The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-05-21
GEN. QufTMAN AND fEaEonatA AND SOUTH
CAROLINA DELEGATION 10 MEMPHIS.


CAROLINA DEtEuATfON 10 MEMPHIS.
On the 4th instant, when the steamer John
simumis landed mt vicksbtirg on her voyage to
New,Uflcans, Il became known TO tho passengers
that Gen. Qnt,nnn hud come OH bonrd The
Georgia and South Curolinu delegation niniedi-
n,cly determined TO testify their respect for his
distinguished mitnry and political services The
Hon. Solomon Cohen, on the part Of the Geor-
ginns alId Gen.. WilIium r.. Murtn, on the part
of the Caroinians. were appointed to represent
their respective delegations.
Gen. Martin saidtsE !;
General Quitmaa ave have on board largo
number of Georgians and Carolnians now re-
turning homcward from the Memphis celebration.
This nuspiciOus event, nt,commernorating the Union
of the Atlantic and the Mississippi has been the
led to the formation of acquaintance, and free
dom of intercourse. The usual spectacle OF so
largo n number from tile Atlantic States on one
boat OH this magnificent stream, is Mt the same
time the result and the illustration of this union
by iron bands. But Of all the ugrcelb incidents
to which this cxcursioI has given rise, where
many will be rcmemhercd with pleasure, moth
ing has gratiiied more than the accession to
our circle afforded by your prcse' ce.
The occasion and the hour l:30 p. my will
not justify me in heightened remarks nor would
they be suitable under any circumstances. This
demonstrations spontaneous OH the part Of your
fellow-citizens-we design hearty and heart
felt Offering. You could wish ITO mlorc-wc could
give no less. AS Southerners we greet you-
the defender of the rights and the equality of the
South Your uniform, consistent, fearless advo-
cacy OF our institutions merits our admiration and
our gratitude. We beg you TO be assured that
our sentiments nrc those of the people whom we
represent Put sir, dear as you are to lis rs n
statesman, there IS II still more tender tie that
binds Carolinans to you. We never, 10, never,
can forget that under your leadership the Pal
metto regiment marched to glory and the grave
There was Butler demanding for his regiment
"a place i'll the picture" Dickinson, who would
be ''ncarer TO the flashing of the guns" and
Gluddeh receiving the standard from his dying
commander and bearing it to victory. And your
friend, the lamentcd Brooks, and others equally
brave whose names time would fail us to men.
ton, led by the "SoutLern Chief" the cpitaph
may well be that of Argyle
s'Thore was glory in his eye,
And hc never marched to battle
More proudly than to die"
Again, sir, oil the part of the South Caroliui
ans here present, assure you that we are much
geatified by the opportunity of extending to YOU
this greeting.
MIR. Cohen rose and said: General Quitman
we are now returning from the grand celebration
Mt Memphis which has Just been concluded in
conlnemoration of the union Of the mighty At.
lantlc with the majestic river which we now
fioat, and derive much pleasure in meeting with
one SO closely allied to in all things that bind
man to man. In thus meeting YOU, sir-a warm
homes, it seems n happy coincidence, for l look
with pleasure and the most happy authorizations,
upon this union of The Southern Atlantic with the
Valley of the Mississippi, not SO much for its COM
mercial acknowledgement though they bc-as
for the ccnenting together States unitcdIy com
munty of interests, of feelings and of institutions
-lnstitutlons against which the whole civilized
world are now mady arraycd. But sir, NAV
not OH this occasion, anplify, and again cxprcss
10 you our heartfelt qualifications at meeting with
n ICf ifC SnI tt,.,E Il 4
and noble daring, and in the halls of lcrisla ton
for patriotism that must ever command orr re
spcct and love.
Gen 3",tnan responded! RS follows:
Ladies aud Gentlemen have Just returned
from the swainps Of Mississippi and little expect
cd q demonstration so fattermg rs that which has
listtakenplace. lcannot but feel proud at meet
ing so many of my fellow-citizens from the At
lantic scahoard. Until very lately, the citizens
OF my own State, have been better acquainted
With those north and northwest Of them than
with their brethren of South Carolina, Georgia,
and Alabama This has bcen altogether owing
10 Tie iac that the great connecting routes have
LED them necessarily in another direction. This
IS now happily obvated by the completion of the
Memphis and Cha-!c:.o oR Rai.r0at-whichi is very
properly n fit subject of congratuaton, political
y, as well us socially and cOmnercially
Since 1882, have been more or less connected
with the leading men of South Carolina and
Georgia. and have always acted with them in the
r.
ests and institutions, and can say frankly TINT l
have ever found them conservative, public spirit-
eq. have always acted with my party as far
as could, but huve ever been ready to raise NV
voice III behalf Of the much abused State of South
Carolina. [Cheers.] | am peculiarly prutifed
in being spoken of in connection with The Pal
metlo Kegrnent, whose daring and mpctuosity
won for them an honorable position on many n
hard-fought field in Mexico
You have been pleased, gentlemen, to allude
| IN complimentary terms of my public services
/ thank you for your appreciation of them. For
thirty years, it has heen my uim and purpose to
maintain the equality of the Southern States of
thls Union. claim nogrcater merit than to have
expressed ny sentiments freely frankly, boldly,
without regard to consequences.
AS was remarked by The gentleman from eor-
gia (Mr. Cohen that the world is in arms apuinst
us on the subject of domestic slavery-but with
the cotton plant, fertile country, and slave la
Dnr, we have but 10 be true tp ourselves to main
tam our position, regardless ofconsequences and
say to you gentlemen, that it is our duty 10
maintain nm equality at any and every hazard
You have been pleased 10 refer to my public
services III Mexico Isee among you IN old friend
anatIve OF Georgia, member of the gallant Ain
@ 6ama regiment, (Alajor Goode Bryan, ofAugusta,
1a,) ana II opportunity had been afforded to that
gallant band from Georgia equal to those enioy-
ed by Others, they would have won as many
laurels, and worn them gracefully as auy in
the service or the South Carolina Regiment r
nm III condition to speak az Of those under my
immediate command; und hdve no hesitation
in saying that Lraver set of men than the Pal
metto Regiment never faced an enemy in ths
held. There was ButIer-my friend-the i'm
personation of chivalry; and Dickinson, GLADDEN.
ana Brooks, than whom never did bravcr mer
wear an epauette; and 40 was the Regiment
One of You. gentlemen, has referred to me as the
Father OF the Regiment Il desire no more hon.
orabie title than that Of The Southern Chieftain
Identified with the South in my feelings hopes,
forever. In conclusion, gentlemen, allow me
again to thank you for your kind and cordial re.
ception.
Gen. Quitman was presonted to the ladies on
9oard' the following gentlemen were then intro-
duced to Gen. Qutman:
From s: C-GenereI VIM. E. Martin, Captain
Joseph Walker, w. II. Belts, II. L. Butterfield,
Wm; % a; Courtenay, George KiddslI Samuel C.
i,n D,aek' II. Is. oney. Ed Sebring s. s. Howell, Sr
J. Walker, w. J. Arson. Thos Reilly. Jobn TT