therefore, as he thus regards them, and as the other co-ordinate branch of the Go? vernment so regards thom, he may well feel justified in taking the ground that the men who now meet dairy in the Capitol do not form the Congress contemplated by the Constitution; that its two-thirds- majority is not the constitutional majority required to pass a bill over his veto; and that, therefore, this so-called "civil rights" bill luis not been constitutionally passed, and that, therefore, he will decline to execute it. But, whether he takes this precise ground or not, we believe he will sue ceod. We still have faith in the tri? umph of right and justice. The hearts of the true, the patriotic and the good throughout the land are I with him in this contest with bad j meir, and all the lessons of history teach us that, in every conflict sinii ! lar to that which is now progressing I in Washington, the Executive wai crowned with success; and while th< people watches, with deep and pain ful anxiety, the issue of this conflict they will pray for the success of thei; patriotic President. -< ^ ? ? Disgraceful Conduct. The Richmond Dispatch is credibl; informed that, after the civil right bill pased the Senate, a knot of grav Senator? assembled in a room in th Capitol, and, imbibing pretty freel; of champagne, sang a number c songs of peculiar sentiments indies tive of their own. Among then: I "John Brown's body lies moulderin in the grave, bnt his soul is sti marching on," and "Rally round th flag, boys, rally once again," &< They are said to have had a jolly tim? i and to have nearly lifted the roof < the Capitol with their shouts. Th second instance was that of the pa sage of tlie civil rights bill over tb veto in the House, when prolonge cheers so disturbed its proceeding that an adjournment was render? necessary. It is probable that tl overjoyed sought the means of vent lating then; spirits in imitation of tl grave and reverend seigniors, ai that champagne and songs were aga freely employed for this purpos These demonstrations in the Capit of the nation, by the Representative are perhaps unprecedented, and she with what bitter animosities th? minds have become imbued in tl contest with the Executive. The correspondent of the Bait into Sun relates the following: This afternoon, a committee colored women appeared at the j ception rooms of the Senate, load with hoquets ol' choice flowers, i tended as an offering of gratitudo the Senators who voted on Friday j the passage of the civil rights b To each boquet" was attached t name of the Senator for whom it v designed. They were brought in the pages and placed on the des Mr. Trumbull, being the father the bill, came in for a larger share gratitude, and received a beauti ornamented basket, filled with 1 rarest exotics. The Senators w voted against the bill looked rat] enviously on the fragrant boquete their more fortunate compeers. O however, by mistake, no doubt, T ?laced on the desk of Mr. Gan , ?avis. -4 ? > - SALE OF CHURCH PROPERTY.-' learn from the Charleston Cow that, on the 10th inst., the prope of the Wentworth street Bap Church, in that city, was sohl to Methodist Episcopal Church, to held by local trustees, for the and occupancy of the ministry ; membership of that church for Dh worship. The sum asked and pron ly paid was $20,000 in gold coin. ' whole transaction, of sale and ] chase, has apparently been with i regards for the interaste of the lored people, who, wo learn, mc compose the membership of ' church. -?-??-? The garrison at Yorkville has 1 relieved and ordered to rendez' . at Charleston. Thin removal i troops from the interior, though expressly so stated, is presume* i be in consequence ?>f the Presidt i proclamation. Why is a husband like a Missi Ei steamboat? Because he n nows when he may get a blowin* R?*torsitlott of Civil U?k-x, The firsvt intubation ^^lie eOUSk of the late proclamation comte, fr?n} ljchm%l!^ P. C. Westcott, arrested bj the military authorities^ ??' the charge of complicity in defrauding, ami broug?'T before the military com? mission for trial, was, last Friday, ev motion., o ? his counsel,, tmd?r a plea to their jurisdiction, turned over le? the civil authorities. On Saturday, the com mission adjourned sine die, and all cases uot already disposed of have beeu turned over to the civil court?.-. It is idle'tor the radical disunion 'organs now to urge and aver that the President's proclamation is merely an expression of opinion aud meaningless, for, besides the above information, we notice that the Army ami Nary Journal, the able and enlightened organ of the military and naval service, admits I the correctness ol' the interpretation I which we have placed upon th e Pre? sident's proclamation, lt states that I when the commander-in-chief of the j army and navy issues such a procla? mation, "he formally abdicates the j 'war power' by which he has govern? ed the South during the past year. He pronounces thc condition of that section so renovated, its rights and privileges so resuscitated, tliat hence? forth there is no place for military governance. " Ou the other nand, wc see it stated, on the trial of Major Gee, at Raleigh, the same plea as to jurisdiction was submited, but the commission over? ruled the objections and the trial pro? ceeded. WHAT THE FENIANS DEMAND OF THE UNITED STATES GOVEKNMENT.