AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3833, 17 June 1873, Page 3

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

The Atlantic cable has this month brought more than its usual burden of important incidents. We hear of serious riots in Louisiana, originating in a contest between rival candidates, both holding certificates of election, for the possession of the county offices in the village of Colfax, on the Red River. The negroes seized the courthouse, sacked the dwellings of the white inhabitants, and intrenched themselves in their position. A large body of white men from the neighboring parishes laid seige to the courthouse, and set it on Gre after a long fight. The negroes ran from the burning building, and many of them were shot down in the endeavor to escape ; it is reported that from 80 to 100 of them were killed, and that the rest were driven to the woods. By the side of this savage incident let me sot a more pleasant fact. The negroes are exerting themselves in other places to establish a new university fur their race. A party of melodisfs hns just arrived in England, who have been sent by their colored brethren to raise funds for this end by their singing, and we are promised some more genuine songs than the sentimental ditties in which the sham darkies of London de light.

The Mormon imposture seems tottering to an end. A brief despatch informed us the other clay that Brigham Young had resigned his leadership, was leaving Utah, and had divided bis immense property among his sixteen wives and sixty children. But that distinguished prophet puts the matter in a different light in a long statement he has made to tie " New York Herald " :

" For over twenty years," he says, " I have served my people, laboring incessantly. lam now nearly 72 years of age, and I need relaxation. My resignation as trustee of (he church, president of the Zion Cooperative Mercantile Institution, and president of the Deseret National Bankis made solely from secular motives, and doe 3 not affect my position as president of the church. We intend to establish a settlement in Arizona, in the country of the Apaches, persuaded that if we become acquainted with them we can influence them beneficially. We hope to assist in the construction of the railway which is to cross that country, and bring a large portion of our emigration that way."

It is added that Brigham Young abandons the old Mormon policy of exclusiveness. He invites good citizens to settle in Utah ; urges capitalists to invest their money there ; and promises that thoir property shall be protected and lightly taxed. Brigham Young has enlarged ideas of " relaxation," and a missionary zeal which must be pleasing

to President Grant. The Pacific railroad brought him so dangerously near lo northern civilization that there is amusing magnanimity in his proposal to construct a line in the country of the Apaches.