The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1847-12-29
From the Columbia South Car0linian.
ADDRESS OF GOV. JOHNSON AND

Froan the Columbia South Carolinian.
ADDRESS OF GOF. JOHNSON AND
REPLY OF GEN. SHIELDS.
Upon TIC arrival Of Gen. Shields, he
was received in the apartments of Ills
l:xcellcncy Governor Johnson, who ten
dcrcd him the greeting and losptaltics
of the State, in the following address:
General II was the willing instru-
mcnt of the Legislature, now in session,
to invite you TO our capital. bid YOU
welcome, and welcome will rc-echo from,
the mountains TO tho scn-coast. i regret
only that am deprived Of the honor of
extending like greeting to your compa-
Mon in arms. Major Gcpcral Qultnnan,
who we hoped would have accompanied
you.
General: when tho historian Of our
common country shall chronicle the
events Of the War with Mexico, your
name will be inscribed on n page in cha
ructcrs, that shall never fade, whilst pntri.
otism has dwelling place, or courage,
coolncss and decision arc ranked amongs,
tho virtues cf q soldier. ~
But, General, South Carolina owes YOU
q debt of her own. About n year ago
she sent thousand Of her young mon to
do battle i'll Mexico in the cause Of our
country. II was their fortune to be placed
under your command. We know tho Sc
qucl. They triumphcd with you on n,a
ny bloody field, and under your leading
they have won for themselves proud
name, and for the State n measure of re-
nown, of which she Isl proud. Exposed
to common pcrils, you have earned com.
mon fi,mc, and your blood has been min
glcd OIL the field of battle. Arc YOU not
Of the same kindred? May VIC no, call
you one oCus? You arc wclcomc-ycrv
welcome!
General Shields replied is follows:
Sir am so entirely ovt rpowo rcd by
this generous and unexpected reception
that | cannot find language to express to
your Exccllcncy and the Legislature of
this State, the feelings of gratitude with
which am impressed. am proud, sir,
of meeting with such reception from the
chivalrous and gallant Palmetto State. |
appreciate it in all its Importance, md
shall ever cherish the remembrance of
this hour rs the brightest md most graft
tying epoch of my life. When recall
to mind the simple fact that am, a stran
ger TO your Statc-tliat am not even n
native of this country-lhat have hthcr
to had no connection with you, except
from the circumstance Of my having had
the honor Of leading the sons of your
proud State in battle. Wien reflect ON
all these circumstances, ard then look
around ME ana find myself the object OF
so MUCH consideration and regard, can
moi help in,crrupting the compliment as
III approval of my conduct, and as
proof, that my efforts in the path Of duty
aad honor, however humble and circum
scribcd, have not been altogether unavail-
ing. Such & reception from suc1, State,
might well fill up The ambition Of the
proudcst man that ever trod the earth.
But, sir, | am not vain enough to believe,
that this reception is intended rs tribute
OF rcopcct to me alone. Whatever pride
| may take in il as participator in those
scenes, which have lately been enacted
Ill Mexico, look upon it as the offspring
OF generous and enthusiastic feeling Cor
your gallant army-for the command
had The honor TO lcad-and for that brave
and lndomitablc Palmetto Regiment, with
whose fortunes have become in some
manner identified; regiment, sir, which
combined in as high adcgrcc as any body
OF men that ever entered the field of
battle the noblcst characteristic cf the
soldier, with the more cndcarinr at.
tributes of humanity and patriotism.
Other Generals may have led into the
field troops ahat could Loast Of better or.
ganlzalion, and a higher degree of mill
tary discipline and much longer expert.
cncc but never before did body of men,
under similar circumstances, exhibit a
greater amount of intrcpidiiy and noble
conduct, than those had the peculiar
good fortune to command on the cnsan-
guinod plains Of Mexico. The State that
could send forth such soldiers rs the Pal
m'1'os, may well he proud Of the name;
and whatever may have been the elevation
Of character which distinguishes South
Carolina, the he roc dec DIS of that regiment.
have added new lustrc to her fame, and
given her fresher and more enduring IL
tic to tho consideration Of the world. Sir,
once more thank your Exccllency, and
the Legislature now in session, for this
courleol. and gratifying receplion.