I have the honor to be, your Excellency's most obedient servant, WM. H. SEWARD.

On the same day the Secretary addressed the following despatch to the newly inaugurated Governor, Patton:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 1865. SIR-By direction of the President, I have the honor herewith to transmit to you a copy of a communication which has been addressed to his Excellency

Lewis E. Parsons, late Provisional Governor of Alabama, whereby he has been relieved of the trust heretofore reposed in him, and directed to deliver into your Excellency's possession the papers and property relating to that trust.

I have the honor to tender you the coöperation of the Government of the United States whenever it may be found necessary in effecting the early restoration and the permanent prosperity and welfare of the State over which you have been called to preside.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, WM. H. SEWARD.

At the close of hostilities and the recognition of emancipatic by the white inhabitants, the freedmen, in lage numbers, left the plantations and resorted to the cities. Of this class a meeting was held in the neighborhood of Mobile, on Sunday, August 13th, of which the "Advertiser" of that city gave the following report:

Nine hundred of them assembled to consider their condition, their rights and duties under the new state of existence upon which they have been so suddenly launched. Our informant was surprised at the hard, practical sense and moderation of tone with which the spokesmen of the meeting urged their views. After long talk and careful deliberation, this meeting resolved, by a vote of seven hundred voices to two hundred, that they had made a practical trial for three months of the freedom which the war has bequeathed to them; that its realities were far from being so flattering as their imagination had painted it; that they had discovered that the prejudices of color were by no means confined to the people of the South, but, on the contrary, that it was stronger and more marked against them in the strangers from the North, than in the home people of the South, among whom they had been reared; that negroes, no more than white men, can live without work, or be comfortable with out homes; that their northern deliverers from bondage had not, as they had expected and been taught to expect, undertaken to provide for their happy existence in their new state of freedom, and that their old masters had ceased to take any interest in them or have a care for them; and finally, that their "last state was worse than the first," and it was their deliberate conclusion that their true happiness and wellbeing required them to return to the homes which they had abandoned in a moment of excitement, and go to work again under their old masters. And so the resolutions were passed, and at last accounts the wanderers were packing up their little stock of movable goods, preparatory to the execution of their sensible purposes.

Near the close of the year, on November 22d, a Convention of colored persons was held at Mobile, at which the following series of resolutions was adopted:

Whereas, Under the providence of a gracious God, the colored people of the United States are permit ted to enjoy the inestimable boon of liberty, and now have the privilege of demonstrating what they can do as a people; and

Whereas, The unprecedented privilege is now granted us of peaceably assembling in convention in this city of Mobile, and conferring and deliberating

upon matters involving our common interests; there. fore

Resolved, That we shall ever inculcate the truth that our freedom is the gift of God, and that we are under the highest obligations to Him so to improve our new privilege as that His gift shall not be in vain.

Resolved, That we shall labor to foster in the hearts of our people sentiments of peace, friendship, and good will toward all men-especially toward our white fellow-citizens, among whom our lot is cast; and while we would relinquish none of the rights of our common manhood, we will studiously, according to our best knowledge and ability, so conduct our

selves as to be profitable to them and to ourselves.

Resolved, That we know and admit the fact, that

labor, faithfully and judiciously performed, is the only just foundation of wealth, and that it will continue to be our purpose and effort to work industri. ously and honestly for the support of our families and the prosperity of the community in which we live.

Resolved, That we will perform faithful labor for every man who will pay us just wages; nor do we either expect or desire to receive any man's property without giving him a just equivalent. freedom not only presents new motives to industry, Resolved, That we feel that our new condition of but also imposes new obligations upon us to cultivate all the virtues of good citizenship, and that, therefore, it is our purpose to fulfil all the duties of our new positions according to the ability which God has given us.

Resolved, That we recognize civil government as an ordinance of God, and that it shall be a matter of conscience with us to obey the laws, and to discoun tenance in every way all violation and all contemplated violation of law.

Resolved, That the assertion made in certain quar ters, that there is a plot among our people to rise in insurrection, is utterly without foundation, inconsistent with our history as a people, and the farthest from our desires and possible intentions.

Resolved, That we feel in our hearts the glow of gratitude and the purpose of unfaltering fidelity to the Government of the United States, and shall ever regard as pledged to its support our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

Resolved, That we regard the education of our children and youth as vital to the preservation of our liberties, and true religion as the foundation of all real virtue, and shall use our utmost endeavors to promote these blessings in our common country.

The principles upon which the Freedmen's Bureau was organized are stated under the proceedings of Congress. The plan of its operations in each State is described under the title FREED

MEN.

