Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-31
FROM THE UNITED STATES.

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~,~,.y u e.e7-. he New York Tribune of the
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.iiee o'clock this afternoon fire was seen coming
from the roof of the main building OF tie Smithsonian
Institute. 4 general lire an was rung ana the en-
gnes the ground but no water could be OBJ
famed and for two hours the flames Toared and hssed
aided by high wind consuming all the main building
except the first story which contains the collection of
beasts and birds knoTn as the smithsonian Museum
wing used as private residence was not injured
except III removing some OF the furniture which was
somewhI, damaged.
The west wing containing the library of thirty
thousand Volumes not injured II beng separated by
epfoo walls None CT those books were taken out ana
all are uDniuIed.
Ii appears that workmen were engaged reaTanging
sanleys collection OF Indian paintings, about 2UO OF
which were valued $50 600 and he being in negotates
for their sale the University OF the state of Michigan
the committee having examined them for that purpose
about noon to-day 1t being very cold to-day stove mad
been put up the worknen and is supposed the pipe
had been inserted in a defective iue.
Professors Henry anu REees Fere IN the Professors
rooms and the alarm being given rushed into the lee
tue room and found the plastering falling from the cell
ing The wOrkmen had but just left the room where the
pictures mad been hung, and It was filed with smoke
taat no one could enter It, But about half dozen of the
portraits nearest the door were carried out All else 10
lost including statue in marble Of the Dying Gladiator
belonging TO Sr j. Mcclure OF this city, valued at OOO0
The apparatusoom ON the east side of the main building
next caught and but little was saved from here All the
heaviest portions lost but few small and nvau
able Telescopes &C. saved by being thrown out of
The window and slid down the ladder The valuable ap-
paraus donated by Professor Baird OF Philadelphia
trely lost Prof Henrys room near the main tower
soon caught and buy few Of his papers saved few
OF the meteorological observations carried out first
but nearly all the records OF years correspondence Sc
are lost Many were thrown out OF the windows and
scattered in all directions by the wind never TO be COL
f6s trophies Of Wilkes exploring expedition in
the scum and mos ty Saved. Some injured
by being carried out; but the re did not reach them
The anometer wind register on the top OF the main
Tower yhrled away until about four and halfP NJ,
when it fen through 10 the horton. The masonry re-
mains staBnS and is not much injured by the fire,
The .damsgeSo the building can be repaired in six
months bur The records AND results of years research are
gone forever,
THE MASSACHUSETTS. SENATORS GROWING vIRTuors-Hr.
MASITY IL AZ UNEXPECTED QuARTER-'RESEL BAIBARI-
. TIES
In the Yankee Senate on Tuesday Mr. Sumner submit
ted four resolutions bs way Of substitute for the pending
resolution for retaliation upon the Rebels for the cruel
treatment Of Northern prsoncs We copy the lst aud
Sd resolutions as specimen bricks:
Resolved That retaliation Is harsh always even In the
simplest cases sand permissible only when in the first
place il may reasonably be expected to effect its object
and when, in the second place II is consistent with the
usages OF civilized society and that in the absence Of
these essential conditions il il useless barbarsn having
other end than vengeance which is forbidden alike
nations and 10 men,
Resoyed That any attempted imitation of rebel bar
barism in the treatment of prisoners would be plainly
mpraoticabe on account OF its inconsisten9K with the
prevailing sentiments Of humanity among -, that it
would be injurious az home iort would barbarze the
whole community that it would be utterly useless for
il could not effect the cruel authorizers of the
tonary conduct which We seek to overcome; that IL
would be immoral inasnuch II proceeded from ven.
geance alone; and that IL could hgve other result
than to degrade the national character and the national
name and to bring down upon our country the condem
nation of history; and that being thus impmc scable
useless immoral and degrading. il must be rejected
measure Of retaliation, precisely the barbarism OF
roasting and eating persons always rejected by civil
lied powers.
Mr. Sumner spoke advocacy ofthe above resolutions
quoting from General Washington, Chancellor Kent Gen.
fIaeck, Yael and other authorities against .inhhman
retaliation which, he sad never reached the really guilty
parties
Mr.. Wade hoped the amendment of Mr. Sumner would
not be adopted. Instead of making the rebels change
their treatment towards men for the better il would
have the contrary effect Retaliation had been practiced
BY all civilized nations in all wars.
i Mr. Wilson offered IA an amendment to Mr. Sumneys
proposition 10 strike out all after the enactinp clause
and insert after preamble declaring that our prisoners
have been inbumanly treated etc. resolution instruct.
ing the President to APPOINT commissioners to with
the rebel authorities with view to devise some practical
plan for the relief OF better treatment Of prisoners in
their hands.
Mr. Wilson explained that the above was the best plan
to secure the object Of the Senate which was to
humane treatment of our prisoners.
Mr.. Grimes interrupted Mr. Wilson by asking him if
the Secretary of War had not stated in communication
to the House that there would be difficulty in the f
ture about the exchange Of prisoners II SO, what was
the necessity for passing such resolution this.
Mr.. Wilson replied that he so understood IT, But II
would be well to devise some plans for the good treat
ment Of prisoners who should hereafter fall into the
hands Of the rebels.
Mr. Sumner inquired if the rebels had not on former
occasion refused TO receive such commissioners as were
proposed by Mr.. Wilson's resolution.
lnreply to the question several Senator's stated that
the commissioners referred TO By Mr. Sumner were only
authorized te visit our prisoners and had authority to
reiiere them in any way.
Mr. Wilson Mass said he had good assurances that if
such commission was appointed il could accomplish
the result desired He was sure of it.
Mr., Hendricks nd) said lac had listened with interest
TO the speech of Mr. Howard and he knew that be (Mr
Howard had taken the most popular side But must
be ecollected that in the time of the French Revolution
the orators who were most loudly appauded those
who cried the oudest for blood Notwithstanding il was
popular to cry out for retaliation he r Henircks
was opposed to any proposition looking tosuch mea
He was glad to hear the Senator from Massachusetts
Nlr Snmnerl retaliation in hisresolution Re.
adopted.
Nj Hendricks continued his remarks. advocating an
exchange Of prisoners the best means of relief 10 our
suffering brethren now in Southern prisons.
Mr. Howard inquired II Mr.. Hendricks was in favor of
any Kind OF retaliation to good treatment to our
soldersl
Mr. Hendricks replied that he in favor of no retail
alton that was opposed TO the principles Of Christianity
Mr. Hendricks stated upon the authority of Cantain
Flynn, released prisoner from Indiana that the nrisdn
es at Andersonsile were treated well as their Rebel
guards
Mr. Howard.-Does the Senator assert upon this aoor
that our prisoners 10 Southern hans treated as well
a. Southern prisoners in our hands I
Mr. Hendricks in reply said that he did not know only
what he had stated upon the authority of returned prs
oer But ne ord not believe AL that was published in the
report of the Sanitary Commission. ~
Mr. Brown, of Visit the Senator from Indiana thinks
ihat our prisoners are well rested in the South WHY
does ne object to Southern prisoners in the North being
put upon that fare. ,.s-''-e
Mr. Hendricks replied that the resolution before the
were starved and subjected to every kind Of had