GENERAL SUMMARY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1586, 28 May 1861, Page 4

GENERAL SUMMARY.

(From the Home News, March 26.) The recent proceedings 'in tho French Senate, illustrating not only tho first experiment in, /'roe speech uncer the new empire, but the temper of parties on the. subject of lhe Pope; possess special interest, Th)- discussion oil. the address exhibited a determination, to turn to account,the liberty of expression, which we, in this country, had hardly anticipated, •and shows' jihat if the Eniperor do not ,put an endjto open discussion, much good must ensue to France and; Europo from the establishment in Paris of a Parliament similar, in this one vital particular at least, to .our own. That the Emperor does not at, preseut contemplate any interference with the Chambers may be collected from his answer to the address, in which' lib expressed his approval of the frank and bold discussions of the Legis- ; lature. The grand point throughout the debates was, What is ito be done with the Pope? W;ith the, exceptibn of the Ultramontane party,, represented with a formidable display ot zeal by the Marquis de Larochejacquelin aud Count Heckeren, the notion of mainiaiijing Rome in its ancient state seemed tb be given up on all sides. Senator' Pietri did not hesitate to say that"" the temporal power of jthe Pope is lost*" and Priuoe Napoleon, after some loose generalities in praise of the Empire, defended the alliance with Eugland, and admitted that Rome would soon be dercjanded 'for the' capital of united Italy, a demand to which he' evidently saw no answer but submission. Tbo declaration of ministers do not. help us to an 'intelligent result.- All thut can be gathered .froni them is that the Emperor neither intends to sacrifice Italy to the Pope, nor the Pope to Italy — a phrase, that annihilates itself. The Pope threatens to be as fruitful a source of disorder aud contention in France as he has been in Italy. The clergy are taken up the question, and the' Bishops talk of a council for the purpose of bringing to bear upon! the Emperor, the whole power of the Church. None of .lhe Bishops, however, have as yet spoken out, except the Bishops of Orleans and, Poitiers. ..The former has writ-, ten a clever but cautious pamphlet, which has already floated down to oblivion ; but the latter has issuod a charge in which he assails, the Emperor in ferocious terms, and, after drawing an elaborate comparison between him and Pontius Pilato> tells him that for eighteen hundred years the name of Pilato had been held accursed. The publication has been laid bef >re the Council of State, who have given the usual official notification of their intention to deal with it, a's. containing insults upon the Emperor and the government. Italy is preparing foij the work that lies before her. Messina and Civitella havo both capitulated, but not until they had been for some days exposed to the fire of the Sardinian troops. These triumphs, by which the whole of Italy is freed, with tbe two great exceptions of Venice and Rome, have been followed by the declaration of the title of the new kingdom, and the new King, and by universal demonstrations of rejoiciugs, which have penetrated to the. streets of Rome and Venice, in which latter place several arrests have been made inconsequence. Victor EffimanueUs wisely preparing for the. responsibilities he has assuraod, by forming a new Cabinet on a broader basis than the former, so that all the States shall be represented in his Cabinet. Clouds are gathering in the direction of Venelia, where Austria is concentrating a large force. The Sardinian general, Cioldini, has been ordered to collect an army of observation on the frontier. Pending the collision, and in the hope of averting it, the Eraperbr of Austria has been proposing a constitution to Venetia, and very. graciously received a Venetian deputation, with the Podesta.at its, head.. All this jtnay come to nothing. But'such incidents show the straits to which absolutism is| driven In these Hatter days. The. Emperoif is evidently fofced iuto a corner, and ready to m'ake any concessions that will enable him to tide over present difficulties. The game is playing in Hungary. Ih Hungary the success of the experiment is extremely doubtful. Klapka •and Turr, whose influence as soldiers capable- alike of advising and acting is.all powerful in llung.ary,;ljave called upon the people to be prepared, to stand. firmly on their! legal rights, and to persevere steadily' in their demands. There are other indications of a coming struggle. Louis Kossuth has beon printing in Loudon largjo quantities of notes for circulalation in Hungary. The Austrian government,, having- obtained information of the fijc t, applied to th'o Home-office for help to enable them to: put a stop to the proceeding ; but as the only law upon which our authorities could directly interfere was where the notes of a foreign government were counterfeited-pthat.is.to say,, forged-^and as in this case there was no forgery, the notes not being a counterfeit

