The Portland daily press., 1865-01-25

has not passed away without bringing events
never to be forgotten. In times so troubled
and exciting as the present many events SUI
flciently startling In themselves pass almost
unnoticed and unheeded, but in no time could
the fall of such man as Edward Everett have
failed to attract the attention and stir the
hearts of men. Denied by nature that fer
vent and enthusiastic temperament which
wins the most and warmest friends, he had
nevertheless succeeded in attracting to him
self the grateful affections OF a great people,
not by long course of public service mainly,
not by the charms OF his e!oquence or the
grace of his literary accomplishments only,
but more than all by the patriotism which has
shone so purely and brightly during these
dark years of civil strife and by the magnan-
unity of soul which enabled him so unlike
Winthrop, OF whom the Bay State was once
proud, TO throw aside all false scruples about
consistency-which enabled him to unlearn in
an hour not little OF the wisdom OF years,
and to place himself with all his powers on
the side of the Union and universal freedom.
To have said at Gettysburg 81 was Mistaken"
to have said it at his time of lie, and with suhc
record behind him, was as Phillips justly re-
marked great and noble act, but it is great
er and nobler thing to have said it by every
public act OF his life for Jour years. 1t is not
as the youthful prodigy nor the academician
of amplest and most graceful scholarship, nor
the brilliant man of letters, nor the legislator,
diplomatist, or State minister that we think
of him most admiringly or lament him most
profoundly, but as the gray haired patriot de-
voting all his fame and all his genius TO the
cause of his imperilled country. Some have
regretted that he did not employ his life with
more unity and singleness of purpose, judging
tn 1t SO he would have left some opus ,narim-
'ts. In the mind of the American people, the
devotion of his heart and energies to his coun-
try, will be regarded as the noblest of all his
works, and in their heart of hearts it will
stand as his monument forever.
need not say that here, where he was so
we'll known, and is SO freshly remembered,
the national grief at his death found ready
and sincere response. The closing of some
Departments and the draping ofall with black,
and the flags at halEmast, both over public
| and private buildings, were no idle or unmean-
ing show. And 1t is now pleasantly remem-
bered how his voice, when last heard by the
{. people, was lifted in the cause Of humanity
and christian charity-an end worthy of any
| life.
! If Monday last was with us day of sad
ness, the next was one of rejoicing. For the
third time within few weeks-so kind to our
cause and country has been benign Provi-
dence-the thunder of cannon took up the
grand old burden of the Bell of Client, and
shouted far and wide over the rejoicing city,
There Is oictory In the land" II the cap
ture of Fort Fisher is regarded by the rebel
editors, who seem. perhaps from long practice,
to be very expert in putting a fine point upon
such events as unfortunate rather than dis
astrous,' the great event did not lack appre-
citation on this side the lines. Oae incident
connected with the receipt of the good news
here has not failed 10 attract attention. Gen
erai Butler, who had been summoned before
the Committee on the Conduct of the War,
is understood to have been demonstrating
with map an chart, the imprs cticability of tax.
ing Fort Fisher by assault, when the news of
its actual capture was announced. The Gen
eral is said to have been little nonplussed
for moment by 50 startling an interruption
of his line of argument, and then. looking up,
to have remarked naively- "Taat's good.n
Those who know how heartily and earnestly
the General has fought the rebellion, will not
doubt that the tidings were really received by
him with pleasure, whatever may have been
their bearing upon his calculations or him.
self.
The American Colonization Society he'd
its forty-eight anniversary In the First Prtssy-
terrain Church, in this city. on Tuesd4y last
The President of the Society, Mr.. Latrobe,
presided, and addresses were made by Senator
Doolittle, and Rev. Mr.. Cox, of New York.
The receipts for the organization during the
year past, were stated to be SOL 45474, and
the disbursements $50 .931 40. As there has
been few emigrants, the society has been more
atliberty to make appropriations for fostering
civilization and education in Liberia Than in
former years. Among the sums thus expend-
ell is one of %, 500 for the Liberia College;
which institution is reported to be in pros
porous and flourishing condition. Now that
no one in his senses dreams about any scheme
Of general colonization, and the aims and
operations of this society have become in con-
sequence so greatly modified, there seems to
remain no reason, if there ever was any. for
unfriendliness between its supporters and the
more radical anti.slavery men.
An interesting meeting was held at the
rooms OF the Union League, on Thursday
evening, for the relief of contrabands, now in
and about the city. who may be in a destitute
and suffering condition. 1t appeared by the
statement OF DR.. Charming, who presided,
Mrs. Griffin, a missionary among these PEG
pie, and various other speakers, that there is
much need OF action. A committee was rails
ed to solicit means of relief for those who
iced it. One soup-house has already been
established on E Street., south between Q and
10.
During the debate in the House upon the
Loan Bill to day, l notice, upon the floor
among other distinguished visitors, Louis
Agassiz. The great ichthyologist seemed
convinced by brief stay that he had fallen in
with aschool OF odd fishes out Of which he
could make nothing. It's. P.
The London Post.
It is not little remarkable that this thor