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Leader (1850-1860), 15th March 1851, Edition Country of 2, Page 4, THE KAFFIll WAR. The Kaffirs have not ye...

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      T Ii K Continen T. Ie Pope Cftn No Longe...

      Prussia will put forward claims to the best part of the shipping and other materiel that was to make Germany a great maritime power . . The Austrians had quitted Lubeck ; their last troops in that town set out for Bohemia on the 10 th . Hamburg is always still by their garrison . In the midst of all her triumphs , Austria is evidently haunted by vague terrors . The Schwarzenberg Ministry is a prey to division , and almost feels the impossibility of carrying on the Government . They have , it is said , sent for Metternich ' s advice in their perplexity . The old sage recommends moderation ; he thinks the great scheme of Austrian centralization should be substantially modified , if not altogether abandoned . Austria never was , never can be a State , but only a Federation . He also advises not to drive Prussia to

      extremities , lest she should throw herself into the arms of the revolutionary party , and once more rear up the national standard . He evidently is of opinion that Prussia has not irreparably lost all the sympathies of the patriots of the Gagem and Radowitz school , and that the German Lutherans cannot but look up to Frederic William for their natural chief and

      protector . Under these circumstances it seems but natural to expect that Austria will give in to Prussia's proposition for a restoration of the old Frankfort Diet , upon the terms of 1815 . There are those who think that neither Schwarzenberg nor the young Emperor will ever give up their magnificent conception of an Austro-German Monarchy ; but they are likely to be satisfied with the substance of power , which is already theirs , without the vain title , at least for the present . The dissatisfaction in Croatia and the border provinces is ever on the increase ; and it is difficult to say whether Austria has more enemies in Hungary and Lombardy , or in those very provinces which were her very bulwark in 1848-9 , and which now consider themselves shamefully requited for their fidelity .

      The Bosnian insurgents have carried the city and citadel of Bajaluka . The Turkish garrison has been allowed to retire on parole . There has been a great demonstration at Lausanne against the measures taken by the Swiss Federal Government against the Foreign refugees . The orders of the Diet will never be carried into execution in the French Cantons . A new kind of refugees — the Hungarian and other deserters from the army of Radetzky— threaten now to

      increase the embarrassment of the Swiss Government . Very large numbers of these fugitives cross the frontier of Canton Ticino , not daily only but hourly . The Sardinian Government had offered to rid the Swiss of their presence by embarking them for America . But the threats of Radetzky , backed on this point by the terms of existing treaties , have obliged the Court of Turin to send back the deserters to the Swiss frontier , and it is difficult now to decide what is to be done with them .

      The people of Lausanne have held a tumultuous meeting in the open air , and passed resolutions to the effect that no Government officer or public functionary should be allowed a seat in the Great Council or Cantonal Parliament . More than 10 , 000 citizens vrere assembled . Their resolutions have made a deep sensation throughout Switzerland , where it is calculated that two-thirds , at least , of the members of the various legislative bodies consist of men belonging at the same time to the Executive .

      Louis Napoleon is gaining ground in France . The election of officers of the National Guards of the Seine Department , which was to take place on the 25 th instant , has been put off till the promulgation of the new law on the organization of that citizen militia , which is now in progress in the Assembly . The election , according to the old law , should have taken place by universal suffrage ; and the President and his Government , desirous to spread a belief that

      they were partial to that mode of election , and that they would gladly see it applied to the great general elections of 1852 , wished the officers of the National Guard to bo appointed on that popular principle , but the Conservatives in the Assembly insisted on the postponement , and the Government gave in , ordering the officers , wlune power would have expired on the 25 th , to retain it till the election can take place according to the limited suffrage of the 151 st of May . The National Guard of

      Htrusburg liaH been dis-Bolyed ; seventy-three oflicers of that militia having petitioned fur leave to celebrate tho annivemuy of the February revolution . Louih Napoleon held a review of four regiments of the line , previous to their quitting the capital : every Bpecies of cry waa forbidden to the men , while under arms , but u drenching rain would have been a sufficient damper on the ardour of tho troops had they been disposed to show any . ' 1 here have been disturbances in the South , especially at Montpelier , on tho recurrence of the dayn ol the revolution , but none of agiuve character . The papers have been full of an imminent Ministerial Crisitt , — a supported combination which uliouhl bring MM . ( Milon Uarrot , Binoche , and 1 ' ould into

      power ; Imt the rumour deserves no credit . The schism between the Royalists wideiw apace . All chanced of reconciliation between the partizanH of the two brunches have been abandoned . Venice

      is crowded with Frenchmen coming to offer their homage to Henry V . \ workmen , even , and minor tradesmen , with their humble presents to the illustrious exile—a pair of slippers to his consort , a map of Chambord , & c . & c . Louis Napoleon has appointed new obscure men to some of the most important Prefectures and Subprefectures , taking good care to remove from office the men who had come into power under Cavaignac and the champions of order , of June 1848 . Some blows were exchanged on Tuesday last , on the occasion of a ride of the President along the Boulevards , between men who cried Vive VEmpereur and others who shouted Vive la Republique . ' The Republicans , it is said , were worsted .

