The Portland daily press., 1864-01-12

land, Hon. John Prentiss, of Keene, n. H., in
communication TO the Portsmouth Journal,
after briefly reviewing the prominent men
who have been mentioned in connection with
the next Presidency, concludes that there is
no wiser course than to continue President
Lincoln another term, that he may Shave the
opportunity of carrying ont his great and
noble designs
%" The Argus makes fling at Ben. But
ler's inhumanity. The General is so brutal
that he insists the L. S. government, with
forty thousand rebel prisoners in its hands,
should not calmly look on andsee twelve thou
sand Unionsoldiers starved in rebel prisons by
JET. Davis and his coatreres, though retalia-
tory measures may be required to secure the
ends Of humanity. For this in the estimation
of copperheads, he is stigmatized as "Beast
Butler
To- Mr.. Washburn of Illinois, in the dis
cussion of the Post-ofiice appropriation bill in
the House OF Representatives at Washington,
said he trusted the existing state of things
would tend to speedy removal:of the capt.
tai from the isolated and inhospitable country
in which it is now located, to more central
and eligible location. The present capital was
accessible only by single-track railroad, and
the railroad companies were known only by
their extortons and impositions, both upon
the travelling public and the Government.
nB-A good story comes from London, in
connection with Mr.. Beecher's great meeting
at Exeter Hall. A large manufacturing house
Faucet Preston & Co., sent to the meeting
two hundred of their men to help in the work
of breaking up, or at least disturbing the
meeting, and when one of the firm was asked,
the other day bya Northern gentleman, on
what ground he could induce his ignorant
men to engage in such business, he replied.
''They did it because the Yankee used to i'm
press British seamen at Charleston
ay-Hon Caleb B. Smith, Judge of the U.
S. District Court, and ex-seeretary of the In
terror, died at indianapolis on the It'll inst.
Mr.. Smith was native of Boston, but when
only six years Of age, his parents removed to
Ohio. He was lawyer Of considerable repu-
tation-was editor Of one Of the leading wing
papers of the West - was Speaker of the
House of Representatives of Indana-served
six years in Congress-held seat in Mr..
Lincoln's Cabinet two years, which he re-
signed and was appointed judge of the US.
District Court of Indiana, which office he
held at the time of his death.
aE-Gov Andrew of Massachusetts, closes
his Annual Message with the following beau
tful and eloquent passage.
"The bell which rung out the Declaration OF
Independence has found at last voice artic-
ulate to proclaim Liberty throughout all the
| Land and to all the Inhabitants thereof" 1t
| has been heard across oceans and has modified
| the sentiments Of cabinets and kings. The
people of the old world have heard it, and
their hearts stop tocatch the last whisper OF
its echoes. The poor slave has heard it and
with bounding joy, tempered by the mystery
of religion, he worships and adores. The
waiting Continent has heard it, and already
forsees the fulfilled prophecy, when she will
sit redeemed, regenerated and disenthralled
by the Genius of Universal Emancipation
sgThe capacity of negro troops, their
power Of endurance, bravery and adaptedness
to perform the duties of a soldiers life were
faithfully tested in the late raid into North
Carolina. Col. Draper testiies to their excel
lent behaviour under fire, and declares that he
could wish TO lead no better men into battle;
that he feels perfectly secure with them. and
can depend upon them at a critical moment
with as much confidence as upon white troops
Such testimony from an officer distinguished
for courage and daring, man who believes
that fighting is the business of soldier,
possesses peculiar value. Thoroughly obedi-
ent to their officers, during march of 500
miles their conduct on every occasion was tru-
ly admirable. 1t will have been seen that they
performed in the enemy's country all the
duties OF white soldiers scouting and skirm-
ishing, picket dlty, guard duty, every service
incident to the occupation OF hostile towns,
and, best of all, fighting
gE@ Mr.. Baldwin of Mass, introduced
into the house the other day u preamble
with resolution declaring that aany prop
osition to negotiate with the rebel leaders
at Richmond, sometimes called the 'authori-
ties at Richmond for the restoration Of 10y
atty and order in those portions of the Re
public which have been disorganized by the
rebellion, is, in effect, a proposition to recog-
nize the ringleaders of the rebellion as emit
tied to represent and bind the loyal citizens
of the United States whom they Cypress, and
to give countenance and support to the pre-
tension of conspiracy and treason, and there
fore every such proposition should be rejected
without hesitation or delay" Our represent
alive, Mr.. Sweat, voted in favor of the resou-
ton, while Marcy of " H., voted against it,
Cox OF Ohio moved to table it. 1t was adopt
ed by vote Of 50 to "A. The preamble,
which was unanimously adopted, declared
that "the Richmond combination of conspira-
tors and traitors can have no rightful authori-
ty over the people of the National Union, and
no warrant for assuming control of the politi-
cal destiny of the people of any State or Sec
| ton thereof, and no warrant but that of con-
spiracy and treason for any assumption of au-
| xpba