Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-07-14

sembly rendered it very diiiicn!t 10 preserve
sufficient quiet and order Tor speaking.
Mr.. B. u. Howard, lale captain OF one Of Inc
companies of the Is, Mississippians, made the
reception speech, which was as follows:
MAJOR GENERAL Burt ER--The pleasant duty
has been assigned me BY The Democracy OF New
Orleans, OF rendering you, on their behalf, cor
dial welcome 10 our city, on your return IRON
Mexico, is The present Chief OF our
triumphant army.
True 10 the instinct of eallantry and patriotism
which has 50 long distinguished your family, you
were among the first of our citizen soldiers 10 leaVe
The comforts OF home and peril your life 10 sup
por The honor and arms your country IN war
commenced by The aggression OF Mexico
Your return now, only when the gallant army
which You command, By deeds OF noble daring
which have excited the admiration OF the world,
has pros,rated our enemies in the dust and
wrcncbed from their fears what we could not OBJ
tain from their justice-an honorable peace.
Before You chang up your bruised arms for
monuments" ard lay aside The sword, as we trust,
forever, we seek 10 honor ourselves as well as
you, by giving yon cordial welcome to our city,
and by le>lying The gratitude which we feel, in
common with The whole country, for the disin-
guished services you have rendered. Nor is this
gratitude ielt alone for the blood which you lest
10 The fierce conflict OF Monterey. That is debt
which we owe only in common with The whole
country. Bu', as citizens oil New Orleans, we
owe you much older and higher debt OF graft
tude-a debt which is peculiarly cur own-and
which eau only grow stronger by time as one By
one the heroes who defended us under he imnor.
a Jackson, lake their fight 10 the world of spirits.
The Odd Of December, 1914, was dark and
perilous hour to the citizens of New Orleans
Upon an issue Of arms, between our undisc-
pncd but hardy soldiers, and the tried and
trained valor Of oulnumbering British troops,
who had filled Europe with their fame, depended
the sanctity Of our homes, The safety Of fond
wives and fair daughters from the brutality of
icentate, hireling soldiery, excited By conflict
/ and flushed with the exullation of victory
! When that little band of our defenders, among
! whom YOU Stood paraded in the Place d Armes;
that little band upon whose yalor all that was
most dear 10 the citizens of New Orleans de.
| pended; there were anxious faces gathered
around you-anxious and fearful faces turned
/ upon you-and the stoutest heart might we'll
throb with fear and dread at the thought Of the
unequal conflict and its possible result. Our
citizens could then only raise a deep, silent
prayer for Gods blessing upon you, as they sent
you forth their champions and defenders.
You met the enemy, and the world knows the
history Of that conflict The soldiers who had
faced the veterans OF Napoleon till they fled,
yielded to the unconquerable courage and encr-
gy of our countrymen; and the iaurels which
your foes had won in the pennsular war, were
torn off in the swamp ofChalmette, and wreath
| ed upon American brows.
In that conflict, where all were SO distin
guished, the regiment which you led, in the ab
sencc Of superior officers, won for itself great
distinction.
Upon your reception among US now, it is fit
that the faces which surround you, although not
unmoyed by emotion, should wear different cx-
preston from those which surrounded you on the
23d Of December, 1914 Prosperity and peace
are now smiling upon US, and respect and gra'
tude swell the heart, glow 10 the features, and
moisten the eye of every true hearted citizen,
when he halls you as one of our gallant defend
ers in that hour Of dread and peril And when
you now return from another triumphant war,
where you have won fresh laurels for your elf
and your country, we recurto those earlier ser.
vices, because in those the fame Of our city is
connected Mith yours-because in the battle,
which drove The insoent foe from our gates,
YOU won great personal distinction, the highest
praise of your Hero General-prase which
was acknowledged as just by the Government Of
your county.
will not detain you 10 recount your still
earlier services to our country-at the battle Of
the River Raisin-your campaigns in our savage
warfare, and throughout the then wilderness
country of the Northwest. Those services are
how part OF our history, and are held in
grateful remembrance by your country from
Maine 10 the Rio Grande. Nor will refer to
the great services of the distinguished family to
which you belong. Our praise can add nothing
TO the ustrc OF a name that has received com
mcndalion from a Jackson, Lafayette and
| Washington. There is one trait Of your charac
ter, however, OF which heard much from
| brother soldiers, with whom served 4 brief
campaign IN Mexico, (although not myself
participation in the honors Of that campaign) Of
which you must permit me 10 spc1s briefly.
aliudc 10 your ever ready sympathy with the
common soldier. and even with the helpless OF
our enemies. Although wounded and suffering
yourself, you yet found many occasions, as the
truly benevolent heart ever can, TO alleviate the
sutfcrings Of others. The destitute soldier,
stricken down by disease and pining for the az
fcclionate attention Of friends at his far distant
home, never appealed TO your sympalhies in
vain. Alcctonatc encouragement and more
substantial benefits, you were ever ready 10 be
stow. has it not been SAID truly, that
s'rhtre is more
Ofhoncst fame IN dry ing up single tear
| Than in shedding seas Of gore.n
Most of the soldiers now under your com
mand, who, but q short time SINCE clothed in
the panoply of war, were hurled mass Of liy-
! ing ,alor on the foe, are soon again 10 assume
the peaceful garb of the citIzen hut still aiding
10 carry on their country to its great destiny
By the noisecss pursuit Of individual happiness,
surrounded by the endearments oil home and ia.
my
This peaceful retirement, for which you have
ever shown SO strong prediction, IS not, how
ever, destined for you. II is perhaps, the unfor.
| uuae tate OF those who serve their country with
most distinction and most patriotism, that they
are more often than others, called upon 10 sacr-
flee their individual interest and inclination 10
Inc public wish and The public welfare. II is be-
cause you nave served your country so long and
well, that without your solicitation or knowledge
| your Democratic brethren ui The whole Union, by
| spontaneous and unanimous voice, have called
upon you to be one OF their standard bearers in
the approaching political campaign Nor has
| this call been made from admiration OF your pu-
ilica career alone, brilliant as II has been. Inc
services which vou are now called upon 10 rem
der are The services OF a statesman. Your poll i
cal principles have been long and we'll kaown 10
The whole country. Your voice has already been
heard in The councils OF the nation, and The his
ory OF your political lite shows firm, consistent
adhesion 10 the great principles OF Democracy
In accordance with The lme-nonoTed usage oil
our party, we have inscribed those principles upon
he banner which we ask You TO carry on 10 VIC
tory We would not insult The character tor
ffankness and candor which are assumed as he
hereditary virtues of soldier, by asking you 10
carry flag lha! would no, designate on which
side you are doing bac. But with those prin-
cpes, upon hs success OF which we believe the
welfare o! our great Republic depends, inscribed
all owe! lhe ample folds OF our banner, so that he
who rnns may read and understand, we propose
under your lead, 10 make candid appeal 10 tie
intelligence 81 The American people Tor their sup
port. With The good principles for which We
contend, and under he lead Of such men as Cas-