THE ENGLISH MAIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 137, 26 February 1866, Page 3

THE ENGLISH MAIL.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. London, Tuesday, Duo. 26, 1865.

AMERICA.

The Message of President Johnson seems to have had a very salutary effect throughout the country. It is regarded as an able State paper, pacific in tme, and calculated to contribute materially to the restoration of good feeling between the two sections lately in conflict, and to allay much of the apprehensions of foreign complication - previously felt. Its 6ffect upon Congress is saifl to have been important, and tho Conservative Republicans seem to have been in many cases influenced thereby to adopt a more conciliatory course towards the South.

A resolution has been introduced in Congress, and referred to the " Committee of Foroign Affairs, requesting the President to tako such steps concerning the Mexican question as will vindicate the policy and protect tho honour and interests of the Federal government. Congress has called for the Mexican correspondence. The Senate has passed the resolution concerning tho admission of Southern representatives in a materially amended form.

It is asserted that General Grant, in tho course of conversation at the dinner given by General Sickles, stated that now was the favourable moment to drive Maximilian fiom Mexico, and that such opportunity might not occur again. General Grant reports, after a tour through the South, that the negroes are in comparative idleness, and refuse to renew their contracts. He believes that tho professions of loyalty- expressed by the Southern masses are sincere.

Three-fourths of the States having ratified tho constitutional amendment abolishing slavery, it is now the supreme law, and the great end for which the war was fought is practically accomplished. Four Southern States — Noi th Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama — have ratified tbo amendment.

The " New York News " of Dec. 12, has tho following very unlikely story: — In the Cabinet meeting, to-day, our .relations with England, which have now assumed a serious if not alarming aspect, were discussed at some length. It is understood that the President has directed Mr- Seward to prepare an ultimatum to be presented to the English Government, and in the event of. its not being' complied with, our minister is to ask for his passports, and return home. The Fenian Senate have impeached John O'Mahony, and deposed him from office for a malfeasance and misappropriation of funds. They have elected W. R. Roberts president, and issued an address urging all Fenians to rally round the new organisation. O' Mahony 's supporters act independently of the Senate, and have called Congress to assemble in New York in January. Meetings of the supporters of both parties have been held throughout the country, endorsing the respective organisations, The Fenians are making preparations for the reception ef Stephens, who is expected in New York. It is believed that he will be accepted as arbiter between O'Mahony and the Senate,

A circular of tho Freedmcn's Aid Society states that, unless some speci 1 provision was made for them, 70,000 negroes will probably perish during this winter in Georgia and Alabama alono. A bill bad been introduced into the House of Representatives, providing for the payment to Mrs Lincoln of the sum of 100,000 dollars, being the salary of her husband for the four years' term for which he was last elected. Tho bill was referred to a committee of one from each State. Tho President had pardoned 118 citizens of Texas, who, being worth over 20,000 dollars each, were excluded from tho benefits of the recent amnesty proclamation.

THE LATE INSURRECTION IN JAMAICA.

Tho prompt suppression of the outbreak in Jamaica, as announced in our last, was followed by the most severe measures against the negroos, of whom 2000 are said to have been either sho oi- hanged in the course of a few days. The ' Jamaica Colonial Standard ' says : —Tho rebellion has been effectually suppressed, and tho few remaining fugitives among the rebels have availed themselves of the amnesty proclamation issued by Governor Eyre. The great heads of the rebellion, and all the minor leaders, have fallen under the power of the law and been executed, or are in custody awaiting their 1 doom., The number of rebels that have perished by the executioner, or have been shot down, is very large ; their villages, houses, and settlements have been razed, and such terrible example given them as will prove a permanent check to any future rebellion. The confessions of the rebels, documents and other proofs show that their intentions were to exterminate the white and colored people, and to confiscate all property for the blacks. Gordon, according' to the confessions made, commenced agitating the plot three years ago, but most actively within the last three months. He founded secret societies, promoted the formation of trained bands, and placed his. followers under a terrible oath, well calculated to awe the soul of the negro ; and although most took it, nil shrank with horror from revealing its terms evon in presence of tho gallows. Thb correspondent of a Jamaica paper, writing on Oot. 31f says: — "[There is one continual scene of hanging day by day, and it becomes a matter for consideration whether the burial of so many people, packed, as I heard a blue jacket say* 'like sardines,' in the town, is not likely to produce some serious epidemic here — already the effluvium of tho dead bodies commences to taint the atmosphere. Last night particularly, ' disagreeable effluvia arising from tho graves iv which these dead bodies are interred pervaded the entire town, and it was not without difficulty that one could avoid getting nauseated. This ought to bo looked after. It is a matter of vital importance.

. . . . It may not be altogether uninteresting to your readers to know that slightly over 1050 rebels have been h anged and shot in tho parish of St. Thomas-in-the-East up to date ; and it is not at all unlikely that ere the different courts martial close their sittings, there will bo far over 2000 who will have paid tho penalty of their vile attempt to exterminate the white and coloured races of this island.

The following account of Gordon's trial is given in the " Jamaica Colonial Standard":—

At about? 2 o'clock yesterday (Oct. 21) the rebels, .among them George William Gordon, were brought out anil lined in front of the wharf where the courts-martial were about to be held. Gordon was tried beforo the military court, presided over by Hecond-Lieuten-ant Brent. He was given a very patient trial, and was allowed to crossexamine nil the witnesses through the president of the court,' and, above all, was permitted ,to enter into a lengthy defence. Tho trial lasted till past candlelight, when tho court was ordered to be, cleared. The charges against George William Gordon were— lst High treason and sedition against Her Majesty tho Queen. 2nd. Inciting to murder and rebellion. He was brought out for execution on the next Monday morning (October 23). It soon became known that ho was to meet his doom at 7 o'clock. Early that morning be occupied himself in writing several private letters. He thanked the Provost-Marshal for the courtesy he had shown to him. He was brought out with 17 others of the rebels for execution, and they were ranged together under the great arch of tho burnt Court-house. His hands and feet were bound, and a halter was hanging round his .neck. When his time came he requested the Provost- Marshal to put him out of the world quickly, and not punish him. His struggles wero very few. when the plank had been withdrawn, and he was quite dead in a few moments.

It is stated that the finding and sentence of the court were not communicated to the prisoner till an hour before the execution.