During the existence of the Confederate Government, the Protestant Episcopal Church South was organized, and the prayer for the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority in the Book of Common Prayer was changed to one for the Confederate authorities. Upon the restoration of the United States authorities, the prayer for the President was omitted altogether by the recommendation of Bishop Wilmer. Whereupon Maj.-Gen. Woods issued an order, of which the following is an extract:

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to the direction of Maj.-Gen. Thomas, commanding the Military Di vision of the Tennessee, that said Richard Wilmer Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of the diocese of Alabama, and the Protestant Episcopa Clergy of said diocese be, and they are hereby sus pended from their functions, and forbidden to preach or perform divine service.

Now the Church in this country has established a form of prayer for the President and all in Civil Authority, the language of that prayer was selected with careful reference to the subject of the prayer-all in Cell Authority-and she desires for that authority, prosperity and long continuance. No one can reaSotably be expected to desire a long continuance of military rule. Therefore the prayer is altogether inappropriate and inapplicable to the present condition of things, when no civil authority exists in the exercise of its functions. Hence, as I remarked in the circular, we may yield a true allegiance to, and sincerely pray for grace, wisdom, and understanding, in behalf of a government founded on force, while at the same time we could not, in good conscience, ask for its continuance, prosperity, &c.

In reply to this the order stated, that at the time when the recommendation was issued, there was a President of the United States, a Cabinet, Judges of the Supreme Court, etc., and that since then a civil government and other civil officers for the State of Alabama had been appointed, but the prayer had not been restored. The prayer, it was further stated, was not a prayer for the continuance of military rule, but simply for the temporal and spiritual weal of the persons in whose behalf it was offered.

One of the closing paragraphs of the order was the following:

The advice of the bishop to omit this prayer, and its omission by the clergy, is not only a violation of the canons of the Church, but shows a factious and disloyal spirit, and is a marked insult to every loyal citizen within the department. Such men are unsafe public teachers, and not to be trusted in places of power and influence over public opinion.

The order was subsequently set aside by President Johnson.

Immediately upon the cessation of hostilities the work of repairing the railroads was begun with much energy. All public institutions prepared to meet the changed order of affairs.

ALLEN, Hon. PHILIP, formerly U. S. Senator and Governor of Rhode Island, born in ProvHence, R. I., September 1st, 1785, died there December 16, 1865. His rudimentary educaton was completed in his native town, but he subsequently studied at the Taunton Academy, and was for three years a pupil in the celebrated school of Robert Rogers, of Newport. He graduated in 1803 at the Rhode Island College, Bow Brown University, and having lost his father in 1801, became actively engaged in the ercantile business and foreign commerce, and particularly in the West India trade, which his Lather had carried on. As early as 1812, foreign merce being suspended by the war with Great Britain, Mr. Allen was manufacturing tton in Smithfield, and soon became one of the foremost manufacturers in the State. Gifted Lature with unusual mechanical ingenuity, Lad by careful study acquainted himself with the sciences which facilitated manufacturing Processes, and possessed remarkable skill in the sest applications of his scientific knowledge. He was the first importer of the improved bobbia and fly frames, now in general use, and the

been successful in this early enterprise, he extended his business to printing the cotton goods made by himself and other manufacturers. He began printing calicos in 1831, at the large establishment, still known by his name, situated on the river north of Providence. The perfection of the styles of prints made at these works has justly given them a celebrity all over the Continent. He was an ardent advocate of a protective tariff, and by his ultimate knowledge of all the statistical and scientific facts bearing upon the question, was most influential in procuring the passage of laws which fostered home manufacturing interests. In 1819 Mr. Allen entered upon political life, serving that year and the two succeeding years as representative from Providence in the General Assembly, and was also one of the Commissioners of the fund appropriated for the settlement of the old State debt. In 1851 he was elected, as the candidate of the Democratic party, Governor of Rhode Island, and was reelected in 1852 and 1853. At the May session in 1853, he was elected United States Senator for six years from the 4th of March preceding, when he resigned the Gubernatorial office to accept that of Senator. He served his full term at Washington, and was a member of the Committees on Commerce and Naval Affairs. Since the close of his Senatorial career Mr. Allen had retired from public life.

AMERICA. The civil war which had convulsed the United States since 1861, drew rapidly to a close after the beginning of the year 1865. The armed resistance to the Federal authority virtually ceased after the surrender of General Lee (April 9), and the work of reconstruction began in all the seceded States, not, however, through President Lincoln, who was assassinated on April 14th, but through his successor, Andrew Johnson. Provisional governors were appointed in all the States that had formed part of the Southern Confederacy. The subsequent measures are stated elsewhere in these pages, On January 31st, the House of Representatives at Washington, adopted, by a two-thirds majority, the Constitutional Amendment abolishing slavery throughout the United States, which had been adopted by the Senate, on April 8, 1864. The Amendment was sent by the Secretary of State, in accordance with the provision of the Constitution, to the legislatures of the several States for ratification. (See UNITED STATES.)

