Additional Foreign News by the America.
By the arrival of the steamship America, at Boston, we have the following foreign items, in addition to what has already been published:‘ The America, from Liverpool, reports the arrival out of the Bavaria, from New York. She also spoke the Asia and City of Washington. The steamship Columbia, of the Galway line, had arrived at Liverpool to repair damages received from ice.
During a debate in the French Senate, on the petition to extend the French occupation of Syria, Mons, Bilant explained that France would evacuate Syria on the 5th of June, and if evil result ensued, the responsibility will rest on those who demand the withdrawal.
France will leave six vessels to cruise off Beyrout, and English and Russian ships will act in concert with them.
’ Kossuth had arrived at Turin.
Klapka had gone to see Garibaldi and returns to meet Kossuth.
Rio de Janeiro date to the 25th have been received. Coffee is quoted as follows:--Good firsts 6∥800a7∥650. The shipments since last steamer were 84,000 bags; the stock in port 144,020 bags.
[From the London Chronicle, May 4.]
Sympathizing heartily, as we do, with the North--with its free press, free speech, free soil, free men — and alienated as we must be from the South, stained with slavery, we cannot but censure the North for an almost Austrian stupidity in statesmanship. The United States is not a military government; it is not constructed for the coercion of any large mass of its own people; and, though the South was wrong, according to the letter of the law, yet the spirit of American institutions sanctioned the successive secessions. Were it all practicable, President Lincoln might, according to the literal theory of the Constitution, suppress with a high hand all rebellions and hang all traitors; but this course was out of the question. He might, on the other hand, even without any formal acknowledgment of secession, have said, ‘"There are certain forts in the South possessed by the General Government for the protection of the States from foreign invasion; they were never built for the coercion of the people; and as at present there is some danger of a riotous attack on them, I will withdraw all troops from them."’
By this means he would take from the cause of secession all the charms of daring; he would remove that aspect of heroism which arises when hot Southrons defy Northern aggression. By saying ‘"I have no idea of sending a single soldier into the South, though I still consider the States as not seceded,"’ the people in the Confederate States would say, ‘"Now that all apprehension of force is gone, have we gained by secession?"’ Levies would have been disbanded, the war fever would have subsided, and the border States would have remained in the Union. But by talking of coercion, Mr. Lincoln kept up a continual fever in the South, enabled the Montgomery Government to exercise a despotism and to concentrate its energies on military preparation, and forced the border States into hostility to the Union. Were coercion actually practicable, this course might have been defensible; but strong words do not take forts, and Mr. Lincoln is further now from success against the South than he was when he started from Chicago.
As regards Fort Sumter itself, he did the worst thing he could do. He intended to evacuate it in a few days; but sooner than consent to acknowledge that South Carolina was rebellions, he expressed his intention to send in provisions by force, if necessary. He thus gave the South the provocation and an opportunity of a brilliant victory, and had to submit to a mortifying defeat. The conduct of the Southern Government, on the contrary, has been marked by moderation and good sense. They clung to no fictions, and were hampered by no legal ignorance of plain facts. They wanted to leave the Union and they left it. They wanted to take Fort Sumter and they took it. They wished the Border States to join them, and by precipitating a collision they seem to have got them — unless, indeed, some unexpected good sense at Washington prevent them at the eleventh hour.
Latest Markets.
Liverpool, Saturday Evening, May 18.--The sales of cotton to-day reached 10,000 bales, of which 4,000 were taken by speculators and exporters — Market closed quiet. Breadstuffs quiet. Corn closed with a declining tendency, but no actual change in rates.
The steamship which left to-day for Halifax and Boston took out £260,000 in specie.
Have Cotton Market.--Cotton steady at a decline of 1fr; tres ordinaire 109; bas 103; sales of the week 12,500 bales. Stock in port 280,000 bales.
American Securities.--Baring Bros. quote American securities firmer, with an improved demand. U. S. 6's, 1867-8, were offered at 80; U. S. 5's sold at 74; Pennsylvania 5's. 1877, 68@72; N. Y. Central Shares 67; N. Y. Central 7's 90@92; do 6's 86; Erie shares 22; do. 3d mortgage 74½ Illinois Central shares 38½discount.
Financial.--The bullion in the Bank of England has decreased £49,000 since the last weekly return. The rates have been advanced to 6 percent.
