AMERICA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 2, 6 March 1866, Page 3

AMERICA.

The first session of the 39tli Congress opened on the 4th of December. The President in his message says that the reconstruction of the Union must be effected by the North's allowing past disorders to sink into oblivion, and by the South adopting the constitutional amendment, abolishing slavery for ever. Bersons charged with treason should be fairly tried by a civil court, and it should be judiciously settled that no State can; secede from the Union. It is proposed to reduce the army to a peace establishment of 50,000 men — so organised that their numbers may in ease of need, be raised to 82,000 men. The army esiimates have been reduced from 516,000,000 dellars to 33,000,000 dollars. The currency should be reduced, and a plan should be devised to pay off the national debt within thirty years. The President's aim will be to promote peace and amity with, foreign nations, and he believes them to be actuated by the same disposition. A sincere desire for peace induced the President . to propose that the questions between^ the United States and England : respecting" the outfit and depredations of Confederate cruisers should be submitted to arbitration ; but England rejected that offer, and proposed a commission to settle claims, excluding those arising from those depredations. That proposal had been declined as very unsatisfactory. The claims had not been brought forward by the United States with the primary object of obtaining compensation, but with the purpose of establishing important principles of international law. The President does not advise any present attempt at redress by legislation ; and the future amity of the two countries must rest on the basis of mutual justice. The United States government has abstained from interfering with forms of government in Europe, and will regard it as a great calamity "should any European Power challenge the American, people as it were to defend republicanism. against foreign iuterferance." The corres r pondenoe with France will at the proper time be laid before Congress. No Southern representative was admitted to Congress, and a resolution was passed to appoint a Congressional Committee to decide the claims of the Southern representatives to seats. — Home News.