Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-24
The Visit Of the Boston and Providence Kn,gh,,
Templar.

II.
Tsmplar.
Previous to leaving Washington ON Sa,ur
day last for their homes, the X nights 1rmpl,r
marched up to the White House, and w.r,.
shown into the East room, when soon Their.
after the President appeared. and wa Ore.
scented to the Knights by Col. French. IN
neat speech.
The President responded n follow / nm
roioiced 10 receive the Knights in the Eyr,u
tive mansion Of the country. am AWAY.
rejoiced Ia find large and respectable pir.
ton Of our countrymen from the North On,
visit to the South They have partaken e
Southern hospitality, | have 10 doub, y,
Richmond; and if they went to Richmopi
with any prejudices against the South. | ea,i
confident they have been removed by their
intercourse with that warm hearted mi
generous people: and although they neys-
will be called upon 10 defend their Hos
Sepulchre ut Jerusalem. a. had the Kuicl,
Templars of old. Vet | have no doult tI,v
will be read To defend what is equally val.
uable-the constitution and the union Of the
country-nOt with swords, but with mora
influence. and with the strength aud power
OF their example. APPLAUSE The Union
Is, indeed, the most precious legacy left o.
us by our ancestors-the most precious lesa
cy that ever any people enjoyed. The race
OF Revolutionary patriots and heroes has
passed away. That sacred deposit is commit
ted to the men of the present generation, AMI
trust that every man, individually, will
make it matter of conscience and a pride t.
exert all JUST influence to perpetuate our
glorious institutions, and To preserve the
constitution and Union for generations L.
come. (Appause.l | thank You all, gen
tlemen. for the honor OF this visit, and ,ha.!
be very happy To clasp the hand OF each one
OF you.
When they were about to depart. the Prov
dence Band, of which Mr.. Green is leader,
and the best bugler extant, struck up "Auli
Lang Syne." The scene WAS lmpre~Siyr,
and the President manifested much emotion
The Baltimore American referring To the
recent visit to Richmond OF the Knights
Templar says:
80 preserre the Union, make the people
Ofths tmo sectiomS TeN acquainted ruth eGct
other, this is the whole theory. But how
can it be carried into practice? In answer
to this question, we point 10 the city Of Rich.
mond, Virginia.
We behold u Southern city full of excite
ment and fjoy, dispensing II noble hospI-
tally day after day, making merry from the
rising of the sun to the going down of the
same, and keeping up the hilarity until late
at night, and all i'll honor Of Northern gentle.
men who came to visit this Southern city.
The papers tsem with accounts Of the pro
cessions, the music, the firing of cannon, the
receptions, the banquets, the greeting Of the
ladies, the cheers Of the citizens, the speech
es, the pleasure trips, the serenades, the
decorations of the public halls and the
hotels, the showering of roses on the guests
while ut the theatre, beautifully ornamented
for the occasion. From the moment the knIghI
Templar of Boston and Providence set loot
on the soil of Virginia, at Aqua Creek, 10 til.
last moment of their departure, incessant and
cordial attentions were paid them. ltwa'a
triumphant ovation. No man of sense aud
sensibilitv can read the accounts gwen b.
reporters, who themselves seen.
ed to be warmed by the fire of general COL
feeling, without being touched, for surely
there il no sight on earth more touching than
the reconciliation of brethren who have been
The reception given to the Knights Temp
lar recalls similar reception given last year
10 the Seventh Regiment of New York, and
in this same city of Richmond. These are
but the beginning, We trust, Of system Of
inequalities and courtesies.
Let all the great associations. the MaSons, the
Odd Fellows. and others, follow the excellent
example set them by the Sir Knights, let
great cities invite great cities, let legislator"
visit legislature, let the States vote money aud
pay to promote the continual intrrchang" "l
and then let demagogn.s de- their
worst. E.Sto pe,petmm will be the motto 81
he Union, in spite Of them.