The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-12-18
FLom the New Orleans True Delta, Sd.
Hon. stephen A. Douglas at New Or.
leans.

Hon. stephen A. Douglas at New Or
leans.
Tile People out to Welcome Him-7ende
ed the Freedom Of fMeCHy-EntAuiast
deception.
g ALont two o'clock yesterday afternoon
$ burst of sunshine lighted up the city, tn;
:, :, had been during the forenoon under tn
z gloomy influence oft damp and rather dis
. agreeable atmosphere. About two o'cloc
' the people in the great resorts of politica
5 and social agitation were earnestly discus:
ing the suh>ets naturally excited by tn
z great and engrossing topic of the day--th
l anticipated arrival of Stephen A. Douglas
Apart from the differences Of opinion Oh
miner matters, which were natural, the feel
ing everywhere shown was extraordinar,
tlattering to the Senator from Illinois. Thl
feeling, be it remembered, and by thought
full and earnest men it will be, was not tn,
result Of any momentary enthuiasm, not ~
unthinking expression excited by infuenc.
such as to lead judgment at the time in tn,
direction that would not be endorsed ir
ca:mer moments. Far an very differen,
was the expression of public opinion, for il
was in sincere and medtated CONVERSE
without an exception that could possibly be
deemed worthy of notice, the opinion Of the
people was earnestly csngratulatory of the
significant triumph Of Douglas over the pal
try ostracism anu the daring opposition that
he lately met with. This sober, earnest en-.
! dorsement Of the course of Senator Douglas
( is, and shoald be, one of the highest guer-
dons that his glorious mind and gallant soul
could long for; and the men who hold such
sentiments will in good time realize the am
bition that righttully is theirs-to elevate
| him to position where his brilliant intel.
iect will have room and scope CROUCH to dis
play itself
Abou. tro o'clock the town was on the
4ai rire, as it was generally announced that
the City OF Neinphis s,eamboat-on which
it was known Judge Douglas was coming
down the river-was expected to a rive at
her wharf about 3 O'Clock. The mornin.
and v.uins papers had published the an
nouncement o! the ciiizens' intended well
come, and the previous days papers had
told OF the action Of the common council in
resolving TO make him the guest Of the city,
and as DO b were but reflection Of the pop
pular idea, the interest manifested may be
easily imagined. Three o'clock arrived and
passed, however, and no account Of the
boat was generally made known, bat the
citlz1ns committee aad the city authorities
were advised that she had passed Baton
Rouge az half past SIX q. m, SO that her ar
rival, unless accident occurred, would GER
tainly be between FIVE and eight o'clock
Tne people being uncertain abogt the mat
ter. remained up town, but the first guns
had scarcely announced the approach: Of the
boat, when crowds were locking down to
the steamboat landing, and by the time the
Vesse' got to her mooring opposite Girou
street, multitude were s"armng on every
available part OF the boat and thronging on
the wharf.
The scene from the steamboat was GER
ta;nly gran exciting one Alon. the line
Of the ievee. far as the eye could reach, the
lamps Of the shipping shone like stars
through the darkness on either side. For
cons 'Gerabie distance above and below, the
steamboat fires CLEANED and threw their lu-
rid ligh, on the far-stresching piles Of mcr-
chandize laid out in solid array over the
bread space bstweea the river and ,hSf hof sarer
Aud in the iorsgrsgg4tfp gSdnfTned and stirling
TO pierce the gloom, and fix 4 recognizn:
glance on the form and features Of the Lit
tie Giant, and falling, woui! relieve them
selves by spontaneous and deafenlng cheer.
And more expressive still was the crowd
" 90 rushed on board before the lines Of the
boat were fastened, thinking 10 get the first
Y glimpse OF the champion Of the liberties and
hts Of the Southern States.
Aad amid all this excitement and enthu
iasrn. the cannon thundered out its .fea dc
j0ie, waking the echoes OF the broad riyar
aud the broader city beside it, The Wash
ington Artillery, under command OF Col. ,
" alton, fired the salute for the Guest cf
the city OF New Orleans" and in right SOL F.,
derly manner was the duty performed.
After some difficulty, Mayor S,ith, with |,
members of the committee of e common 1
ccunc |, made their way on board, the ap
proach to the upper deck or saloon of which /
was rigediy and very properly prevented, |
until the arrival of the city authorities.-
The municipal representatives then proceed /.
ed to the ladies portion Of the saloon, where
Senator Douglas was awaiting. Sevsral /
members Of the citizens committee were al /
so among those who first greeted the gal 1
liant Senator, but without any formaIty, |
leaving the public reception to the Mayor !
and aide. man Of New Orleans.
The ceremony of introducing the Senator |
and Mayer was performed by Robert r. |
Ward, Esq and the former was then pre- !
sented to Mrs. Douglas, as right royal and
noble, though unassumins looking lady, as
there is in the land, and no would beft the
loitiest station her glorious husband could !
be placed in.
The Mayor then informed the Senator that
he would escort him to his hotel, and both,
followed by members of the council and 9th
er gentleman, proceeded to leave tie boat
and reach the carriage. But this was not
at all an easy matter. The people wanted
to see Douglas, wanted 10 greet him with
their usual enthusiasm, meet him with q
thoroughly hearty and not a dainty well |
c. me, receive him in who'e-souled style free |
from that hallow but polite courtesy, and
worthless but impressive courtliness, which |
they knew 1.-The noblost Roman Of them
all would have spurned in his heart, had |
they been rendered him. And so there was |
an uncurbed desire to get near the gallant
statesman, to have look at features that |!
had never palcd before bitter and unre!ent- |
ing political enmity. aud to hear the sound
of the voice that had reverbcrated through |
the Senate halls of the federal capitol and
over his own broad State, and never with |
scents that had faltered in what he con-
ceived to be the exposition and doctrine of
true patriotism.
The carriages was reached at length, and |
amid wild enthusiasm, the Senator, accom- |
panied by Mayor Stth, Adam Griffin, Esq, |
treasury Of the city. Alderman Z b )nway, and |
assistant Alderman Leefe, were seated, and
the procession moved towards the st Charles
Hotel.
The carriages stopped at the front en-
trance on st. Charles street, but the dense
crowd about the place presented formida-
bic though friendly phalanx to push through
so the order was given to drive to the Com
mon street entrance, but even that arrange
ment was not very successful in avoiding
the rush; for, though tn Chief Of Police
and his special officers secured easy access
into the building, the passages leading to
the front portco were thoroughly packed.
But the gentleman who attended the Sena-
tor persevered and brought him safely in
front of the hotel.