The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-10-16
| THE TWELFTH OFSEP TEMPER INSAA
FRANCISTO
REUNION OF BALTIMOREANS.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE MONUMENTAL ENGINE CO
Address of Hon. Reverdy johnson


~
From The San Fr4ncisco Epening Bulletin, Sept l3l
As we went to press yesterday, the Monumental
were at their Tenth Anniversary Dinner makips
fuckers Academy ring again with the clatter o
their feeding tools, and the sound of their merri
ment WINNER had spread four long tables, th,
central one of which surrender ed to the invited
guests. Foreman Silverthone presiding.
In the evening, Platt's Music Hall, decorated
with many yard of Union flags, was the centre O.
attraction. The main floor was cleared for the
dancers. The galleries, by O'Clock were filled
with ladies and gentlemen. At 81 the band gave
the first piece and then the invited guests entered
| two by two and stood around the platform
Judge P. W. Shepheard then briefly and happily
introduced the Hon. Reverdy johnson, of MARYLAND
whose appearance was greeted with cheers by tbs
gentlemen, and waving tandkerchiers by the ladies
| HON. REvERDY JoHNsoNs ADDREss
Gentemen of the Monumental Engine Company:
The task, which at your solicitation rise to fuI
I'll, found impossible to decline The city from
which you come-the name which you have
adopted-and the anniversary which you have Sc
| lected, made your request command which
| could not, if had wished, disobeyed-and vet how
am to perform it? You desire ga short address "
| What are the topics to be considered? Certainly
none of the many, and for the most part idle OF
mischievnus ones minglng in the political contest
in which the country is engaged. If had suppos
| ed that you had these in contemplatiOn should
have proved rebel, and refused obedience
MY visit to your State was for professional OBJ
Ject combined with the opportunity it would afford
me OF being personally acquainted with this aston
shing part of the globe, in its physical develop.
ment, and the almost equally astonishing exertior
OF American energy and enterprise, here exhibited
| hoped, and have not been disappointed to meet
all as friends united in one common cause the main
tenance and spread of enlightened freedom and the
steadfast and permanent support of that form OF
government by whose power alone, this, your land
became part of the United States and under
Providence is destined, with all your sister States
to condition of individual happiness political lib
| erty and national renown, great these now are
greater than was ever possessed by associated man
or than the most sanguine Imagination can con.
| ceive.
Nothing could induce me to degrade the tboupbts
which these considerations suggest, by combioipp
with them those that belong to the eal0usies rival
rles, personal animosities and low ambition W whch
| unfortunately so much disfgure the mere party
contests of the hour. OF none of these therefore
propose to speak, Let success attend either of the
standards now unfured by their respective lead
ers the country and our glorious Constitution in
continuing splendor will still be ours and even the
remembrance of the existing angry and mainly un.
natural conflict be soon forgotten in our continu
ing progress in prosperity and power.
On what subjects, then, shall / address you
You were of Maryland-you are of California
Topics applicable to these two conditions would
seem to be the most appropriate. They are, how
ever, too numerous for ga short address," for the
II,
that could give to it. A selection, therefore,
must be made; and, in making this, you must trust
to me. Maryland Baltmore-was your home
Monumental, the synonym of the latter you have
adopted as your name. The 18th of September, a
oay sacred In her memory, and cOnsecrated by the
blood OF her citizens noby shed in her defence and
ever since one OF her anniversaries you have with
grateful pride made your own.
Here, on this far distant land-then not even in
mans imagination to be part of our country. but
at present not only part but an important mart of
it-are TO be seen her citizens with hundreds nj
thousands of Others seeking fortune and bapniness
within the embraces of Union abundantly CONNIE.
tent to protect people and States, though snread
over territory extending from "the easternmost
cliff on the Atlantic that kindles in the mornings
dawn, to the last prOmontory on the Pacific which
catches the parting kiss of the sum- as he descends
to his pavilion of purple and gold" 1t is not there
tore out OF place to speak to YOU of Baltimore and
OF your present home, and in such particulars as
the circumstances referred to will permit This IN
me Is work OF love, in which | am sure Won will
| cheerfuy participate.