      General Excelmans has been raised to the dignity of Marshal of France . The Spanish Government has introduced important changes in its diplomatic department . All embassies are to be suppressed . The Marquis de Valdegamas , the famous M . Donoso Cortes , supersedes the Dukede Sotomayor , with the simple title of Minister Plenipotentiary , at Paris . M . Castillo y Aliensa is sent , with the same title , to Rome : and M . Alcalo Galiano to Lisbon . M . Tacon is appointed Consul-General in London . We receive from Spain many conjectures respecting changes in the Cabinet , but no positive information .

      The Concordat with the Pope has been signed by the Queen , and is on its way to Rome . It is said to be too favourable to the Papal Court , and likely to raise a stormy opposition in the Cortes .

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      The Polish And Hungarian Exiles In Liver...

      THE POLISH AND HUNGARIAN EXILES IN LIVERPOOL . The people of Liverpool have given their decision as to what ought to be done with the Polish and Hungarian refugees . At a public meeting , attended by about 3000 persons , held on Monday , it was roolved to memorialize , Parliament in favour of the exiles . The chair was taken by Mr . F . Boult , who introduced to the meeting Mr . W . J . Linton to explain the position in which the exiles stood . Mr . Linton , who was taken for a Pole by the meeting , said it was not his intention to interfere with the business of the people of Liverpool , or to say they did not know what course to take in this matter of humanity , but he merely

      wished to clear away certain false impressions which had gone abroad through the medium of the press . He then proceeded to comment on the statement of the Hungarian gentlemen which had appeared in several newspapers , and denied it point blank . The refugees had never consented to go to America ; they had told Sir Stratford Canning that they would remain in England . Mr . Linton denied that any persuasion had been used to prevent those men from proceeding to America , or that any inducement had been held out to them to prevent their going there . The following resolution was then passed , after a slight show of opposition , and the moving of an amendment , for which only a few persons voted : —

      "lhat this meeting expresses its warmest sympathy for the Polish and Hungarian refugees who had just reached Liverpool from Constantinople ; and—understanding that it is their desire and intention to remain in England , and to endeavour to obtain employment here till euch time aa they may find opportunity to serve their country—this meeting urgently recommend that committees be formed in Liverpool and throughout the country , in order to assist them in gaining employment , and also to help theii friends in supporting them till they shall be able to maintain themselves . "

      A subscription has been opened for the relief of the refugees , toward which £ 9 10 h . was contributed at the meeting . It is also stated that a theatrical performance is to take place for their benefit .

      The Kaffill War. The Kaffirs Have Not Ye...

      THE KAFFIll WAR . The Kaffirs have not yet been put down . The latest news from the Cape , which comes down to the 1 st of February , informs us that the coloured inhabitants of the Kat River have declared against the colony , that the European inhabitants had evacuated Fort Armstrong—which was said to be in the hands of the rebel Kaffirs and Hottentots , and that " the country between Graham ' s Town and Cradock

      cornpritting the richest part of the eastern province , and embracing an extent of country of not lens than 160 miles in length , dotted with farm-houses , and teeming a few weeks ago with flocks of tine woollcd sheep , troops of horses , and herds of cattle , is now all desolate . Every homestead wave one is abandoned , and every Hock and herd either swept off by the enemy , or driven away by the owner with iinmenae Iohh . "

      A severe action had taken place on the 21 st of January between the troops under Major-General Somerset and the Kaffirs , the latter having made an attack on Fort Hare mid tin : town of Alice . The battle lasted two hours and a half , and ended in the defeat of the enemy with fii-rious Iohh . A nkiimibh also occurred on the 24 th near King William ' s Town between a few of the colonial army and a great number of the rebels , when tho latter were defeated . Fort Cox , Fort White , Fort Hare , und King William ' s

      Town , were occupied by the regular troops and Hottentot levies , the force amounting to about 3000 of the former , and 2000 to 3000 of the latter . The Swillendam levy , 677 strong , had joined the army in the field . Nothing decisive had occurred , but all the above-mentioned posts were surrounded by Kaffirs , who are described by the Cape journals as much straitened for provisions . Sir Harry Smith ' s communications with Cape Town were open by the Buffalo River , and by this means he was enabled to receive any reinforcements that might be sent to him . He was daily expected to come out of King William ' s Town in force to relieve the other posts .

