AMERICAN NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2002, 30 May 1868, Page 6

AMERICAN NEWS.

(From the Panama Star and Iferald.)

New Youk. April 9, 1868,

The city was startled on Tuesday by a despatch from Ottawa, Canada, announcing tlio assassination of D'Arcy M'Gee, Chief of tho Exccutivcof the New Dominion' Tho particulars are contained in tho following despatches :— At half-past two o'clock this morning, the Hon. D'Arcy M'Gee w,-is shot dead by an unknown assassin, as he was entering the house of Mrs Trotter, whero ho lodged, on Sparks street. Tlio ball passed through his head, and lodged in tlie door which Mr M'Gee was in the act of opening. A son of Mrs Trotter, who is ono of tho Parliament pages, was reluming homo, and was some dist-incc from the house when he heard the shot. On reaching his mother's door ho found Mr M'Gee dead on1 tho pavement.. Ho saw no person in tho neighborhood, and heard no footsteps. Tho night was bright and clear, and the assassin mast have been cithor concealed behind tho fence of a vacant lot opposite; or mado a hasty retreat immediately on firing tbo shot. Mr M'Gee had just left the Parliament Houso, and had a cigar jn his mouth when -he was killed. His brains exuded from tho, wound, and the side-walk was covered with hia blood. This fact, in connection with that of the ball lodging in the door-post, seems to indicate that tho weapon was held close

to hia head when fired. The have been as yet no trace whatever of the assassin's discovery. The Government of Canada offer SOOOdols, the Government of Ontario and Quebec SOOOdols., and tbe Mayor of Ottawa 4000dols reward for the apprehension of tho guilty party. All the members of the Cabinet are taking a deep interest in the matter. Great crowds are in the streets, and expressions of sympathy with the deceased are loud and frequent. In the House, last night, a couplo of hours before the assassination, Mr M'Gee delivered an abe speech on the position of Nova Scotia. It is said to have been one of the most eloquent efforts of his whole lifo. A despatch from Ottawa, to tho Evening Telegram, reports that the excitement there is still on the increase. A private meeting of the Ministers has been held in connection with -leading members of the two houses. It is intimated that facts have been presented them showing tho existence of a secret society of desperadoes, sworn to summarily put out of the way all members of ■the Parliament who are broadly antiFenian in their sentiments. Information is also in the possession of tho members to tho effect that a grand Fenian outbreak throughout' the Dominion is imminent. In thia, it is stated, in addition to the Fenians, thero wiil bo engaged the forces of tho many Canadians who are dissatisfied -with Government on general grounds. It has been ascertained by the authorities tbat tho murderer of M'Gee is a New York Fenian, who is said to have been detailed by the secret society for the purpose, the duty having been decided by drawing lots. It is rumored that a French revolutionary society in the Lower Province is acting in concert with tho Fenians. Threats of retaliation upon all known Fenians are openly made by members of tho British party, and it is feared that other assassinations will follow this evil beginning.

Tho Herald Washington correspondent says: — "Forney, in his 'Occasional' letter to one of 'My two papers,' day before yesterday declared that tho terrible Ku Klnx Klan have at last established their ' dens' in Washington, and that already anonymous warnings havo beon served upon Ben Wade, Ben ESutlor, Thad Stevens, General Logan, John A. Bingham, and most of the leading republicans in Congress. General Grant haß ordered the commanders of military districts to take immediate and summary means for breaking up and preventing tbo organisation and spread of tho secret rebel order known to outsiders aa tho 'Ku Klux Khan.'" Tho Chicago Tribune of 4th April says :—" A young man, about twenty-two years of age, named J. R. Whitaker, a messenger in the employ of tho Merchants' Union Express Company, and a well-known individual about the city, named W. S. G. Herbert, at one time proprietor of the Congress billiard saloon, located in the Central House, on Randolph street, were taken into custody at an early hour yesterday morning, on the cliarge of robbing the Merchants Union Express Company of various sums of money, aggregating to the amount of alout 20,000d015. Tho Games' trial has beon finally decided. in favor of the widow of General Games, leaving her the richest woman in the United States. In the Senate, tho principal business has been tho Impeachment Question. Many of the members havo taken advantage of the trial to go home, and will not return until the transaction of legislative business is resumed. Mr Johnßon has presented to tho Senate a petition signed by upwards of 2000 freedmen of South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, asking the Government to aid them in emigrating to Liberia. The petition sets forth that the petitioners cannot obtain employment, that there is no hope of their being able to overcome tlie prejudices which exist against their race, and therefore they desire to accept tho advantages offered by Liberia to persons of color. The petition was referred to the Finance Committee. In the House the Speaker presented a communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, urging speedy action on tlie Indian Appropriation Bills, in order to onablo tho Department to fulfil the obligations entered into with various tribes. Tlie Commissioner fears that unless the Indian payments aro promptly made, in accordance with treaty stipulations, hostilities will be speedily resumed on the frontier. A resolution was adopted, directing the Secretary of the Navy to report tho facts regarding the proposed sale of the steamship Atlantic, of the Collins line, on which the Government holds a mortgage for 115,000d015. Mr

Robinson offered as a privileged question, a resolution proposing to withdraw the articles of impeachment against the President and recall the Managers. The Speaker ruled that the resolution was not oneofprivilego,andcouldnotbe considered. Returns from the Connecticut Election show that Gov. English, Democrat, has been re-elected by about 1500 majority. The Republicans liave secured a majority of the State Legislature. A dispatch from Littlo Rock, Ark., dated the 3rd, says that the entiro Republican State ticket is elected by more than 3000 majority. An immense crowd was gathered in Buffalo, Saturday, to witness tho arrival of Weston, tho pedestrian. He accomplished the unprecedented task of walking ono hundred and three miles in twenty-three hours and fifty-eight minutes—inside of the allotted time. General Meado has directed tho arrest of all persons who may hereafter print or circulate incendiary documents, and announces tliat conductors of newspapers will bo brought to trial before a military commission for the publication of articles intended or calculated to excite riot and bloodshed. This order is understood to havo been provoked by the proceedings of the "Ku-K.lux Klan." Gen. Shepperd, commanding tho sub-district of Alabama, has issued an order of substantially tho same nature, and civil and military, officers are directed to use the utmost vigilance in detecting tho agents of the " Klan." The I Mississippi is again at flood height, and at New Orleans is only throe inches below high water mark of; 1862. A break in the levee is threatened abovo the city. During die past three months, property to the value of 2,810,658db15. has been destroyed by fire in Chicago. The amount of -insurance on the same was 2,113,980dd15: The Bill, exempting manufacturers from taxation, has been approved and signed by the President, and is now a law.