The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-19

necessity for annexing il. as il was annexed al
ready. Not far from this place we passed within
half hour the headwaters of streams that run into
the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake, and the st.
Lawrence.
AT one of the towns where we stopped TO take in
water and make speeches, q stout lady hustled in
to the Presidential car just on the point
OF starting, and said she must shake hands with the
President. whether no; having done this, she
was cautioned against remaining, as the were
already in motion; but she said no, she could not
think of going until she had introduced her husband
to his excellency, and waiting in her half,
she took him by the arm and presented him in
due form, saying "Wilkns, this is the President"
Before the hand shaking over, the were
under full Roadway, but they had to stop and roll
back mile two to land this interesting couple,
whom some called Mr.. and Mrs. Micawber,
when the lady pronounced the name of Wilkins.
Chautauque, which ia one of the most interesting
of the eleven counties through which this monster
railroad runs. lies upon the lake, and is the last of
the Southern tier" When we first came in sight
Of the blue waters Of this great inland the
were stopped, and three hearty cheers that reused
the sleeping echoes of these once secluded forests
were given by tho Inaugurating party, that now
numbered some five hundred persons.
amid the firing of cannon. the ringing Of bells,
and the shouts of q multitude numbering not
less than fifty thousand persons. Ceremonies
are tedious at any time, but, after hot and dusty
ride of two hundred miles, they must have been
almost intolerable to those who were compelled,
from the stations they occupied, to endure them
on this occasion. Here We were joined by Gov
Hunt the corporation of the city of Buffalo,
the naval officers the station and several dig
nitaries from the neghborhood; and after the GER
emonies of welcoming the President and his SUITE
and presenting flags to the directors Of the road
were at an end, procession was formed. and we
wsro marched through the immense station house
Of the company, where table was spread three
hundred feet in length and which bore, among
other "delicacies Of the season., two oxen roasted
whole, twenty or thirty sheep, many pigs, and
sixty turkeys. From this "gay and festve'' board
the invited guests, with the President and his SUITE
the Governor and his suite, and score or two of
Ex-Governor, among whom was Ex-Governor
Marcy, were marched down to very spacious
but half finished hotel, called the Loder House, in
compliment to the president of the road. where
superb but cold dinner had been provided. By
some carelessness on the part Of the authorities.
sufficient notice of the dinner had not been given
and in consequence, afew of the guests missed the
very flower of the whole affair. There were, Of
course, good many speeches at the dinner ; and
when it was over the outside multitude were ad-
dressed by the President, Mr. Webster, Gov.
ernor Graham, Mr.. Crittenden, Governor Hunt,
Mr.. Hall, Senator Seward, and others. In the
evening there were illuminations and fire. works,
and other rejoicings. As Dunkirk has not yet
got its full growth, tho sleeping accommo-
dations for such multitude of extempore
inhabitants were not equal to the exigencies Of the
occasion; but, the directors Of the railroad had
provided three of the finest steamboats, the lake,
there was no lack of comfortable state rooms The
President and Mr.. Webster, whose son Fletcher
was unfortunately taken quite i'll on his arrival,
were the only ones who slept in the town.
The next morning, at eleven O'Clock, the steamer
Mayfower came in OVERLOOKING with Bufialoni-
ans, who had como to welcome President Fill
more and accompany him to his home. Alto
gether Il was . most brilliant, joyous and happy
occasion, and every heart seemed to be OVERLOOKING
with kindly feelings and bright anticipations.
The President and his suite, accompanied by
few friends from New York. went to Buffalo, while
the greater part Of the guests, who had assisted at
the Inauguration, returned to New York.
It was proper that the completion Of one of the
greatest railroad enterprises Of this enterprsing
and it was most fortunate that every thing tran.
spirod to give dignity, importance, and eclat to the
great occasion. 1t is only necessary to cast your
eye over the map Of the State of New York to I'M
dersand the importance Of the Erie railroad to the
prosperity, not only of the city and State but of
the entire West; but no conception can be formed
of the grandeur Of the work without travelling it's
entire length, of the difficulties which had to be
met and overcome in its construction without read
ing its history, from its inception to is completion
The young. active, hopeful, enterprising, and in
teligent merchants, nearly all of them engaged in
the dry goods business, who have accomplished this
great work, entitled to thu highest regard, not
only Of their citizens but of the country at
large. 1t has been proposed to give them comp-
mentary dinner; and, If ever any men deserved
such testimonial of regard from their fellow. cit
zens, the President and Directors of the Erie Rail-
road deserve il at tho hands of the merchants of
New York. SKIS.
ELMIRA, N. Y, May Ia, 1851.
Considering that many OF the distinguished
guests who had been invited to accompany the
President and his suite on the inaugural excursion
to Lake Erie were doing him honor at the dinner
party at the Irving House last night after taking
part in the ccremonials Of the reception by the
city, uuIi ioto uOuIs ~ was not very 6urprlelnE
that they wero not ON board the Erie this morning
at six O'Clock, when we left for Piermont on the
grand excursion. But therewere enough on board
for comfort, and none of those were missing
whose presence were calculated TO give eclat to
the occasion, tho missing were not much missed.
The President, and tho gentlemen Of the Cabinet
who accompany him, were in good condition, and
apparently as fresh as though they hid not under
gone any fatigue tho day before; it had rained
hard all night, but the weather was delightfully."-
clear and exhilarating when the boat cast off her
fastenings, and proceeded up the river amid the
chesrs Of the crowd assembled the wharves
There were on board about three hundred persons,
among whom were members of the Corporation,
and of the Assembly and Senate. Collector Max.
well, Postmaster Brady, Senator Fish, Judges OF
the Superior Court, ex Mayors Of the city, the off,
Gers Of the Erie Railroad. considerable number of
the stockhoIdcrs and an indiscriminate collection