-There is an aspect of this Fenian question which has a peculiar interest for political aspirants in the United States. The Fenian? demand strict neutrality. They require that the Government shall oppose the equip? ment and sailing of privateers with precisely the same alacrity shown by England in the fitting out and de? parture of tho Alabama,' Florida, Georgia, Shenandoah and other ves? sels from her ports. They ask noth? ing more; they will be satisfied with no less. If that is denied them, they will vote for men and measures thal will yield them; and no public man may hope fora re-election in any city, district or State, in which the Irish ^vote holds the balance of power, wht advocates for Great Britain and tin United States, in the Fenian struggle a different kind of neutrality. -Pilot The New York Tribune, mention: an act of diabolical inhumanity recently perpetrated by Secretary o: War, Stanton. He has required poo Gen. Banks to prepare official re ports of his battles with "Stonewal Jackson" in the Valley of Virginia If the Inquisition is ever establishei in this country, we bespeak the pos of chief torturer for Stanton. Just think of the cold-bloode< cruelty of forcing Banks to tell a this late day the tale of his disaster* forcing him to tear open those ol wounds which were just beginning t heal. We shall next have an onie from the barbarous Secretary of Wai soliciting additional information froi the bottled Butler as to tho glories c Big Bethel, Bermuda Hundreds an the fire ship.- Richmond Times. - The Monroe (La.) Telegraph aaj 1 that recently a couple of gentleme ! living on Bouf Uiver, were out hun ing hogs, when becoming tired, thc I dismounted, and hitching their horse I lay down to sleep near an old tree c fire. Eight days after this a neig] bor was hunting in the vicinity, whe: attracted by the barking of a do| which would come to no calls, 1 went to the spot where the men li down, ami found that the tree lu fallen across the head of one, ai across the chest of the other. One the horses had broken loo.se>, tl other was still standing where, eig days before, he had been tied. Oi of the gentlemen, a Mr. Day, leav a wife and six children in distress? circumstances. - ? ?* ? *- - THE SPIUSO BONNET. - Che N< York Post says there is great act i vi among the milliners in that city, wi are engaged in fabricating the n< spring bonnets. The editor says t new fashions uro queer, and the lu themselves, which appear with t Easter festival, are "not much speak of," being so small as to almost invisible on the head, and fording no protection whatever to t wearer-but light as they are th cost heavily, and as "fashion" d tates that they shall be worn, ther< no more to be said. Prices rar from twenty-five to forty and ti dollars. onJ til the fashionable muk are driven with work. ADMIRABLE JOKE OF THE PUE SIDE John Happy, of the Nashville ll uer, when applying for a pardon, A asked hy the President what posit: he held in the war. to which he plied, "aquartermaster." The Cl Magistrate chuckled and siuil "My ancient and venerublo frien he said, "if yon think your dept ment of the rebellion endangered Union cause, your simplicity is a r don in itself." . r ?:-*tto'teUo$iii? miracle from the special correspoadr-nce of the Peters-* burg; ?nd? gires us more definite details of the progress of the fair than we f?nd in other exchanges. It will he seen that fanaticism cannot even spare this benevolent enterprise : BALTIMOEK, April 7,1866. DEAS IKDEX : This evening closes the first week of the great exhibition, and its success is a fixed fact. I have not undertaken any record of the ar? ticles or names of the managers and contributors, because the city papers contain fuller reports on these points than I could possibly gather, and my attention has been directed to the noting of matters of interest coming under my observation, which win probably escape the notice of the re? sident reporters in their search for statistics. There has been, since my last, no decrease in attendance on the fair, tho interest or rather enthusiasm of the citizens shows no sign of abate? ment, and every train from the South comes loaded with visitors. On each successive night, the assemblage has been larger and more brilliant. Dress? ing is camed to a perfection here not ? dreamed of in our section, and the elaborate specimens of the latest styles in fashion are to be seen lending to and borrowing adorn ment from the beautiful women and handsome men who throng the halls. Here, by the way, let mc inform our cockade ex? quisites that they are behind the times in two very prominent points of costume-tall silk beavers are the universal hats of the fashionables here, and single-breasted frocks are the things for full dress, a coat other? wise cut being a rarity only seen j upon the back of some visiting and ! simply clad Southerner. Last evening, in addition to the ? usual attractions at the Institute, a j grand concert was given hy a fine amateur