AMERICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 332, 10 April 1858, Page 7

AMERICA.

From New York we learn that Great Britain and France remonstrate with America against the filibustering exploits of General Walker and the feeble opposition given to them by the United States Government.

MASSACRE.

A body of emigrants from Missouri and Arkansas, numbering 135, are reported to have been massacred by the Indians. Forty or fifty of the emigrants were capable of bearing arms. The encampments were attacked about daylight in the morning (so say the Indians) by the combined forces of all the various tribes immediately in that section of the country. It appears that the majority of them were slain at the first onset made by the Indians. The remaining force formed themselves into the best position their circumstances would allow, but before they could make the necessary arrangements for protecting themselves from the arrows, there were few left who were able to bear arms. After having "coralled" their waggons and dug a ditch for their protection, they continued to fire upon the Indians for one or two days ; but the Indians had so secreted themselves that, according to their own statement, there was not one of them killed and but few wounded. They (the emigrants) sent out a flag of truce borne by a little girl, and gave themselves up to the mercy of the savages, who immediately rushed in and slaughtered all of them with the exception of fifteen infant children, who had since been purchased with much difficulty by the Mormon interpreters. " The report previously noticed of the massacre of a large body of emigrants by the Indians is now confirmed. The emigrants, on their ■way from the state of Arkansas to California, had reached the Salt Lake City in safety; had remained there some days, during which disputes and quarrels arose between the Saints and the Arkansas emigrants; the latter applied abusive epithets both to the men and women of the community, and otherwise insulted them. The train set out from the city amid threats of vengeance, which -were ruthlessly carried into effect. It had proceeded for fifteen days across the country unmolested, but at that distance from the city was attacked by an overwhelming force of Indians, and the whole party, 118 in number, murdered. The scene of the massacre is about 200 miles from the Salt Lake. As the train consisted entirely of settlers going to California, it was supposed there was much valuable property going with it ; the waggons were, of course, plundered. The attack is believed to have been made on the 14th September. It may be difficult to prove the complicity of the Mormon leaders in the affair, but from the influence they have over the Indian tribes, the general conviction in California is that the massacre was instigated by them. There is evidence that the deed has been applauded in the Mormon pulpits. It is described as a just retribution for the violence of the Gentiles in Missouri, and a fulfilment of the prophecies.

(From the New York Herald, December 7.) The financial crisis seems to have exhausted itself, and we already see signs of a recovery of trade of all kinds from the succeeding stagnation. There is also a marked improvement in all kinds of retail trade, and many manufacturing establishments have resumed operations. Well Street is much easier, and the banks have a co.nfortable specie basis of 24 millions, " there or thereabouts." The leading stocks have come up to their proper values, and the fancies sell for more than they are worth, as usual. Money begins to circulate more freely, collections are made with more facility, and the taxreceiver is run down with the city debtors anxious to settle up. On a fine afternoon, like that of yesterday, you will see the Broadway bazaars crowded with ladies, who have now an opportunity to buy at fair prices. There are not so many long faces down town as there were three weeks ago; we hear nothing more, from the unemployed labourers, the honester portion of them finding plenty of hard work and sure nay at the Central Park, and confidence, which is the basis of all mercantile operations, is returning more rapidly than could have been expected.

It is quite evident, from all these indications, that, with proper foresight and a little economy to prevent too sudden an inflation, and thereby bring about a relapse, we may soon stand as well as we did a year ago. We have, at any rate, broken the neck of the revulsion, have passed through the panic, and are recovering from the stagnation. At present trades of all kinds is almost as active as it ever is at this season of the year, which is never a particularly lively one.