i "of fife notes of the present government tof Hungary/ but a faWoatiofiWWter to 3 be issued by a new government, the __m--1 peror was left to his remedy at law, whioh has been taken-in the shape of an injunc , tion for restrainiijing tho printers from , J any further $tio\n until the case shall ! have been heard 1 i |„ There; is nothiiig undoubtedly more remarkable in the [conduct of; Kings and Cabinet^ at the {present time than tho extremo f anxiely they exhibit to get a-bead of popular demauds. All the old maxims:, of prutldniial reserve and .cautious legislation pre thrown! to tho winds. The moment !a stir takes; place anywhere, down cpm'esr ihe imperial authority with pro- I posals 1 in advanbe, of the agitation, hop-, ; ing, thereby, to ping it .to a dead stop,, and thus to stavd off greater evi/s. This is the one great (practical lesson all ,go- . vernraents have -learned from the experience- of the last seventy years ; but they^ turn i( to accounjt for tho most part so awkwardly and reluctantly as to inspire; distrust rather jthau confidence. We' cannot; howeverj include the Emperor of Russm in the same category ; for although' ' lie hajs; been suspiciously slow in'recognising the olainafs of Poland, be has given <i noble proof his attachment to the principle of popularifreedom by the liberation i of tlie, serfs, a mpasure apparently fraught with ,th'e gravesfc| risks. But tardy as he, ' has been in responding to the cries of , Poland, there is: at last a hope that he wiil do sq__ething effectual* towards its re^ detiipjtijon. The constitution he* had pro- i I pounded for that dependency has the j ' merit of being at least definite and liberal ; as far 1 jis it goes. The people, however, j are not quite satisfied with it; but other j proposals will bring bolh parties nearer I togethpr. The/chief obstacle to a settle* I ment has beeu nridged over by mutual ji concessions. » ■ ■■-;, ' •'■■ i . !—: .■ ] ThejDamsh question still remains open, ,i The proposals liirhertdmade by Denmark }i .have i jbeen rejected: \yh_t; Holslein |l really i wants isj to be ; f sade a . |l proviube in union with ,. Schleswig ; and ■< Out o;f;the desire-springs: the- -whole im- jl brpglip. The English Cabinet arid Lord ji Ellenborough, [who made an admirable 'i speech on thesjubject a few nights ago, ;< appear to agree on this view of the case ;' i and when Lord Ellenborough stated his ! belief itbat if Pjrussia invaded . 'Hoi's te in, ■ France wOuld ; march upou . the Rhine, 1 1 Lord Wodejioiise did not hesitate to ex-^ ' press his incurrence in that opinion. ) The present importance of this hitherto ;i insignificar_c question cannot be.Qver.-.h rated. Shouldj the hostilities . menaced : I by Prusaia. actually take place, they' ' would[ precipitate au European war. '.' i The six^ec|eding_States, of. America, I have not only formed, themselves into a ] Republic, and a President, but , authorised- .a loan/ aud commenced the r organisation of a system' of """ foreign i relations.""- Vifhile this movement, is^ < taking a very potent shape, the Border ( Stated are',- trembling in the balauce. ; There| is a disposition among them in ] favor !of preserving the Union; but the. J expression of it is generally accompanied < by conditions, I whioh show that their | allegiance is tp be had only in return for \ privileges coufened. Mr. Lincolu com-! j menced his journey to tho capital on-tbej.i 10th pf February, ind his course* was a | j succession pf oyafion's arid speeches, ' as i ] is the ! worit in; America. His speeches! J were J distinguished chiefly . by caution.! j He tpuchefl upon everything b_tthat'on_j | great! topio upon which every one wanted! i to he'ar his' opinions.. Qt .. course, lie! | spoke of the calamity of secession, audi 1 