American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-03-01
Correspondents of the American Union. I"
CINCINNATI, Feb. 25. 1856.

the 22d, in commemoration of the ma
tai day of our glorious Washington, is
in every body's mouth, and of course i
cannot be silent. 10 say it was the
finest ever gotten up for the OCCASION,
is not an cxaggcration. The day dawn
ed beautifully, amidst the roar of can
non, upon a great city clad in holiday
attire. Wherever flags and devices
could be hung, they were put; and
long lines of streets, with houses al
most literally covered with flags, pro-
duced most splendid effect. At ma
ny places, elegant arches were thrown
over the streets, and notable, sight
was live eagle placed on platform.
IN the middle Of 4th street, in a sea of
flags. Crowds of people thronged the
streets, from all sections of the country.
AT an early hour the various bodies
were forming into procession, which a.
bout 10 o'clock began to move, to the
inspiring strains of our national airs.
1t was certainly enough to make one
| feel patriotic. The military display
was very fine. The Cumberland Con-
tinentals attracted attention, and won
golden opinions by their elegant regi-
mentals, that of the Continental SOL
diers, and their soldierly bearing
The Law Grcys, of Baltimore, and the
Liberty Guards, of St. Louis, were no.
ticeable for their fine training and mil
itary excellence. The whole affair
passed off without accident. At night
the city was very generally illuminated
and it produced magnificent effect
The whole city and "the rest of man
kind seemed to have disgorged into
the streets, so that at many attractive
points, it was next to impossible to pass
along. Many of our public buildings
were lit up with various emblematic de-
vices II, fire, and every where the do
main of night was invaded with streams
of light from multitudes of candles,
Several banquets and balls were had
at night and especially banquet was
served at the Burnet house, at which
1000 guests, were seated, including the
Governor and Legislature ofour State.
On Sunday the Rover Guards, accom-
panied their friends the Law Greys
and the Cumberland Contincntals to
I DIR. Nicholson's church, where they lis
tened to an excellent discourse from LIST
Timothy 6. u: eight the good fight
! of faith 1t was beautiful sight,
these three companies, in uniform,
marching into church, with the precise
step of military dicipline. On the
whole, the much talked of Ovation,
passed off to the satisfaction of our cit
liens and their guests. If you will
scatter among the points of the forego-
ing description any quantity of hurras,
children and bad liquor, you will have
a good idea of the 22d.
The city papers, this morning ore
full of the breaking up of the ice in the
Ohio, on yesterday. 1t was a fearful
~ exciting time. The bells of all the
steamers rung out their alarms, and
our citizens thronged the levee. 1t is
said to have been grand sight, and
though human lives were perilled, / be-
lieye but one person isreported to have
been fatally injured. A large number
OF people were on the steamer Flag,
which in almost moment, was reduc-
ed to shapeless and complete wreck !;
and as her steam was up, general fire
was anticipated, but the fire was happi-
~ put out. The papers report eight
steamers sunk and mary others injured.
The loss will be very great. What is
singular about the carelessness Of hui
man life is that while the ice was break
ing up, and the danger was the most
imminent, persons would crowd on the
boats, and in many instances, were ac-
tually driven off by streams of cold
water from the fire engines, which
were on hand to quell fire should one
break out. The ice is now floating off,
and business will soon be resumed on
the river, after its obstruction for fifty
three days.
The fugitive slave case, which excl
ted such general attention some time
ago, has not yet been decided. In
| dictments have been found for murder,
and the fugitiycs are now in the custo-
dy of the State authorities. A clash
ing is very likely to occur in these ca
ses, which may sometime lead to seri-
Gus difficulties between the State and
United States officers; but in this case,
though the public mind has been excl.
ted to a great degree, there seems a
disposition to meet questions between
the Jurisdictions fairly and quietly
a noticeable circumstance connected
with these cases, was the speech of
Mrs. Lucy Stone Blackwell, in the
Courtroom, in which she held the
owner of the slaves to promise which
she alleged he had made, to set the
slaves free, whatever the decision Of
| the Commissioner might be.