The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-24

The claim before Congress of Col. James F.
the rebellion as spy for President Lin
coin has been the means of producing some in
teresting chapters from the secret history of
the rebellion; among them how New York
was saved from destruction by fire on the
9th of November. 1864. 1t will be remem-
bered that incendiary fires were discovered in
the Astor House, the Belmont, Lovejoys, the
Tammany, the Howard, the United States
ne ST. Nicholas, the Metropolitan, the La
FARCE, the Fifth Avenue and the St. James
hotels, and at Niblo's and the Winter Garden
theatres, and that in every case the fire was
discovered in season to prevent any material
damage. 1t was soon discovered that there
was rebel plot and attempt to set the city in
flames, and the failure of the internal machine
in every instance to do the incendiary's work,
was regarded at the time as something won
derful, il not providential. The explanation,
however, which is given by Col. Jaquess re
duces this general failure to an admirable
trick of treachery on the part of the very man
at Richmond charged with the revolving duty
of preparing the combustble composition to
be used by the incendiaries.
According to the testimony of Col. Jaquess
we are indebted to him for the failure of these
internal phosphorus machines to light de-
structive confagration. He says that getting
wind et the plot, July, 1864, he resolved upon
another visit to Richmond; that, providing
himself with the necessary passports, be in
ming with the President, be undertook the
expedition, got into Richmond without ex-
citing suspicion. found out the chemist en-
p'oyed by the rebel government in the manu-
facture of the combustible compound to be
USED 10 hrlng Northern cites and shipping;
found that this chemist was a man of culture
and refinement had no heart for this incenda-
ry work, though compelled to do it; pers,lad-
ed him to neutralize the proposed incendiarv
compound by some other chemicals; and that
entering heartily into the scheme, he got up
first compound that was so very inf1amma-
Bile that it only had to be touched with a
match when il went off like friction match %
that " he then put up another substance in
ball about the size of a hens egg, or larger,
which was enclosed in the outer or inflamma-
BILE substance" and that when they struck the
inside composition it would sparkle and make
fuss very much like damp powder, and ex-
tingush itself at once" This is the secret
we are told OF the failure in every case Of
those rebel ince0diaries who so mysteriously
came and disappeared with those mysterious
DiaSk bags. The rebel chemist at Richmond,
III Tue interest OF humanity, had turned the
tables against his EMPLOYERS and sent those
phosphorus lncendiaries on fools errand.
Gov. Clafflin of Massachusetts has stoned
the bill amending the prohibitory law and the
supplemental act. 1t will therefore be lawn,
in that Stateito sell cider, ale, porter, strong
beer and lager beer. The Journal says the
Governor has been strongly pressed to with
hold his signature, but as legislation now con-
forms to what has been the practical admins
tration of the prohibitory law for the past
year, there would have been an evident incon-
sstency in such course. AS the bill provides
that cities and towns shall each year vote
whether the sale Of the legalized strong drinks
shall be made within their respective munich
palities, the question will thus be constantly
agtated; and this feature of the bill reconciles
many radical temperance men to the provis-
ions OF the bill.
The CONGREGATIONAL STATE CONFERENCE
The sessions of this body at Yarmouth, which
closed yesterday were fully equal to those of
previous years in attendance zeal and har-
mony. They were invested with special inter-
est, from the fact of the memorial year. The
establishment of Classical School to prepare
tne youth of Congregational families for col
!ege was urged and arrangements for raising
$ooooo ior the purpose were made Gorham
and other places were mentioned for location.
The question OF the expulsion of the Bible
from the common schools was the theme of an
exciting debate The Conference was fortu-
nate in the choice of Hon. Nelson Dinolev
Jr., as presiding officer, who performed his du,
ties with marked ability. The attendance was
very large, but the hospitality of Yarmouth ex-
ceeded even the demands made upon it,