The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-07-08

tensive Railroad systems of the West and North
| West. This branch of his address was marked by
| Its zeal and emphasis. Mr. g. was especially ear.
nest In expressing his sentiments In favor OF making
Norfolk tie great exporting town of Virginia and
the Middle States.
After Mr.. s. concluded, the very credtable band
composed of performers from Christiansburg and
Lynchburg, played a national air.
| The President OF the Day, Mr.. ROBERT T. PRRs-
| TOM then introduced to the assembly Governor
JOHNSON, who made a short address.
| The Governor remarked that he came not to
| address his fellow citizens but merely to partici
pate ia their celebration OF the joyful event they I'D
! me. to commemorate. He paid this short visit to
them with peculiar pleasure He had been a
mountaineer himself; having spent the best part of
his life in the mountains of Virginia, and he met
those towering objects with the feelings of an old
| acquaintance. He had many valued friends in the
South West, whose kindness on past occasion, had
| condition of bankrupt. He was deii9 hted at tho
| opportunity now afforded for the first time of
| meeting many Of them face to face-oi shaking
| hands, and OF converting with them.
| The Governor expressed his heartfelt pleasure
at looking upon the beautiful aud fertile fields of
| the South west-ia the language Of the Eastern
| queen with regard to the glory Of Solomon, he
found that the half had not been told him of this
noble land. He beheld with pride and satisfaction
the prosperity of his fellow citizens In that favored
region their luxuriant fields, their hand dwell
lngs all showed their ieurishing condition, their
| increasing prosperity, wealth and happiness What
I
| whose evidences they beheld on every hand, but
| the system OF internal improvements whose advan.
tages had been SO strikingy portrayed by the able
speaker who had just occupied their attention. II
| the advantages OF the improvement were SO palpa
Bile while yet the system was but half accomplished
| what may we not expect when it is finished-when
the farmers of the Southwest to the Tennessee line
shall all have the choice of markets Ia the East of
| Richmond, of Petersburg, of Norfolk, of Alexan-
dria and of Fredericksburgs His produce will
! find ready transit to points where competition,
| which is the life of trade, will ensure him the
highest prices.
! When the grand system of improvements con-
tinued Governor j., projected by Virginia shall be
completed, then will the old Commonwealth, the
mother of States and OF Statesmen become in
physical and commercial point of view what morally
and mentally she always had been, the most bril-
liant luminary in the constellation of States Are
70 apprehend that this will not be doner Think
you fellow citizens, that the iron horse which has
in his course from the ude-water traversed the
hills and valleys and In his reckless career leaped
the Alleghanies with a bound, Ia going to stop
here No, he will continue his career over moun-
tain and plain until he reaches the verge OF the con-
tinent where on the shores of the Pacific the emf
grant shall sigh for the wealth OF the Eastern Indias
The Governor concluded with brief and elo-
quent apostrophe of our country and government,
which was cheered by the assenblaze.
MIR. Preston then announced that there would be
a recess OF speaking until half past two and during
the time the company were invited to repair to the
tables which had been spread in the magnificent
grove and partake OF the refreshments which we're
there laid before them This invitation was accept
ed with alacrity, and the tables were boarded by
thousands of citizens whose appetite derived keen
ness from the excitement OF the day and the fatigue
| OF moving about. The facility with which boiled
ham aud barbecued shoat and mutton were made
TO disappear was caution TO any moderately sup
piled land and the capacity of the Commissriat
OF the occasion to stand up against the onslaught
and fll all the aching voids which surrounded the
tables was gratifying proof OF the abundance OF
| tbep OF na liran nf fAhlA Wa tAat
long. But small portion of the crowd could get
at them. The ladies-and there were immense num-
oers OF fthem-monopolized them at hrst, and they
never having learned the discipline of firing and
falling back" held on until satisfied. When the
gentlemen got places the movement was more rap
i'd The primitive implements OF five pronged forks
were brought In play, and each man retiring with
his hands full, the game became much more lively
and agreeable.
There was plenty to eat, and at least twelve
ba skets full remained. The only difficulty the
want of water. The citizens were very thirsty no
liquor was allowed on the ground-but the way the
people drank water was caution to sponge and
| all absorbent bodies. With such multitude Cyrus
would have been saved the necessity OF turning the
Euphrates to take the city-they would have drunk
it dry | certainly expect to find no water in this
region for while at least after this day. But
body died suddenly from drinking too much cold
water and this only satisfies me that when these
| sudden deaths from cold water take place there
must be little brandy in iGl"
At the appointed time the Band called the assem-
blage around the stand and speaking was resumed.
find that have SO extended this letter that can
say but little of what was spoken. Indeed, the ar
rangemcnts for the occasion were crude enough, SO
far a convenience for reporting was concerned,
and had no opportunity TO take notes. Being a
very humble parsonage, myself, have no right to
complain. But trust when another great gather
Ing is held in the Southwest little more consider
alton may be exhibited for Editors aud Reporters
who have mad long journeys, partly from patri
oc desire to participate, and partly to report What
is going on. . q.
audience successfully, Messrs. K X. MEADE, of
Petersburg, F. B. DEANE, jr., OF Lynchburg, JOHN
r. CHAMBLIss, of Greensville, THos. II. CAMPBELL,
Senator from the Nottoway district, and Col: w.
MUNroRD, of Richmond They all made quite ami
mated speeches. The burthen OF the song of all ex-
cept Col M. was Norfolk and Petersburg. Norfolk
was the great seaport with Messrs DEANE and
CHAMBLIss, Petersburg seemed to be hrst with Mr..
MEADE, while Mr. CAMPBELL divided his compli-
ments quite equally between the two. Col. NUN.
FORD steered clear OF all conflicting matters, and
| made no supplcation for Richmond, under the idea
that it was no begging expedition but really an oc
casion of general rejoicing tor the passage OF the
Alleghanies by Virginia Railroad.
1t is but just to all the gentlemen, however, to say
that they INDUCED the most patriotic sentiments on
| the chief point of the ceiebraton-the grand con-
| summation of breaking through the great bar
rier of the Allegheny Mountains, and uniting East
| ern and Western Virginia with iron bands Messrs
| Meade Chamhiss, and Campbell, all expressed
| their admir- alton and W0ndeF at lhe HiaShIuCcnCc
| and productiveness OF the country. They had no
idea of it at all and now, that the railroad WAS
| built and they came to look upon such country
| they were astonished that they had known SO huIe
| of it and said Mr. Chambliss, the great wonder
was how did it happen that it was reserved tor the
year 1854 for this vast and magnificent country to
find an outlet to the seaboardf Mr.. c. took serious
blame to the East for this delay, and he asked par
| don for their sins.
Col. Munford spoke eloquently of the intercourse
| social and commercial, TO be established by ita
| road communication between the East and West,
and the effect upon the general prosperity OF the
State. He described in glowing language the de
lights of mountain life and the peculiar satisfaction
| a iauut TO the mountains afforded citizen OF an
eastern town after long and close confinement at
| his vocation
1t is not to be supposed that these fellctous ora
tions were devoid OF compliments to the Ladles.
| Certainly not they came in for full share Mr.
Meade opened the ball and after fashion In which
poetry and utilita,1anism were remarkably blend
| ed He considered one great blessing CT the Rail-
road TO be the promotion of social intercourse De
tween the East and the West and he argued that
| great beneSts would flow from b-that the low
lander would get mountain wife and thus a ruddy
| GLOW would soon be impaired to the pale faces OF
Ss Fast He trusted that the habit OF marrying