the difficulties! it imposed- upon the gd-j ■ vern-dient, an^l he depredated division ;( but he avoideijl all allusion to the. policy! ] he means to pursue in office, which hei ' has, probably,! reserved to be determined; < by ciroumstance's. •''":< Uj)on his [arrival at Washington allj , was quiet, although the. elements of dis-; cord were ready to explode at the slight-; est spark. At every step of his progress; ; he delivered [speeches, but with such ! i guarjied conditions and hypothesis as to; i leave his hehrers behind hira exactly! - where they were concerning his policy.! l He | emphatically declared himself in 1 | favo^ of peacot which elicited loud. cheers;; • but Ipe also fejt that it.might be; necessary! j "to 'plant the foot firmly," a metaphor which, ambiguous as it is, drew do wnj j thunjders of applause.: , .I , At last Mr.i Lincoln leached the Capi-| , tol, pud delivered his Inaugural Messagej , It was delivered in the presence of a vasf , assembly, ana was received with enthu- . siasm. The! Message lays down in the | Clearest language the constitutional priuj , cipl^s applicable to the crisis, to the j effect that nd State can on its own nioljon makoj itself independent of the Unipn ; that.'all ordinances to that effect are illegal, arid consequently void ; and that; all attempts to carry out suoh ordi}nances nre, according to circumstances, insurrectionary or revolutionary. • The course imposed upon the President by the^e obligations is plain. His duty is to see that th 3 constitution his respected, ; i and) Mr. Lincoln declares that he is ready itodjo his dujty, He will re-occupy thfe ( | forts, collect the revenues, and discharge s all the functions of the head of a greajt - Fedeial Government. If he is .resisted, the logical sequences need not be pointed out.| I t , , , , ,J i The Southern States have accepted this Message as a declaration of; war, and are preparing accordingly. Before the close of the present mouih they' will have an army of 50,000 men in the field, and they have already laid down, a plan .ofrevenuewhichi they say; will ensure i them ample funds : for all contingencies* |

t The Washington Cabinet, on the other r aieT^W'M^^^^ - programme. ' After ! hfavfng intimated ! tor ri i tbe commissioners from the Sou'thertt "' StaUs,tbe intention of the administratioaT" i to give them fan interview, the, ( Eresi]dept " changed his ihind, and refused to hold t JS I khy intercourse with them. 'This vaciL^ ltjtion, followed by a • resolution of the ( jabinet to ..evacuate^ $Wt..,Sumter, ,co}i. r toasts painfuljy with the vigorous attitude ' A ojfthe Slave States. But ou| news from . 4roerica, subsequent to the! delivery of the Messagej is not full .t0.,, Enable us to ijudge* fairly; of tlie policy of.y Mr. Lihooluij ■"•'" : " iy-yJj ":w_.r j Wo learn fjrom a New Y01& paper that ; ajlettei; fromj a member pf (he English,., (government [has -been 'received by ann*y American citizen, condemning the whole thatter of secession, and adding that the sjubject has bfeen laid by Lord J. Russell before the Ministry, aud that the result/ is that Greaf Britain will rjot only not recognise the confederacy, fcjufc do everything in h6r power to discountenance disunion, j* It is iraposssible," says tho be on goodly^ (erms witb sbceding slave tnders." Tho New. t York journal that furnishes this in* formation gijres no authority ; and, without calling into question the correctness of the. factsj we aie much disposed to think thai; Jtfje writer of ;the letter, if he- ■*''•■" be a member of the Government, has/ gone beyond his tether in venturing to ' anticipate wjhat Great Britlain will do, or will not dp, in circums ances which have not yet' arisen. ; The case nf the fugitive negro, Anderson, has been disposed of in Canada in a very unexpected way. A technical error having been detected iv the writ, jhe was discharged from custody. The jresult produced lively demonstrations of jpopular satisfaction ; but bow will it be received ju|jAmei v ica!? Internal disorders 'i 3'" ;no doubt leave little time] for [poking' ;:; " jafter such sbali deer ; but lat the same jtime there never was a moment when [the South might be supposed to be more joharry of their privileges. A ne#"q^eß-\ , .