band, composed of the most accomplished musicians of Baltimore. The music was admirable, well se? lected and beautifully executed- as fine as 1 have ever heard from the best professional orchestras. The receipts were greatly increased yesterday, . and the talk of the day was the donation hy Mr. Willans of the sum of ?25,0(H) towards the object j of tlie fair. He first sent the ladies a blank check to be filled up at their emu discretion, but their delicacy refusing to name the amount of his donation, he filled it up for the abqve j magnificent sum, and returned it, with a request that if they needed more, the Executive Committee should draw upon him. The list of subscribers of $1,000 each., which I reported was being made up, is said this morning to be nearly completed. It is very hard to form any approximate idea of the receipts so far, aa there are so many agents-the statements made vary from two to four hundred thousand j dollars. The noble generosity of | these people is beyond praise, and yet, to the eyes of radicalism, not even charity covereth the sin of sus? pected humanity. The following extract is from Fri? day's Baltimore American; "We do not find among the list of managers of the fair the name of a j single loyal lady, nor among the gen? tlemen managers and promoters any of those who took au active pari in furnishing funds for the Sanitary Commission, which dispensed its blessings alike to the sick and wound ed of the Union as well as the rebel army. On the contrary, we find that the great mass of those who have taken part in it have been, and still are, active and persistent in the sen? timent of disloyalty. At a lecture given iu aid of it, the name of Stone? wall Jackson was greeted with im? mense applause; Mosby, the guerilla, was surrounded and complimented ; a song of "Wearing the Grey" was enthusiastically encored; the Ameri? can flag hissed, and the "Stars and Bars" applauded to tho echo. Tab? leaux have also been presented insult- j ing to the Government and tho loyal people. We hope that the Southern fair may raise half a million of money for the relief of the Southern people, and that all Southern sympa? thizers may spend their money freely and contribute largely to its treasury. They owe these deluded and stricken people much aid and sympathy in their present forlorn condition. They countenanced, encouraged and urged them to enter upon their career of treason, ami should give freely to their relief." We are assured by persons residing here that there is not one word of truth in these statements, although it may be pretty safely stuteil that none ol* the managers or participants are radicals. The I'resilient hu* approve?! and signed the bill for the more effectual punishment of certain cl imes against the United States, it pronounces tho uttering of counterfeit bonds, gua? rantees, securities, Ac., for the pur? pose of defrauding the Government, a felony, and punishable with ten years imprisonment and hard labor, or a fine of one thousand dollars, or both. The bills providing compen? sation for the loss of the effects of a naval officer at sea, and transferring tho custody of the Smithsonian Li? brary to the library of Congress, were also approved and signed. -.-. ? ^ ? ? During the month of March, 4,935 applications for pensions were re? ceived and granted, ami 502 rejected. jjWjgi minin 111 ii ii[ i. j. ."a Prom tVntlilngtofi. The cir ii rights law, which is about to tak* effect, will, as lawyers goncrmjlr ?tate, execute itself, through the Federalconrts, in like manner with thc fugitive slave Itv. The President will lmve notbing *o do with its execution, except-in tho appointment of United States District Judges. Some of these ?rc already appointed ; others will be I in tho course of the year. Thc judges will I appoint their aida, and will see that ther i do not appoint improper persons. The Pre? sident must take care that be does not se? lect men for judges who would abuso i heir power to ejaculate, like United States cot? ton agents, upon the necessities or appre? hensions of thc citizens of thc States where the law is to be executed. The first section of the law goes into ef? fect at once, declaring who are citizens of tho United States. This law will remain in force, of course, until it is either repealed or pronounced by tie United States Su? preme Court to be unconstitutional, neither of which contingencies are likely to rise verv soon. However, the case will be made in indiana or Illinois under their State laws, which prohibit ibo immigration ol negroes into those States, or their resi? dence there. Hut these State laws will, no doubt, be so modified as tn comply with the Federal law. A serious conflict of jurisdiction has oc? curred bet wren the State conrtx of South Carolina and the military jurisdiction, un? der (lensral Sickle?. The court ? havo sen? tenced white men, couvicted of larceny, to be punished with stripes, under the old criminal code of South Caroona. General Sickles forbade the execution of the sen? tence, for the reason that it was abhorrent to the ideas of philanthropy and usages ol modem civilization. The 'Circuit Court* of the State