The scheme of a British American Confederation did not make, during the year 1865, the progress which its friends expected. The plan agreed upon by the conference of Quebec was adopted by the Canadian Parliament, but some of the Lower Provinces continued to oppose it. The Home Government favored the adoption of the scheme. (See BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.)

The war of the Republicans of Mexico against the establishment of the Empire continued throughout the year. The Mexicans

were too feeble to meet the combined forces of

the French, Austrians, Belgians, and the native adherents of the empire in pitched battles, and their main army, under Porfirio Diaz, was compelled to surrender at Oaxaca. But no considerable part of the empire remained free from the guerrilla war in which the Republican forces, from time to time, gained considerable successes. President Juarez had, on the approach of a French army, for a time to leave Chihuahua, which was the seat of his Government, on January 1, 1865, and to retreat to El Paso. He returned to Chihuahua in November, but had to retreat again to El Paso in December. The Presidential term of Juarez expired in November, but as the continuance of war made it impossible to hold a general election, he continued in office with the general consent of the Republican party until it would be possible to hold another election. Maximilian, strongly endorsed by the Government of France, made several attempts to obtain the recognition of the United States; and France intimated that, in case of such recognition, she would begin to make preparations for the withdrawal of her troops from Mexico; but the Government of Washington refused to enter into negotiations with Maximilian, and declared to France, that the United States were deeply concerned about the continuance of a foreign army in Mexico, and strongly desired its speedy withdrawal. (See MEXICO.).

The war of independence which the people of San Domingo had for several years sustained against the Spanish rule, ended, in 1865, in the complete success of the Dominicans. The Government of Spain determined to abandon the island, and the Cortes in April enacted a bill brought in by the Government to that effect. (See SPAIN.) The republican form of Government was consequently restored in San Domingo, but the island remained subject to internal disturbances. (See SAN DOMINGO.)

The island of Jamaica was, in October, the scene of serious disturbances. The black population of the parish of St. Thomas, in the east, rescued some prisoners, who, as their friends said, had been convicted wrongfully, and when the resistance to the authorities became general, the conduct of the Colonial Government as well as of the military authorities on this occasion gave rise to the most intense indignation throughout England. In compliance with an almost universal demand, the Home Government suspended the Governor of Jamaica from his functions, and appointed a commission of inquiry, which repaired to Jamaica to investigate the whole affair. (See JAMAICA.)

The difficulties between Spain and Peru culminated on January 25, 1865, in an ultimatum presented by the Spanish Admiral Pareja. The Government of Peru submitted (January 28th) to all the essential demands of Spain, and the Spanish admiral restored the Chincha Islands. The dissatisfaction of the majority of the Peruvian people with the conduct of their Government called forth imine

diately a revolution, which continued through the greater part of the year, and ended in the overthrow of the administration of President Pezet, and the establishment of a new Government decidedly hostile to Spain. (See PERU.)

The sympathy shown by the Government and people of Chili with Peru against Spain, led to difficulties between Spain and Chili. In May, the Spanish Minister in Chili, Tavira, stated that he was satisfied with the declarations of the Chilian Secretary of War. The Spanish Government, however, disapproved the conduct of Tavira, recalled him (July 25th), and sent Admiral Pareja to Valparaiso to demand immediate reparation for offences given. On the refusal of the Chilian Government to comply with this demand, Pareja declared a blockade of the Chilian ports (September 24th), to which the Chilian Congress answered by a declaration of war. Hostilities at once commenced and continued until the close of the year. (See CHILI.)

On the Atlantic coast of South America, the insurrection in Uruguay, aided by the Brazilian Government, ended in the overthrow of the existing government. Paraguay followed up its protest against the interference of Brazil in the civil war of Uruguay, by a declaration of war (November, 1864) against Brazil. In April, 1865, the Argentine Republic was also invaded by the troops of Paraguay, and joined Brazil and Uruguay in their war against the latter power. The war was still progressing, according to the last advices (December 1865). (Set ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, BRAZIL, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY.)

The United States of Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Hayti, and San Salvador, were all disturbed by civil wars. In Bolivia, the chief of the insurrection, Melgarejo, was successful, while in the three other States the existing Governments succeeded in quelling the rebellion. (See BOLIVIA, COLOMBIA, Ecuador, HayTI, SAN SALVADOR.)

The "American Congress" of the representatives of Chili, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, San Salvador, the Argentine Republic, the United States of Colombia, and Venezuela, which had assembled in November, 1864, at Lima, for the purpose of forming a defensive alliance against aggressions of monarchical powers, closed its sessions on March 13, 1865. The main object of the alliance is fully defined in the following official document:

Alliance of the American States for Common De fence. In the name of God:-The States of America, which are hereinafter mentioned, desiring to unite in order to provide for their exterior security, to strengthen their relations, to maintain peace among themselves, and to promote other common interests, international compacts of which the present is the have determined to secure these objects by means of

first and fundamental one.