^ '' >;t, jtion, also, krises out of these,.icircumjstances. ijlow far is au (international 'treaty binding on one Povrer, when tbe •other has cejased to exist ip its original ; integrity.?!! J „...,,. - ■•} '•*",...,■,- - ; ! The mos|t noticeable tendency of the J present session of Parliament is to take ; tho. business of Gpvernm ejit out of Jj^o hands, of Government,; ana to sefeiUp^au AA'jr. inquisition into the constitution and y conduct of the bureaux. No less, than three,! committees of investigation' hats beeu appointed by.the Hbuse of o'ojai- 'AlA.'mons for tne purpose of inquiring into ' the ; way ill which publio business has._ bee&. hitherto managiad iri; three different 1 . ~ "J. Departments : ihe^ Colon al-offioe, y'tiie ' ! ' Admiralty aud tbe Diplonatic Service. 7 The object of the oommittse on colonial affairs is to ascertain how the question of .the defenoe of .the Brjtfch depended v cies stands', what that defehoe costs; 'and. *"' '." in. what proportions it is defrayed, byjthe Imperial and Colonial Treasuries; Lord. Palmerston said very. frankly that such t , - committee would be a usurpation of the r ' functions hf Government, but, yielding to'the opihjiou of the House, he offered! -"- no opposition to the moriou. The administration of, the Admiralty is-AiirCiW - -,:J. f grievance, land the committee now 'appointed is not likely tohave anymore satisfactory issjue than former committees. Mr. Moncjklon Milues, Who moved for thfe, committee on the diplomatic service," „ ..: . whblly failed to •mftke-out lhis case-j^ak :----- thoughiiqlgot his eotrimittee. Sbmeo'f "!• his foots were erroneous, ijnd his genera) i "y" reasoning [was loose, and fpeble!" J- ..-^.U ...... The reofent proceedings! of Parliament • ■ .'■■ have- been| more various- than important. The most substantial measure under dis- ' cussion was the new Bankruptoy Bill, whioh has 'undergone a diligent sifting, aud is to bo read a third' time on the Bth : of April, 1 Italy, India, [Denmark, the Affghan Blue-books, the agitation inthe ' lonian Isles, the Kossuth notes, ai}d a multitude! of smaller topics have furnished fruitful materials] for questions ■■• and answers and skirmishing disoussions; but nothing of moment has been aOf ' tually accomplished, both (Houses taqitly postponing graver motionjs till after the Easter holidays.; . : :;] .-.y,...; ;;y The judgment of the House of Lords' ' * in the oase of a marriage with a deoeased „. wife's sister, celebrated ; botween British '", subjects ifr Holstein, whete siich unions" aro 'legal, 1 has' been giveh against|4he ,';.; validity olf the marriage. As our laws stand, a {marriage whiol: is not legal . between (British subjects in Englaud cannot b$ rendered so ;. Dyy-being^oon* , A . : -j, traded in} a oountry wherp it is legal.

\ • ' ";-! * •-"';:; •- • The Yjelverton marriage case, which for Dearly a" fortnight engrossed half tho- • ; newspapers in the kingdom, has been decided in favour of (he jlady. The cii- " thusiasm^manifested by (the population, ..... of Dubliii on this occasion has, probably, never been exceeded, aud had.?. Major „: Yelverton fallen into the hands' of the tumultuous . multitudes. .Whttdrew Mrs.,. „.. Yelverton from the court to herihjotel^ »' .J all tbe pcllice in tho city ( could not have saved hisj life, As soon jas the YOrdiot" '•• : '' was known, Major. Yelverton was sua- ■„ , .. peuded by order of the Horse Guards, uhtil the appeal, which he announed his .'..-: intention! of prosecuting^ shall' have been decided.' A subscription has baen en- s'J"l5 ' J " l tered into in -Dublin,- tp enabJe.nMrs, ,y y$ Yeiv.erton to sustain hejr oase both in Scotland: where"; a suit isj in progresstfcMr <■!= ""-^ determining the legality of the Sootoh' marriage, and before the House of Lords, . _„ should ghe ,b,e dyive^; (6 -suoh^it:^}; j.. v tremity. ; : ._ ; ;, ' , ; JJ _, _ a A(SiSi^i'Z' : '\'\l\ y ' : -J -' : '■ ■' r;.>. •'.'.'«> ■•■■',y hy^;^^'^^y=

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Volvas whenoiifflttixistaiioflfl do not speoial--1.. ««H £>w *li^ „t_.„i.-.„. *i. _^oj • kt.^ ly call foiUhO placing the office m other hands. Had Mr. Taylor not been a member of the Assembly, Courtesy WOUld necessitate his re-appointment; but as X.J v,„_-._,_,^,i-, tv a. ii j ].' c_ i he proceeds to Auckland and tie Speaker. Ot the Provincial Council IS a supporter { Ofthe Government, it seems mo3t fitting-' that the Representative chosen to occupy i the Sneaker* flhiir should <ief «w the tne opeaKei s v,nair, stiouict^ act as tne Superintendent's Deputy during lllS COntemplated absence.