have, therefore, it appears, declined to try criminals at all. The Pre? sident is apu?aled to by the Stale authori? ties to countermand General Sickles'order. Mr. Stephen Powers, correspondent ol the Cincinnati Commercial, was before thi Reconstruction Committee, to-day, and tes? tified at length respecting Florida, Lou? isiana and Texas. He takes a bopefa view. In the case of a foreign war, th? enemy, he thinks, would not get 10,000 re emita from the South, unless an arrav in vaded that section. The people are geuerallv in favor of pal? ing the rebel debt, but will ofter very ht tit reni?t ance to the collection of the nat iona taxes. The Freedmen's Hnrean has bcei necessary, amt ?till is, though, after th next Christina* holidays, when the con tract* for the coming year ?rc made, it wi! not be needed anywhere. The negroes have purchased weapons and are rapidly learning to take care r themselves. Some of the bureau officer have heen incompetent, and speculated o it and made the institution a by-word. Th people are more loyal than they were s the end of the war. The noise of new? papers and politicians is onlv the naturi reaction from the terror of defeat, and th apprehension of punishment. [ Cor. Ballimore Sun. The. Supreme Court having adjournei trials hy court martial having been abai doned, and there being no present prob) bility of convicting Davis before a eil court, the President, it is freely rumore? ha? about concluded to order bis release o parole. Mr. Stephens is reported to bal expressed the conviction that he would 1 "released," and as Mr. S. has just held long interview with the President, it is n< unlikely but what he is foreshadowing tl event. In this connection, I will say that a mo: important argument, covering eighty prin ed pages, has hoon received by the Pres dent from landon, in which are set fort thc reasons why Davitt cannot be convictc iu any court of the crime of treason. Tl ground gone over dates from fhe found tion of the Government-in eludes tl "rights ot' thc States," a? then unde stood -the action of New York, Penneylv nia, Virginia, Massachusetts, and* tl States, bi accepting the Constitution, ar the opinions of Washington, Fisher. Ame Hamilton, Webster, Ellsworth, Rufus Kin, Davie, Spencer, Madison, -Jay, Kandolp Franklin, Tench Cox, James Wilson, ai Chief Justice McKean of Pennsylvani The purport of the opinions of these ho ored dead, as showing tbe sovereignty thc St lites, and which the barrister w] sends to the President the argument giv in detail, may bc summed up m the rema of Wilson in the Peunsylvauia Conven?? of '87: ' Upon the existence of the Staf?Gover ?nents depends tho existence of the Fed ral plan. Tho supreme, absolute and u controllable power is in the people befo they make a Constitution, and remains them after it is made. * * ? My po tion is, that thc absolnte sovereignty nev goes from the people." Wado's proposition to the effect that moneys bc paid ont on account of the Pai Exposition until France has withdrawn li troops from Mexico, cannot pass in eith House. The question of a general amnesty h been before tho Cahinet once, bnt wa? c posed by all -so says report-save ? Seward. Should the President, therefoi conclude to issue a proclam?t ion looki to that end, he will hive to do it prei much on his own responsibUity. [dor. Philadelphia Ledger Not long ago, a board of officers, c< sisting of Generals Sherman, Thom. Meade and Sheridan, waa convened at Liouis, for the purpose of examining I military record of services of each a every regular officer recommended for appfying to be made a general officer brevet. In establishing a standard which to judge of the merits of each ca tho hoard decided that gallant conduct tho field, in face of the enemy, should the standard of honorable reward. By t measurement, a list was made out anils< to Washington for the approval of Cen* Cirant anil the President, who confers appointments. When Secretary Stan found that the lioard had ignored claims of his easy-chair generals, bie% ted by himself for faithful clerical di I in Washington during the entire war, quietly sent their names to the Sem and, taking advantage of tho second v excitement, rushed them through Military Committee and had them c firmed. Thc trick has excited a great i of indignation among those regular oftic who fought in the field all through war, and whose claims for reward w endorsed l>v the renowned warriors \ composed the hoard of examiners. M of these meritorious officors are now in city, and propose to scenro from the nate, if possible, reconsideration of tl: brevet confirmations, in order that jus may he done. Many of the Secreta pets who havo been brevetted generals us low in rank as major, and this pduu. brevets throe deep increases the indi lion among the fighting regulars of i war.- Washington Cor. Nen; Vor!.- lier The. Chicago Post denies the ext sivcly circulated report to'he cf that labor was in great demand in West, lt says that hundreds of p laborers have been sent on wild-gc chases to the Upper Missouri fi St. Louis and Chicago. The int* gence offices are at the bottom of knavery. The Empress Eugenie will be I the shady side of forty after May Zioeal X-toaa-xa?. Mortgage*) and Conveyances of Heal Es? tate fc-r sale at this oftice. GASS.