Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-01-12


THE conaagration Of St james (Catbolic)
Church at Montreal, on the 4th inst, has been
noticed By telegraph The Montreal Gazette
says nothing whatever was removed from the
interior,-the altar, all the appurtenances there
of, images, pictures, vestments of clergy, &c,
we're all destroyed At midnight the belfry
was living mass of FIRE. The bearings of the
large bell gave way, and it came to the ground
with tremendous crash, ringing IS it fell, the
clapper having struck it three times. The roof
had previously fallen, and the flames belched
out most furiously. They assembled to great
height, illuminating the city and the whole sur
rounding country for miles Nearly 100 cords
of dry tamarac wood, which had been split and
packed away for the winters use, in the base
ment, gave immense body to the flames, whose
roaring could be heard at great distance
Shortly after the roofignited the draught caused
by the fire rushed through the organ pipes, and
il fell, emitting distinct musical sounds. thus
playing its own e.egy. An immenre concourse
Of people had gathered to witness the spectacle,
and the general impression was that had due
exertious been used the fire might have been
subdued before it had finished its work of de-
struction. The Church was insured in the
10000. Beyond this sum the loss is severe.
WE had intended making this extract from
Vice President Breckenridge's speech some days
ago. but wero hindered by the press of other
matters. They occur in the remarks he made
on the removal of the Senate from their OLD to
the new hall.
Speaking of Calhoun's old seat, he said:
There sat Calhoun, the Senator, inflexible,
austere, oppressed, but not overwhelmed, by his
deep sense If the importance of his public
functions, seeking the truth, then fearleSsly fol-
lowing it-A man whose unsparing intellect
compelled all his emotions to harmonic with
the deductions of his vigorous logic, and whose
noble countenance habitually wore the express
sion of one engaged in the performance of high
public duties.
This was Websters seat. He, too, was even
such Senator. Conscious of his own vast pow
ers, he reposed with confidence on himself and
scorning the contrivances of smaller men, he
stood among his peers all the greater for the
simple sdignity of his Senatorial demeanor.-
Tpye of his Northern home, he rises before the
Imagination, in the grand and granite outline of
his form and intellect, like great New England
rock, repelling n New England wave. As
writer, his productions will be cherished BY
statesmen and scholars while the English tongue
is spoken As Senatorial orator, his great eff.
forts are historically associated with this cham.
Der, whose very air seems to vibrate beneath
the strokes Of his deep tones and his weighty
words
On the outer circle sat Henry Clay, With his
impetuous aud ardent nature nntamed by age,
and exhibiting in the Senate the same vehement
patriotism and passionate eloquenee that of ore
electrified the House Of Representatives and the
country. His extraordinary personal endoy-
lhents, his courage, all his noble qualities, in
vested him with an individuality and charm
of character which, in any age, would have
made him iavorite Of history. He loved his
country above all earthly objects. he loved
Ior patriot, Philanthropist-his light, at its
N ridian, aud felt in the reinotest part
Of the civilized world; and his declining sun, as
it fastened down the west, threw back its level
b ans, in hnes of meliowed splendor, TO illu-