The weekly American banner. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1855-18??, 1856-07-11
THE CANTON RAILROAD AND
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRA.

We have put of to the last syllable Of recor.
led time, that Is till the devil IS too inpor-
lunate tobe resisted and says the letter is nearly
put and but one column Of space left-our notice
81 this long.to-be-remember festive day. And |
now the forms Of beauty-the bright scene with
its vast assembly Of fair women and brave men,
The flower and chivalry and talent Of the State,
that graced that occasion, are glimmering away
In the distance, where all bright memories are
stored. In vain we call them up-in vain try to
convey our impressions to paper. The iron Is
cold, and we must content ourselves with but
meagre outline Of what might have been, had we
dotted down our thoughtsand caught the feeting
shadows as they few.
The celebration at Canton In commemoration !
of our National Anniversary and of the compile
ton of the New Orleans and Great Northern
Railroad was the fneet pffair of the kind in
which it has been our fortune to participate The
place selected was about half-mile south Of
Canton where spacious axbor had been erected,
at one extremity of which was platform beaut
fully decorated.
The concourse numbering some two or three
thousand persons, was welcomed, on behalf Of the
people of Madison, by Col. NJ. Jones, in brief
but fslicitious and appropriate speech. He was
responded to by c. E. Hooker, Esq, of jackson,
on behalf Of the company. Mr.. Hooker's reply,
though entirely impromptu, was exceedingly taste
full, happy and eloquent
After prayer by the Rev. Me-. Samson, the
Declaration Of Independence was finely read by
Mr.. Postelle, of Canton, which wa followed by
the Grafton Of the Day, by Mr.. Mcbride, of the
same place. A number of gentlemen were then
vociferously called upon by the crowd, and nearly
oil responded in appropriate speeches: Messrs.
Henry, Upper, Byrne, Miles. McWillie, Martin,
Van Vacter, McRae and others.
We should like TO particularize the speakers
and their speeches, and regret we must fall short
Of doing justice to them, If we attempt it. Mr..
McBride's speech was one Of the best Fourth of
July orations we have listened to, but the crowd
was so great, that but a small portion of it got
near enough to hear it; besides, Babel was no.
thing to the confusion Of tongues that prevailed.
A large and beautifully decorated Cake was
brought in after the main speeches were made,
and set upon the desk. 1t was made by our &C.
complished friends Mrs. T. Shackelford and Mrs.
Dawson. Banners and streamers, with the names
LOT the distinguished" guests, were floating from
its stand, and under each name was beautiful
developed note, containing sentiment given by
the Ladies of Canton to their guests. DR.
Martin, who seems to be great favorite, was
chosen to represent them in reading the senti
ments.
Our excellent and gallant Governor, j. j. McRae
was first noticed in most appropriate manner. H.
was called upon to respond, but not in hearing
at the moment. Afterwards he made speech full
of patriotic sentiments, which was enthusiastically
received.
our long -taIne mlenu, the guiiuut COL. DfonfOr
JONES, was called out by sentiment rather broadl
limiting at his state of single blessedness 1t plan
said that the Ladies of Madison were only anxiou
tc know if Barkis ,ras ,cillin" The gallan
and popular gentleman rose to reply amid the cheer
Of the multitude. He said it was true, too trut
alas that he was bachelor; but that he could al
sure the Ladies and the public. it was not his fault
his record would satisfy the most ardent partizan
matrimony, that he had tried many time, and thu
now he could say from his heart that Barlis wi
] not only waitin'. but willin'." Whereupon. D
Martin gave hin. gentle inclination forward. ter
the Ladies to take him-.frst come, first serUed
opened his arms, as if to embrace the whole inst
tuition of womanhood." and in his most gracef
manner jumped down from the stand among the d
lighted audience We do not know how many L
u dies tried TO secure him, but there was decide
q move among the muslins and tissues in the pla
i where we stood, till we saw there was no chanc
% the rush was such general one.
(, Mr.. Van vacter, 81 the Commonwealth, was ca
ed out, and made short but excellent speech en-
% half of the Press. -
:. A sentiment to our friends, Melville and Tupp'
. as Directors of the New Orleans, jackson and Gre
Northern Railroad, brought the ex-Congressma
y Col VIM. Melville, to the stand. He spoke of t
:, glorious memories of the day, and of the growi
10 prospects of Canton bright future lay before h
and it would not be long before vcksburg and JAG
" son would be but suburban appendages Of that gr
+ inland seat OF trade and commercell Some peo]
r. laughed at this, but the imaginative orator said
=, had said it. and should not take it back By the
: q word in private to Col Melville: Don't y
. ever make another political speech; you always
" when you speak Of the sins Of the Wings, the Uni
10 men and the Know -Nothings, and crying don't
n come your style Of beauty We never before KIN
De the Colonel was handsome-it is for the reas
ty above stated that he always cries in political spec
n. es. HE poetical quotations in apostrophe to
Ladies, were beautiful and appropriate and
dare say, no speech he ever made, even in the hs
re of Congress, made such an impression as that sh
IN one at the Canton Celebration.
e-l Our friend, J. s. Byrne. Of the vicksburv Am.