1 Jj"*™ b f cl} potMy sarpfwd at/youf soldier's»e bearing", and the steadiness With which you i have perro * ed lhe diffsrßllt miliury evolutions, Very great credit is due to Captain Carkeek and • your OllLvrs for the manner in which they h - Xt! c«.i.hu-ted tl.e drill and management of your Oomiutiy: but especially l must say still -j^^/;,, chu3 j 0 yot^ eh . c , fol . „i v| { | )ee .i so regular in yonr alien J.mea at drill, as to have arrived at your present state of efficiency. l > myself» raised ihe 2nd B.itt.iliou of tlie 14th lle b ri,nellt ' fmm l,ie iv ' st ,Dt " that jui'ieil, and r know very we „ wh;it an lin , uensd iumnun b 'f troubje it takes to diill raw han !s into steady soldieis ; and I can only repeat that I ani surprised beyond measure to see the way you Volunteers have appeared on parade to-day. I must also say great praise is due t'> you fur having organised a very excellent band, of which you have every reason to be pioud, as it will afford as well pleasure to yourselves in marching, as to the inhabitants of this town generally. There is only, oue thing mote I must add (hut I am not going lo find fault with you, for you have done all Uiat lies in your power to forward the Volunteer movement here,) and that is that youi" uumbers aie so small. I am surprised that more of the young men of the place do riot join your ranks, but I trust should I have the. pleasure of meeting you here again on this day next year, — as I hope to do, — that you will he at least, double. your present strength. The Commanding Officers address evidently very much pleased the Volunteers, as it was rather audibly whispered down the ranks that they should like to give the Major three hearty cheers, but in the presence of the .troops and from a proper sense of military decorum, they were prevented from speaking a word. t)uring the salute, and while the troops marched past the Commanding Officer, the Volunteer Band played along with the 14th's fifes, and drum 3, and the martial melody thus produced added considerably to the general effect. We are gratified to find ', that the Volunteers acquitted themselves thus honorably. Every member was evidently most anxious to do credit to the corps, and saw with more than ordinary pleasure that their band was directed by Major Dwyer to supply the regimental want. There was a trifling disagreemen in the firing of a rifle before the order was givon, otherwise everything passed off most pleasantly, nnd the parade must have been especially satisfactory to Ser-jeant-Major Callaghan, whose interest and pride in drilling the Militia and Volunteers of Wellington, has earned for him tbe heartiest good wishes of every officer and man in the two services.