      The Government journals speak in high terms of some grand scheme projected by Sir Harry Smith for putting down the rebellion , by enrolling a body of 5000 of the native tribes dwelling on the western frontier of the Natal Colony ; but we must say that we can see little ground for anything but alarm . The Globe says the Governor-General was waiting until all his levies arrived before commencing operations on a great scale against the enemy . He had not sent to St . Helena or the Mauritius for troops , as it has been reported , and people at the Cape were confident that with his present forces he would quell the outbreak within three or four , or , at farthest , six months .

      Anti-Slavery Disturbances. The Abolition...

      ANTI-SLAVERY DISTURBANCES . The abolition movement in the United States continues to disturb the community , contrary to the expectation of those who fancied that it had been fairly set at rest by the late declarations in favour of the integrity of the Union . The chief exciting topic , when the last packet left New York , was a bold and unsuccessful attempt of a party of free negroes , in Boston , to liberate a fugitive slave . Shadrach Winkley , the unfortunate black , had been pursued to Boston by his master , John Debree , and having been arrested , was brought before the commissioners for the purpose of verification . Now , it so

      happens that , by an act passed in 1843 , and still in force in Massachusetts , it is declared that no judge of any court of record , or justices of the peace , can take cognizance or grant certificates in cases arising under the act respecting fugitives from justice and persons escaping from the service of their masters , and that no sheriff , constable , or gaoler can arrest or imprison in any gaol persons for the reason that they were claimed as fugitive slaves . When the case of Shadrach came on for hearing , on the 12 th of February , his counsel moved for an adjournment , ostensibly for the purpose of examining depositions and documents , but in reality to afford an opportunity for his escape . Orders were given that Shadrach should be kept safely until the time fixed for the re-hearing of the case , but the difficulty was where to lodge him . The

      gaols being closed against fugitive slaves , a message was sent to the commodore , to know whether he would keep the slave in the navy yard . The application was refused , the commodore declaring that he was not authorized to use the yard for the purpose . So Shadrach had to be kept in the court-room , permission being given to his counsel to communicate with him . The opportunity was seized of the door opening to let out one of the counsel . A body of negroes in the staircase of the courthouse forced their way up , kept the door open , and whilst some jammed the sheriff up in a corner , and hugged the legs and sword of the marshal to prevent his moving , the rest hurried out the fugitive slave , who in five minutes found himself safe on the road to Canada .

      Of course , so bold an infraction of the Fugitive Slave Bill has not been suffered to pass with impunity . Several persons have been arrested on charges of having taken part in the riot , and Mr . Elizur Wright , editor of the Boston Commonwealth , an Abolition organ , has been held to bail in the sum of 2000 dollars . President Fillmore has issued the following proclamation on the subject : — - " Washington , Tuesday afternoon , Feb . 18 , 1851 . " Whereas information haa been received that sundry lawless personn , principally persons of colour , combined and confederated together for the purpose of opposing by force the execution of the laws of the United States , did ,

      at Boston , Massachusetts , on the 15 th of this month , make a violent assault on the marshal or deputy marshals of the United States for the district of Massachusetts , in the Court-house , and did outrage the said officers , and did by force rescue from their custody a person arrested as a fugitive slave , and then and there ai prisoner , lawful' / holden l > y the said marshal or deputy-marshals of the United States , and other scandalous outrages did commit in violation of law : now , therefore , to the end that the authority of the laws may be maintained , and those concerned in violating them brought to an immediate and condign punishment , 1 have iHtmedthis my proclamation ,

      calling on all well disposed citizens to rally to the ¦ upport of tho laws of their country , and requiring and commanding all officers , civil and military , who shall be found within ihe vicinity of this outrage , to be aiding and assisting , by nil meuna in their power , in quelling this and oilier such combinations , and Assisting the _ u » aroliul and his dciMUics in recapturing the above-mentioned prisoner . And 1 do especially direct that proHecuiiontt be commenced against ull persons who shall have m « do themhelveH aiders or abettors in or to this flag itioiiH offence . And I do further command that the district attorney of the United SutcB , and all other perilous «*> n-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 15, 1851, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_15031851/page/4/