-Ow ternis fof subscription, ad? vertising ant) job work are cash. We hope all parties wili bear this "tu mind. THK BUBXKO or Cui.i'jiiiu.-An inter? esting account ot thc "Sack and .Desirae tion of the City of Ooinrnbia, K. C.," has just been issued, in pamphlet form, from the Phoenix steam power press. Orders can be filled to any extent. BOOK AMO Jost PR?STINO.-Tb? , i's-air office is now folly supplied with cards, colored and white paper, Colored ink, wtu;d type, etc., and is now in condition to exe? cute all manner of book and job printing vii the shortest possible time. Give as a call. STr.AWBKBiUKs.-Only think Of it! Hr. George Lever presented us with a basket of fine strawberries, yesterday morning. Mr. L.'s farm is on the corner of Oreen and Ciadsden streets, (near the ruins of the South Carolina Bailroad shops.) where j lovers of this delicious fruit can be made ! happy. _ I A HOME COXPAXION.-The proprietor of I the ?ohtnibia Pfurtiix will, on the 18th In ! staut, commence the regular publication j or the Weekly <ileaner-a mammoth I paper containing furty-eiyht columns of reading matter, embracing tales, anec? dotes, poetry, editorials, correspondence, . telegrams and news matter generally, j The Gleaner is published for the accom? modation of those persons residing in re I mote sections, accessible by mail only once : a week, and at the same time to provide an agreeable pastime fur readers of all classes. The gist of the reading matter contained iu thc Daily and Tri-Weekly Pluenir, will bo published in its columns. The paper is furnished to subscribers at il per annum: fl for three months.- For? ward your subscriptions at once. CITY AFFAIRS. Aa our new Council have got fairly to work, we trust that they will, through tho proper committees, take prompt measures to have one or two evils promptly corrected. The Chairman of the Committee ou Streets has already gone vigorously Lo work in cleaning up the str?eis, and removing nuisances therefrom. We now take the liberty of suggesting th? filling or covering up of those pit-falls for man and beast, the empty weBs on vacant and unenclosed lots through which foot? paths for short cuts have been made by constant traveling. Several valuable ani? mals have already been lost in these dan? gerous traps, and one or two accidents to citizens. Of course, the owners of these lots ought lo bear the expense. The olher matter to which we would now refer is the standing of chimneys, house corners, lc, which any gale or high breeze of wind may npset any day, with great danger to life. "A new broom sweep? clean." and we trust the new Council will show that they deserved the suffrages of their fellow-citizens. There are olher mat? ters to which we will call the attention of the Council hereafter. N KW AnvxnTisaaocarrs. -Attention is call? ed to the following advertisements, which aro published this morning for the first time: John Hair-?50 Reward. J. P. Southern-To Bond-holders. G. A C. B. B.-Annual Meeting. Hanahan A Warley-Cheese, ic. Organization of Sons of Temperance. Joe. Qruber-Water Notice. A MISTAKE.-Albert True Lansing, editor;of the Bowling Green Aurora Borealis, thinks Mr. John Wilstach made a trifling mistake in Bending him one of his emigration circulars, and goes off in the following effulgent strain of auroral indignation: We are no agriculturalist-we don't own no farms; those business don't suit us. We are no cerelurium-it ain't our forte. We are no animal propagatist- h?r ist we are not-as a co wist, we make no pretensions-aa a sheepist, we claim no honors-but as. as a hogist we may be permitted to take a few in ours, but not enough to warrant John Emigration, Esq., in circulating ns an agriculturist. THE SHOE BVSINESS.-We under? stand that the shoe business, which has been extensively carried on at Natick, is now at a decided stand? still, and a large number of journey? men have been discharged. There is no present sale for the heavy stock of manufactured goods on hand; but a better state of affairs is anticipated in the fall. A similar stagnation ex? ists in the other large shoe towns of tho State.-Boston Traveller, 40i. j It is stated that Mr. S. N. Pike, j proprietor of the opera house re ! cently destroyed by fire in Cincin ! nati, will not rebuild his opera house ! in that city, but will erect one in New j York. Ho expects to commence j building about the first of May, and proposes to finish it so as to open in I September next I The London Times, of the 30th, says: "There is too much reason to fear that the peace of Europe is about to l>e broken by one of the least just and necessary wars of moder j tunes," 'between Austria and Prussia.) The rimes heartily trusts that England may hold aloof. Gen. Howard of the Freedmen's Bnrcau, denies the statement that he read to President Johnson the freed? men's bill, and received his approval of it, though lie afterwards vetoed it The Galveston Neats complains "that on one sheet of foolscap could be written" all that has been done by the Texas Convention since its or? ganization.