South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-02-21
BALTIMORE, Feb. IS.

announce the destruction of another splen-
did and costly public edifce, this-day, by
fire. The Baltimore city and County
Court House, fronting on Monument
Square and Lexington street, one Of the
architectural ornaments of our city, was
reduced to heap of ruins this day. by the
destroying element; leaving nothing a
bove the first story but naked outline of
bare walls as the evidence of its former
extent and architectural beauty.
So far as we can learn from inquiries
among the thousands of anxious specta-
tors In the neighborhood ofthe scene, the
fire must have been communicated to the
attic or dome ofthe building as shortly
after the alarm was first sounded, which
was abont | o'clock, A. NJ. the flames
were seen striking up into. the belfry of
the dome, and out at the attic window o.
yer the entrance, facing to the South.
From the U. s. Telegraph of Feb. Is.
CONGRESS.
EXECUTIVE PATRONAGE.
The debate on the report Of the
Committee on Executive Patronage,
was resumed yesterday in the Senate.
Mi. Benton, in studied speech, which
he begged the Senate to consider as
part Of his speech upon the FIRST read.
ing Of the report, again assaiIed ii in
the bitterest terms OF denunciation {,
repeating his former declaration, thai,
the report was made for party purpo-
SEES; that it was tissue of fallacies,
intended for electioneerng purposes.
To this MIR. Calhoun replied, vindica.
ting the truth OF the report, and in the
course Of his remarks took occasion to
say that nature endowed individual
differently-lhat she had given the
Senator from Missouri boldness-yes,
boldnsss of assertion. MIR. Benton
coupled this declaration with the re.
mark that he had identified himsel I
with the official corps as their advo.
cate, assuming that MIR. Calhoun had
imputed falsehood and corruption to
him, assumed a bullying tone and re-
peated his assault upon the report
read that part of il which speaks of the
tendency Of making the Office holders,
as body, dependent upon the exeeu-
tive, declared it to be ga bold attack
upon the TRUTH" for this he was called
to order by Gov. Poindexter, and the
Vice President at the same time
Gov. Poindexter having reduced the
words to writing, the Chair decided
that if it had been the intention Of Mr..
Benton to impeach the personal We
racity of Mr.. Calhoun, the words would
have been out OF order, but that mas
much as they applied TO deduction of
the report, they we're not personal, and
therefore moi out Of order-from this
decision MIR. Webster took an appeal
10 the Senate, which was sustained by
a vote of "a to 20.
MIR. Benton was then permitted to
proceed, when scene, such as was
never before Witnessed in that body,
ensued. 1t is manifest that Mr.. BEN
ton believes that he must kill the report,
or the report will overflow that cor.
rupt state OF things upon which he has
placed his hopes of reaching, to use his
own words, "THE THRONE" To-
wards MIR. Calhoun and MIR. Webster
he endeayored TO be particularly OF.
fensive, giving il distinctly TO be un-
derstood tina, his purpose was 10 make
a personal eaair with Mr.. Calhoun.
To this blus,er and bullying Mr.. Ca+
houn replied by defending, in a firm
and dignified manner, the statements
and details of the report. He said that
he was aware Of the responsibility he
had assumed when he entered upon the
duty of making war upon abuses of
executive patronage that he stood
there as the advocate of American lib.
erty, not to be inundated or driven
from his purpose--he reiterated all that
he had said, affirming its truth, leaving
others to apply its deductions.
The Senate was filled to overflow.
ing and we never have witnessed
more profound feeling or more intense
After Mr.. Calhoun had con-
claded, Mr.. Cufthbert rose and deciar,
ed his intention OF treating the report
as party paper, and repelling it by
casting back party imputations.
The session was prolracted to late
hour, and we have scarce time to insert
this has.y sketch.