AMERICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 770, 1 September 1866, Page 8

AMERICA.

The special correspondent of tbe Panama Star and Herald, writing from New York on July 10, says : —

It was hoped that before this Congress would have adjourned and given the country a resting sp<;ll, from the vexatious and annoying and disturbing legislation of its members — but alas ! no such thought appears to be entertained by them. They are now engaged in concoctiDg a tariff, making the duties on a large number of articles excessive, so ss to fetter the commerce of the country, and this tariff they will probably adopt before they do adjourn. The weather at Washington, happily, for several days has been extremely hut, the mercury marking one hundred degrees in the shade, and under the effects of the heat, which completely I wilted several of our reverend senators and anything but grave representatives, everybody was consoling himself with the belief that they would be driven av>ay to the shady retreats of their homes. This, however, does not seem likely to be realised just yet, as the weather after four days of the most intea<e hea*, ! unhappily has become suddenly cool i again, and our worthy legislators seem determined to continue indefinitely their efforts to " save the country." If they do not drive it to tbe verge of destruction, it will be because the nation has at its head a man with iron will, who, however he may be opposed in his patriotic efforts to save the Union, will in the end triumph over all his enemies, and restore it again in all it 3 length and breadth aad glory.

Mr Blake, on the 3rd instant, introduced in the House of Representatives a Bill, establishing conditions for the admission into the Union of the States of Nova Scotia. New Brunswick, Canada East and Canada West, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The first section provides that whenever notice shall be deposited in the Department of State that the Governments of Great Britain and of the Provinces have accepted the propositions made to them, the President of. the United States shall publish, by proclamation, that the States of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Canada East and Canada West, and tbe Territories of Selkirk, Saskatchewan and Columbia, are constituted and admitted as States and Territories of the United States. Among the propositions is one that the United States will assume the Provincial d<ibfc at not exceeding five per centum into rest, as follows : —Canada West, 36,500,000 dols. ; Canada East, 29,000,000 dols; Nova Scotia, 8.000,000 dols; New Brunswick, 7,000,000 dais; Newfoundland, 3,200,000 dols; Prince Edward's Island 2,000,000 dols.

The United States are also to pay 10,000,000 to the Hudson Bay Company.

A most terrible conflagration occurred at Portland, Me., on the 4th inst., caused by a boy throwing a lighted fire-crnckor among 9ome shavings. One halt of the city was destroyed, nearly ail the business portion being included. All the banks, dry goods stores, jewelry establishments, and telegraph offices, eight churches, and other public building, were burnt to the ground. The wind was blowing a ga'e at the time the fire commenced* and caused the flames to spread with the greatest fury, sweeping ruin, destruction and desolation everywhere. Over fifty

buildings were blown up in the hope of making space between the fire and the other buildings, but the effort was useless. It is estimated that about two thousand buildings were destroyed, involving a loss ot ten million dollars. Two thousand families were rendered homeless, losing nearly every valuable they possessed, and are now dependent, on the generosity of those who were fortunate in escaping the sweeping disrjter. Two thousand tents for shelter to the houseless were forwarded by the United States ' authorities from Boston, and the people of all the cities throughout the Union are busily engaged in forwarding supplies of clothing and provision?, and raising funds for the relief of the thousands of sufferers, many ot whom have been bereft by this awful visitation of everything they possessed on earth.

[ A very destructive fire also occurred in the Oii Regions of Pennsylvania, near Louisville, on the 7th instant. Eighteen or tweuty wells on Bennehoff Run were burned tip, and about twenty thousand barrels of oil were destroyed. There were also twenty or thirty derricks destroyed, erected at wells not yet completed. The loss is very heavy. The State of Tennessee ig reported as showing mere signs of rejecting than ratifying the Constitutional Amendment, whir h is most annoying to the Radicals ia Washington, as is the fact that it is nowcertain that tbe Legislatures of ten States will not be convened at all in extra session and wll not, therefore, vote upon the amendment until December or January next ; namely, Maryland, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois, Wisconsin, lowa, and New York. Nor is this all. New Jersey, Delaware, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Illinois, will probably vote against it.

General Sweeny has published an address to the Fenian Brotherhood m America, in which he dcfeuds his course ia the recent raid in Canada. He recommends the re-organization of circles and the formation of military companies by the members under their chosen leaders. He dates the address at St Albans, Vt.,

4th July.

Head-Ceatre Stephens continues to " bob round"' considerably. It is said be is preparing an address to the Brotherhood that will make everything connected with the Ftnian case as " bright as bright can be'' — but there is no use denying th&t Fenianism wears a most decided aspect of being about "played out" in this country.