To that effect, they have conferred full powers as follows: By Salvador, to Don Pedro Alcantara Her by the United States of Colombia, to Don Just ran; by Bolivia, to Don Juan de la Cruz Benavente Arosemena; by Chili, to Don Manuel Montt; by Ec uador, to Don Vincente Piedrahita; by Peru, to Dor

Jose Gregorio Paz Soldan, and by the United States of Venezuela, to Don Antonio Leocadio Guzman.

And the Plenipotentiaries having exchanged their powers, which they found sufficient and in due form, have agreed herein to the following stipulations: APT. 1. The high contracting parties unite and bind themselves to each other for the objects above expressed, and guarantee to each other mutually their independence, their sovereignty, and the integrity of their respective territories, binding them selves in the terms of the present treaty, to defend each other against any aggression which may have for its object the depriving any one of them of any of the rights herein expressed, whether the aggression shall come from a foreign power, whether from any of those leagued by this compact, or from foreign forces which do not obey a recognized government. ART. 2. The alliance herein stipulated will produce its effects when there shall be a violation of the

rights expressed in article 1, and especially in the cases of offences which shall consist

First-In acts directed to deprive any one of the contracting nations of a part of its territory, with the intention of appropriating its dominion or of ceding it to another power.

Second-In acts directed to annul or alter the form of government, the political constitution or the laws which any one of the contracting parties may give or may have given itself in the exercise of its sovereigntr, or which may have for their object to change forcibly its internal system, or to impose upon it authorities in the like manner.

Third-In acts directed to compel any one of the high contracting parties to a protectorate, sale, or session of territory, or to establish over it any superiority, right, or preeminence whatever, which may impair or offend the ample and complete exercise of its sovereignty and independence.

ART. 3. The allied parties shall decide, each one for itself, whether the offence which may have been given to any one of them is embraced among those enumerated in the foregoing articles.

ART. 4. The casus fœderis being declared, the contracting parties compromise themselves to immediately suspend their relations with the aggressive Power, to give passports to its public ministers, to cancel the commissions of its consular agents, to prohibit the importation of its natural and manufactured products, and to close their ports to its vessels.

ART. 5. The same parties shall also appoint plenipotentiaries to conclude the arguments necessary to determine the contingents of the force, and the land and naval supplies, or of any other kind, which the allies must give to the nation which is attacked, the manner in which the forces must act, and the other auxiliary means be realized, and every thing else which may be proper to the best success of the defence. The plenipotentiaries shall meet at the place designated by the appended party.

AET. 6. The high contracting parties bind themselves in furnishing to the one which may be attacked the means of defence which one of them may think itself able to dispose of, even though the stipulations to which the foregoing articles refer, should not have preceded, provided the case should, in their judgment, be an urgent one.

ART. 7. The casus fœderis having been declared, the party offended will not have authority to conelude conventions for peace or for the cessation of bostilities without including in them the allies who may have taken part in the war and should desire to accept them.

ART. 8. If (which may God avert) one of the contracting parties should offend the rights of another one of them, guaranteed by this alliance, the others will proceed in the same manner as though the of fence had been committed by a foreign Power.

ART. 9. The high contracting parties bind themselves not to concede to, nor to accept from, any nation or government a protectorate or preeminence

which impairs their independence and sovereignty; and they likewise compromise themselves not to transfer to another nation or government any part of their territory. These stipulations do not hinder, however, those parties which are conterminous to make the cessions of territory which they may deem proper for the better demarcation of their boundaries or frontiers.

ART. 10. The high contracting parties bind themselves to appoint plenipotentiaries, who shall meet every three years, as nearly as possible, to adjust the conventions proper to strengthen and perfect the union established by the present treaty. A special provision of the present Congress shall determine the day and the place at which the first assembly of the plenipotentiaries shall meet, which assembly shall designate the following one, and thus thereafter until the expiration of the present treaty.

ART. 11. The high contracting parties will solicit, collectively or separately, that the other American States which have been invited to the present Congress shall enter into this treaty; and from the moment the said States shall have made known their formal acceptance thereof, they shall have the rights and obligations which emanate from it.

ART. 12. This treaty shall continue in full force for the period of fifteen years, to be reckoned from the day of this date; and at the end of this period any one of the contracting parties shall have authority to terminate it on its part by announcing it to the others twelve months previously thereto.

ART. 13. The exchange of the ratifications shall take place in the city of Lima within the period of two years, or sooner if it be possible.

In testimony whereof, we, the undersigned, Ministers Plenipotentiary, sign the present and seal it with our respective seals, in Lima, this 23d day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.

`P. A. HERRAN.