Baltimore,a town many years before, in l79G, be-
came city. Her rapid growth in population and
territory made 1t necessary in that wear to clotbe
her with more extended corporate powers which
was done by charter Of singular liberality. Her
progress has since continued with increased celebrity
until she has now population of some $50 900 or
| 3O0,OOO souls; and trade, internal coastwise and
foreign, that makes her one of the priucpaI ci,ec
on the Atlantic. With a climate of unsurpassed
salubrity, location of great beauty and capable Of
almost endless extension and the Cbesaneake Raw
her outlet to the ocean-a bay in foveliness, magni
tude and capability for navigation, equal to the
noble one which is the pride and wealth of this CITY
and with water power and supply of fuel exceeded
nowhere, her march in the future, must be eyer
more rapid and her prosperity more accelerated
! than they have been in the past
During her history, however, she has met will
| lmpediments, but has never failed to surmoun
them. Popular outbreaks she has had to encoun
ter, but after a momentary paralysis she nobIv on(
successfully quelled them. The law yindicated anr
| her good name restored. For few wears nast sb,
has also had political disorders. These are now M
| more. Quiet reigns within her entire limits anr
lite, property and every personal and political right
are there as secure as in any city in our land a re
suit in which all of the good and wise of our citi
zens heartily rejoice. But in addition to these diff
| iculties, she has had one other Sne was assaiIeC
! by foreign foe, fresh from the vandaic sackino
! OF our national Capitol, even more disgracefuI r.
him than 1T was to US, affixing it did blot upor
the English name which ages will not remove, Ar
| easy conquest was anticipated. Attacking by sea
ana land with detenses on part known to be fan
from complete, and with a citizen sodiery in a preat
measure undisciplined, the enemy never even i'm
| agined failure.
Little did he know the American temper Little
dld ne remember the accuracy of the American
rifle. Disregarding or ignorant of both he landed
near the city an army flushed with their recent vic
| tory, and justly proud of the glory which. as enc
mics OF Napoleon, they had achieved on many a
pioouJ vi european peninsula, and at once
commenced his march, With that reckless darino
which characterized their chief, Gen. Ross kent.
from the first considerably in advance of his col.
umns, when, from thicket, where were skiIfully
concealed Its inmates, several cracks of the rife
were heard, and down fell the chief with a mortal
wound, On the 18th September, ISl4-tbe day OF
| your anniversary. Heaven had sped the patriotic
messenger of death, and he who was the instru-
ment in wingng its flight met, with his associates
as they no doubt anticipated almost instantane.
Gus death.
What nober fate can man have? To die once
| none can escape. To fall nobly, in defence of his
country and in saving his home from desolation,
ana mothers, sisters and wives from the dishonor
whlch often attends it-h0w serene and happy must
be the last moments of the dying soder-how
cheerful and bright the last gaze he fixes ON his
native land-how pure the last thought he gives
his home and kindred. Such men deserve honor,
and these were honored. The monument which
now, in its beauty, as mere work of art. adorns
the square in your old city, to which it pives its
name, is doubly dear to as commemorating the
noble deeds of these, and others who fell in protect
ing her from the pollution and ravage of brutal
soldiery. There will it, | trust, ever remain. a
symbol of our cty's gratitude and an incentive to
like deeds of patriotic vaor should thev in future
Tune, become necessary for the preservation of our
city's safety our nations honor Ross dead-the
contest soon terminated.
In vain did their navy seek to subdue the fort
that guarded the approach to the city, or to drive
from it single one of its intrepid defenders
Ihough for the most part without military train
ing or experience, they witnessed not only without
| fear, but with almost scornul derision, the impo
| tent attempt. Anchoring at the very secure and
| prudent distance of two miles from our guns hi.
| "feet of frigates, rockets and bomb ketches" be
bombarded the port for twenty-five hours keeping
the night as bright as the day with the glare of his
missiles, and throwing fifteen hundred shell, -four
hundred exploding within its walls But all was in
vain. And in vain, also, attempted surprise
| with boats.
| Vigilance, galantry and silent courage charac
terized our men throughout, and accomplished
their appropriate ends In the language of the Brit
ish Admiral, "the demonstration had been carried
sufficiently far"
have, gentlemen, so far, chiefly alluded to YOU
| former home. What shall say of your presen
| onef Can speak in exaggerated terms of that
| Has natures God, anywhere on the habitabl
| globe, shed bis bounties with more prodiealit,
| than here? What is there in the very excess of hi
desires that man may not find .here2 Soil capable
| of almost unlimited production, and apparently in
exhaustbe. Rivers and bays Of unrivalIed beauty
large enough and deep enough for the navigation
| OF the world an ocean of unsurpassed lovness rol
ling on its placid but ma estic march around near
| thousand miles of your own coast; streams glitter
| ing with gold, mountains of silver and of gold
| cinnabar in untold quantities, and of uneoualleC
richness, and every other metal or ore that contri
butte to your wants, or comforts of luxury, ant
which now in her infancy, makes your State on
OF the most important and powerful of her sis
ters.
Ii you would leave Maryland, where else coul,
you so happily have settled as here, or where els
could you more contribute to the wealth an,
progress OF our common country? During nv so
lourn, have often recalled the lines addressed t.
another land, (classic Italy) by poet of your oil
city, and applied them to this. This is indeed
The land which lovers ought to choose;
Like blessings, here descend the sparkling dews
etraaDn fbao