Tee Prize Shooting. —Yesterday being the day fixed for shooting for the prizes offered by the. General Government, such of the Volunteers and Militia as had determined to compete for them, proceeded to the military practice ground, in Lyall's Bay. The early morning was exceedingly wet, and prevented a very large number of their friends accompanying them, —more especially of the fair sex; but we were,happy to find, notwithstanding this drawback, that, the company was very numerous. The * Storm Bird' made two trips to Evans' Bay, conveying, such of the competitors and their friends as preferred that route to the road, which the rain had rendered somewhat muddy. Several refreshment tents had been erected, and the rain and ,misfc clearing off, the day became calm and fine —two most important adjuncts to successful shooting. . About eleven o'clock the firing commenced, the Militia at one target, the Volunteers at another, —and continued with an interval for lunch, till dusk; when most of the competitors and their friends returned by the l Storm Bird;' the tedium of going and returning being enlivened by some very capitally played military airs. There were about the same number of Militiamen as Volunteers, and their firing was equally rapid; but the advantage in points was decidedly in favor of the latter. We much regret that we; have not been able to obtain details of the Militia score; the greatest number of points was however 12. The following details of the Volunteer score has been kindly-furnished by one of their number, and may be considered accurate, their highest number of points was 14, ties by Messrs. Eustace Brandon and Rowley,

Queen's Birthday.— On Friday the ■usual parade of the troops took jplace, enlivened by the novelty of the presence of the Rifle Volunteers. The latter assembled on the rectaimed land at half- ,.' past ten, and accompanied by their jband, .«' took up their position on the military ! parade ground. Shortly before twelve o'clock the detachment of ' the , 14th Regiment marched from the barracks with their "merry fifes and drums," and took up. position in front of the Volunteers. The usual evolutions were then gone through by both bodies, concluding witha/eif dejoie, and three tearty cheers for Her Majesty. Previously to ' the return of the Rifles, Major Dwyer, '. the officer in command of the taoops • here, addressed them in the following — Captain Carkeek, Officers, and Members of the Wellington Rifle Volunteers,— lt affords ine sincere pleasure to see you here with the troops of the Hlli, to celebrate the Birth-day of our most gracious Queen. I did not take upon myself to order you out on the present occasion, u.!itil I heard from Captaiu Carkeek of your ."fi desire to' attend the parade; but so soon as I was aware bf your wish to be present lyith the troops to day,,! very gladly put it into GarrisoH Orders.. I fully appreciate the loyal feeling 'whiph prompted your desire lb do honor; to He .^ilajestyVßinh-Day. And I musueh* you that

-.<-.-.- ■ . • ■ Yards . ..-.-.. 100 200 *300 Total H. E. de B Brandon 7 5 2 14 Rowley 6 4 4 ; 14 D. Anderson 6 5 1 12 A. Carkeek 7 5 0 12 W. Seed 6 3 3 J2 W. Widdop 6 5 1 12 J.Wilmot 6 5 1 12 J. Chisholm 6 2 3 11 G.Allen 7 2 1 10 W. Bishop 6 3 1 ; 10 C. M. Igglesden 6 3 1 10 J.Beighton 4 3 18 J. Boddington 5 2-1 8 W. Withers 5 2.1; 8 D. Wriggles worth 6 0 2 8 W. T. Wyatt , 5 2 18 Austin 5 11,7 Ingpen 3 4 0 7 W. Knowles ' ' " "* 5 1 17 G.Prckett '4 2 1 ; -7 J. Kershaw 2 4 0 • 6* H. Logan 3 3 0 ] 6 C. J. Bichardson 4 0 2 * 6 F. Sidey .. 2 ..3 1 ! 6 W. Meek 3 115 G. H. Vennell 2 12 15 E. W. Mills 4 I 0 j 5 T. W. Pilcher 4 0 0 ' 4. H.Shaw 4 0 0 ! 4 C: Stutfield • 2* • 0 2 . 4 C. Ward 3 0 1 ; 4 W. H. Holmes 2 1 0 - 3 W. Cheesman 2 0 0 ' 2 W. Richardson 2 0 0 2 W. Plimmer 10 Oil ,C.W.Scbul«/.e | ■ Dfd _ ot , 4 2:'; 6 G. H.Swan V } . 4 0 ; .4! R. J. Duncan J SIlOor * 1 0 1 ; 1 . 151 81 39 , 271 Recapitulation. i 35 men 315 shots 260 points * 3 18 11 ! 38 333 271 j Bull's Eyes Centres '.Targets 100 yards 5 50 ' 36 200 yards 1 23 , 32 300 yards 0 8 .23