The Portland daily press., 1865-01-28

Tore A~t'Vf " we FTeSS
The present week has thus far been one OF
unusual excitement in Congress. The assault
of Mr.. Field, applicant for seat in the HOUSE
from Louisiana, was the subject OF spiri'eu
discussion on Monday forenoon, resulting Id
the richly deserved expulsion of that peuicose
petitioner for place and power, rom 'ne moor
of the body in which he aspired 10 SIT. This
was the least the House could do, in view of
breach of its privilege SO utterly outrageous.
The flagrancy of the act was equalled only by
its uitiable foolishness. Not only has the au-
thor of it ruined his own chance of obtaining
the seat he claims, but he has done far more
than the remonstrance sent here from Louisi-
ana against the admission of either Senators
or Representatives, to keep that State still
longer without representation in Congress-
1t surely seems not unreasonable to require
rebellious states to seek re-admission into the
Union in different spirit from that manifest
ed in this instance of genuine slaveholding
ruffianism. The credentials of Messrs. Smith
and Cutler, claiming to be Senators from La,
have not yet been reported upon by the judi
ciary committee. Their chances for admission
are not very promising.
The debate that sprang up on Monday and
continued during the next day, upon the APP
peal OF Mr.. Brooks Of N. T., from the decis-
ion of the Speaker upon the question OF priv
ilege, raised by him respecting General But
ler's note, was the subject of more general
ond i;valx sfn+arast than anvthino that he
transpiredin Congress before during the pres
ent session. The great speech of the debate
was made by Mr.. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,
and it triumphantly vindicated the General
from the aspersions of Brooks. The excite
ment seemed to eliminate when, after COM
pletely demolishing the charges so often and
SO Indignantly uttered against brave and
faithful officer, he turned to Brooks and gave
him an opportunity, in view of the ogerwhelm-
ing proof of Gen. Buffers innocence, to with
draw his charges when, while the thronged
floor and the densely crowded galleries waited
breathlessly for an answer, the New Yorker
declined to do the act of justice permitted TO
him, and Boutwell,, with few crushing words,
dismissed both him and his trumpery charges.
Thereby Of Brooks, ending in withdrawal
Of his appeal, with view to extricate himself
from position very damaging to a man cara-
BILE of being damaged, and to cutting off Mr..
Stevens of Pennsylvania from the privilege Ct
replying to his gross attack, the renewing Of
the appeal by Mr.. Stevens for the purpose Of
getting the floor, and his rejoinder to Brooks
were merely displays of forensic powers. The
whole thing has ended in smoke--smoke that
would leave dingy shade on almost any 9th
er man 10 the House than Brooks
On the same afternoon very sad occurrence
took place-the destruction of most of the
Smithsonian building by fire. About twenty
minutes past two, dense clouds of smoke were
seen issuing from the centre Of the building
and in short time after the flames broke from
| the roof 9 - 4Asa 90 SA2A 2 A19l-t
The fire attacked in succession the grea
southern tower and the two large towers flank
ing the northern entrance, one of which wa
the observatory of the institution. Although
the walls and staircases were of stone, tn,
towers contained enough wood to burn scarce
1 lyiess iierceiy than the main building, the ar
bursting in vivid sheets from their lofty wiz
dows. The flames, though partially quellet
continued TO rage at intervals till nightfal
aud continued to throw lurid glare over th
blackened walls till near midnight. s
p The destruction was less sweeping, howe'
er, than it seemed likely to be. The mort
wing, ce-taining the library and the CALLER
OF statuary, as slsU tlaA snuth wing, containin
the residence Of Professor Henry, were sayet
The Museum, also, a very largo anu e------
ingly valuable one, whether regarded as a
object of curious or s-.---.ruc interest. thong
situated in the lower story of the main buil(
ing, was separated from the upper story by
fire. proof partition which is believed 10 hay
saved it from very serious injury. The lee
ture room, one hundred feet by seventy-fiv
in size, and one of the finest in the country
the apparatus room, fifty feet square, wit
most of its contents; the Stanley gallery {
paintings, containing nearly two hundred pol
traits of famous Indians collection which
with the lapse of time and the gradual extinc
ton of the Indians, would have been an objec
of constantly increasing historical interest
and which OF course can never be reproduced
together with many smaller apartments ant
their contents, were consumed.
1t would be impossible to here enumerat
the various objects ofinterest and value whicl
have been destroyed by this unfortunate &C
currence. While it is felt to be public calam
ity, it is is still regarded with that keen regre
which ordinarily attaches to private and per
sonal misfortunes.
The loss in money cannot yet be estimated
! much less the loss to sciences 1t is a matte
OF congratulation, however, that so much wa
saved, and that, owing to the munifcence 0
its founder and to the generous patronage Q
the government, the institution stands on sucl
foundation as TO secure its future perma
hence and efficiency in its work of "increas
ing aud diffusing knowledge among men,"
The building, designed by james Renwick
jr., of New York, was the most elegant an,
graceful in the city. 1t was constructed 0
brown freestone, in the "Romanesque,p o
more properly, perhaps, early Gothic style o
architecture, at an expense of near two hun
dred thousand dollars. How far the wall
have been injured by the fire cannot yet be as
eertained. As ags
Peace rumors still continue, although, not
withstanding the end draws visibly near, nc
solid facts appear to presage an immediate OF
even early cessation of hostilities. Govern
ment stocks continue active, the subscriptions
to the Seven Thirty loan from Jan. 18th t.
Jan. Path inclusive having amounted to ths
sum of seven million, two hundred and foul
thousand dollars and the returns of the en-
forties during the same period having amount
ed to four million, two hundred thirteen thou.
sand. two hundred dollars.
have noticed the death OF only two Me
soldiers reported from the city hospitals du.
ring the same time, that of Joseph F. Stock.
bridge Co. E. LIST Maine Cavalry and that Of
John w. NJ, Of the same regi-
mont