The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-22
Reception of EX-President Polk.


ington, has been greeted throughout with manifes-
tations bublic respect, which must be highly
cheering and gratifying to him. on retiring from his
distinguished station to private life. His reception
Yesterday in the Crescent City was in keeping with
the manifestations at Richmond, Petersburg, Will
mington, Charleston, Savannah and Mobile. 1t
was highly creditabe to citizens of all parties
and, we doubt not, will long be remembered by the
Ex-President with pride and pleasure.
A little after O'Clock yesterday morning, the
beautiful lake steamboat James L. Day, having on
board the Ex-President and his admired and highly
respected lady, arrived at the lake end of thePont
chartrain Railroad, from Mobile. As the boat ap-
preached the wharf, a grand salute was fired by a
detachment of the battalion of artillery, which
had been sent down for the purpose. As soon as
the boat was laid alongside the wharf, Mr.. Page,
one of the Committee of Reception, went on board
and invited the Ex-President and his lady to repair
to the Washington Hotel; at which place they, with
the members of the Committee of Reception, viz :
Messrs. Barthe, L. c. Duncan, Marks, Solomon
| and Wilder, partook of an excellent breakfast.
About O'Clock the military began to arrive at
the Place dArmes, and by ten the procession COM
menced moving towards the railroad. Passing
along Condo and Moreau streets, the splendid cor
north side of Washington Square, to the railroad,
where it halted and awaited the arrival of the dis
tingushed visiter. Shortly afterwards the booming
of cannon in Washington Square announced the
approach of the railway train. The troops formed
into line, the immense concourse of people pressed
towards the depot, cheers rent the air, and as the
train stopped, the Mayor and Recorders proceeded
on foot towards the car in which the Elk President
was seated. The Mayor, in neat and appropriate
address, welcomed the distinguished visiter to the
city. Mr.. Polk briefly replied in acknowledgment
of the courtesy extended to, and the honor con-
ferred upon him. After being introduced to the
Recorders of the Municipalities, he was escorted
to carriage drawn by six beautiful horses, taste
fully caparsoned. and driven in fine style by Mr.
s. P. Stickney, of the Olympic Circus, who seems
to be in his glory when holding the ribbons and
"toong"a splendid team of cattle.
Mr.. Polk being seated, the procession again
started, under the direction of the Grand Marshal,
Colonel H. w. Palfrey, amid loud and reiterated
cheering, up Elysian Fields street to the levee,
thence up Esplanade street to Royal up Royal to
Canal, down the north side of that street to RAM
part, thence returning up the south side to St.
Charles, along that street to Julia up Julia to Campo
and along Camp and Chartres streets to the St.
Louis Hotel, where apartments had been pro.
vided for the Ex-President and suite. Along the
whole line Mr.. Polk rode uncovered and gracefully
acknowledged the greetings which came thick and
fast from all sides. He made favorable impress
sion on our citizens, the greater portion of whom
saw him for the first time. He is venerable in ap-
pearance; his face is strongly marked, and his thin
and scattered locks are long and silvery his eye is
bright, dark and piercing and his whole counte-
nance seems to be truthful index of his character
as developed during four years of toll and care in
the distinguished station he lately occupied.
The procession was a brilliant affair, but the
high wind raised clouds of dust, causing the march
to be toilsome and disagreeable nevertheless all
parties concerned went through the fatigues of the
day with unfagging spirit, evidently determined to
sustain the reputation of the city for courtesy as
well as hospitality, and to give an evidence of the
respect felt for the distinguished citizen and the
station he has SO ably filled.
The appearance of the streets along the line of
the procession, and of the fleets of shipping and
steamboats, on the river, was exceedingly pic
turesque. Flags and banners Were floating in the
fresh breeze from tower and cupola, from house,
tops and balconies, and from the mastheads of the
shipping. The splendid uniforms of the military;
the sabres and bayonets flashing in the sunlight
the handsome appearance Of the marshals; the
neat dresses of the manly fremen; the number of
carriages and horsemen the crowds which were
assembled to welcome the distinguished vsiter;
and, above ALL the bevies of beautiful women clus
tered in the balconies, made charming panorama
while the booming Of cannon in the public squares
and the spirtstirring music discoursed by the fine
bands in the procession added to the general effect
On arriving at the St. Louis Hotel the Ex-
President was conducted to his apartments and the
procession was dismissed. Soon afterwards, Mr..
Polk being much fatgued, retired to take needful
repose.
The demonstration Of yesterday was worthy of
the occasion, and fully sustained the reputation of
the Crescent City, Party feeling was, for the time,
dormant, and men of all parties united in paying
respect to the distinguished citizen who, after hav
ing filled the highest public station to which
man maj. aspire, now, exempifes the beauty of our
republican institutions by returning with grace and
dignity to the honored retirement of private life,
satisfied with the glorious consciousness that he
has done the State some service"
-H>t-