The Nevada journal., 1856-02-29

WAshIN oToN's BIRTH DAY-CELEBRA
) TON AT FoLsoM.-The grand theatre o
| the celebration of the anniversary o
Washington's birthday occurred at Fol
: som. There all our public men were con
) grcgated, and there was the only celebra
| ton in California worth reporting. Th,
! Governor was there, the Legislature wa
there, and the candidate of the American
f party for the U. s. Senate was there
Speeches were made, toasts were drank
and there were "dancing and revelry BY
night" The day was most happily spent
Judging from our contemporaries, and some
very happy speeches were made. Sena-
tor Flint of San Francisco was the first
gentleman called upon for a speech, and
his remarks were SO appropriate to the
occasion and so truly Californian in spirit
that we copy them:
i LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-You are here to
celebrate day made sacred in the annals of the
American Republic as the birthday of the
immortal Washington, name revered ard
honored IN every land where freedom has vo-
tary, or the human heart throbs with hope
of national liberty. You are here as q portion
of the American people, whose lot is on the
western slope of this continent, to give up, in
common with your brethren in the far East.
heart offerings to the Father of his Country,
for the inestimable blessings which his heroism
and that OF his compatriots have conferred up
on you. Let this day, and the occasion of its
annual return, awaken within you the livelest
sensibillty, and the most profound devotion to
your common inheritance. You are here also,
to-day, to celebrate the Inauguration and for
NAL opening OF the railway which, with its iron
bands is soon to span continent and embrace
Two oceans. Memorable occasion be this, be-
cause upon this iron superstructure is based
that evidence OF the permanent prosperity of
the commonwealth, which gives token that the
realities OF our liberty shall endure forever
When L survey the scene before me, and wit
ness on every hand the peaceful hamlet, and
my eyes meet the glance of lovely women aHd
their little ones, sensations of amazement over
Whelm me. SIX years since visited this spot
A few pack mules then suficed to do the car
ryng trade OF the entire region. They wound
their uncertain way over steep hill-sides, thro'
dark canons, and away into the trackless will
derness, where now is being upreared, as bv
magic hand, the peaceful metropolis Then
tolled the isolated miner, armed to the teeth
as he delyed for the gittering gold, or strug-
gled with the savage for empire.
To-day, the iron horse, that mightiest tri.
umph OF human art, pants along the metallic
way, tireless and uncurbed in his strength, and
impatient to dare the far off. To-day, the
minds forecast brings into present communion
the time, wren the iron arms stretched out by
few patriotic citizens of California, shall
grasp, with fraternal embrace, those other iron
bands which the people of Missouri are reach
ing out to us from the Father of Waters; the
mind glows over the "time coming" when the
electric spark, over the great continent, from
ocean to ocean, will vibrate in instantaneous
pulsation. All honor to the few self.sacrificing
citizens who have built this first Pacific rail,
way. Let its superstructure be forever their
lasting monument.
Citizens of California, deem this fitting
occasion to call upon you to aid this great
work. Thus far the railway has sped its sue
cessful cars into the heart OF our glorious State
Beyond this and before US are mighty obstruc-
tions, and to overcome them we must have
union. What prophetic vision can measure
the destiny before US? Possessing country
endowed with every element which can make
people great and happy, the Omnipotent has
imposed it upon us as our mission, to spread
throughout the dark regions of the Pacific
ocean the blessings Of science. Let US, then,
Danish from us the spirit of faction; let us all
be Califo rniaDs. What matters it whether we
hail from the North, the South, the East or
the West; whether liberty was the inheritance
of our birthright, or as needy pilgrims from
foreign shores we fled from oppression to its
joyful embrace; let US all as brothers, having
community of interest on this sacred occasion,
resolve, that henceforth and forever, no sec
tional strifes, which at this time are rending
the councils of our unhappy brethren on the
Atlantic side, shall ever fnd q resting place in
our beloved empire.
Fellow-citizens, let us put our shoulder to
the wheel, to the drive-wheel of the great Pa
cifc railway, and by united effort, roll it on.
ward and over the mountains TO the East, and
by your example Of patient industry, let after
ages know that you were not unmindful of the
duty you owe to progress and liberty.
Col. Zabriskie, Gov Foote, and Messrs.
Sherman and Garrison followed Mr. Flint
Gov. johnson was called for after Gov.
Foote, but did not respond. After while
Gov. Foete was called upon for a second
speech. He commenced about in this
strain: "Gentlemen-When was a living
Governor, as now am dead Governor,
[ was always in the habit of responding to
every CALL" sc. At the close of his re-
marks, Gov. johnson was again most
loudly called for. He began thus: "Gcn-
tlemen-when / was living Senator, as
| am now dead Senatorial this point
the laughter and cheering was too great
to permit any one to hear the rest of the
remarks of Gov. johnson.
PHeNIxrANA; OR, SKETCHES AND BUR-
LEseuEs. By John Phoenix. New York:
|